The tiny Caribbean island nation of Antigua is suing the United States before the World Trade Organization, alleging the U.S. ban on Internet gambling is an unfair trade practice.
Antigua claims that U.S. efforts to prohibit Americans from betting online is discriminatory and violates trade agreements that allow foreign Internet companies to offer their services to U.S. citizens.
Internet gambling, a multibillion-dollar business worldwide, has become an important growth sector for the Antiguan economy, which relies primarily on tourism. The island claims U.S. antagonism to online casinos has cost it about $30 million, according to news reports.
The European Union, Canada and Japan are supporting Antigua’s suit.
The U.S. contends that gambling on the Internet is different from traditional casino gambling, not the least of which because it cannot prevent minors from accessing gambling sites.
The U.S. Department of Justice claims Internet gambling is illegal under the 1961 Wire Communications Act. Although U.S. court rulings have been uncertain on the issue, the department has successfully prosecuted several U.S. citizens under the act.
Meanwhile, bills pending in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would ban the use of credit cards and other forms of electronic payment for online gambling transactions. Many major credit cards companies have since stopped honoring such transactions on their own.
A ruling by the WTO is expected in about a month, according to news reports.
Article courtesy of Ascend Media, LLC
