Gotta Keep On Moving

Think about progressive jackpots - constantly on the move, with new players joining and the amounts moving, moving upwards. The online gambling world follows much the same trend. It too sees new costumers joining on a daily basis, by the numbers, pushing the stakes ever higher.

Dynamic. That's the word to describe this classic Internet industry. It moves, changes course, with the general direction of up. For anyone who wants to be part of it, moving along is a requirement. Staying in one spot will have you fall behind in no time.

In the recent case discussed at the World Trade Organization court, in which Antigua has asked to repeal the US decision to ban online casino companies based overseas from serving American players, the US response has been static; even doubly static.

It has, first of all, attempted to prevent online gambling sites from entering the US market altogether, preferring the old industry of land based casinos, successful and popular as it may be. Additionally, it has proven stubborn and unimaginative when it has repeated its counter arguments in the legal discussions time and again, repeatedly claiming the ban is valid and the opposition groundless.

This will get them only so far. In fact, it will get them nowhere. As the industry keeps flowing and moving, the US stubborn stand does not. By definition it does not. Policies of yesteryear will not be applicable next year. Here's my bet that this will prove the case this time again, for if there is a recurring principle in the business, it is that there is no timeless principle.