US to Modify Old Law, Keep WTO Out

The World Trade Organization has recently ruled that the United Sates has unlawfully discriminated against online gambling operations based offshore. The case was brought by Caribbean-based online casinos that were banned in the US following the anti-gambling bill of 2006. The WTO decision was greeted with excitement around the world and the US steps were highly anticipated around the industry. The response came earlier this week, surprising many, upsetting others and overall raising criticism.

Busted for interfering with a free market with all that involves gambling operations, horse-racing in particular, the US trade representative announced it will initiate a change to a 1993 law to prevent the WTO from intervening in the matter altogether. The law would change the phrasing in such a way that American gambling would be classified as recreational services, not financial-business ones, and so the WTO will have no say on the matter.