The US Ban in World Perspective
Published February 2, 2007 by OCR Editor
Following a dramatic announcement by the World Trade Organization, another fresh and perhaps more enlightened perspective has surfaced. The US is discriminating against foreign online casino companies, the perspective claims.
Though the commissioner McCreevy has no authority in all that related to external trade, the WTO announcement following Antigua's appeal against the US ban has sparked a sense of hope in him. He will act to have the European Union complain to the US over the ban on online gambling. Echoing the WTO wording, the European official said "In order to protect, I'd say, their own business, their industry there, they have de facto prevented foreigners from online betting into the United States."
Following the fight which the government of Antigua has posed and the somewhat favorable decision of the WTO, which is currently being contested by the US government, the next stage will surely be interesting. Will the EU, in the spirit of Mr. McCreevy, indeed take action? The consequences then, if international trade organizations side with the EU, can be harmful to the US. In the meantime, no comment could be received by a spokesman for the US in Brussels. All the spokesman was willing to say was that it was premature to respond as long as no actions have been taken. Thus the industry continues a cross-Atlantic feud and we remain waiting for a final policy to apply globally.
