Casino News

WTO affirms anti-UIGEA stance

2007-01-29 16:25:00

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has once again outlined its position regarding the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) following fresh discussions on the subject.

A WTO panel issued its findings over the weekend, and outlined its belief that the US had not complied with an earlier ruling which specified that it was not allowed an exemption from the freedom of trade rules which govern online gaming.

However, officials moved to avoid any confrontation by saying that the matter was not a major stumbling block in the organisation's relationship with the country.

"Nothing in the panel's interim report undermines the broad, favorable results that the United States obtained from the WTO in April 2005," said US trade representative office spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel.

The news comes as good news for Antigua, at whose request the WTO originally agreed to investigate US gambling laws back in July.

The UIGEA only came into law last October, but Antigua's complaint dated back to 2003.


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