Casino News

US 'to ignore WTO ruling'

2007-05-08 17:05:02

The US is to disregard a ruling made by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and continue with its ban on online gambling, it has been revealed.

The office of the US trade representative made the claim late last week, arguing that the initial legislation (made years before last year's gambling ban) which seemed to allow online gambling was made in error.

Reuters reports that some WTO members such as Antigua and Barbuda may now seek compensation.

However, US officials maintained that there would be no basis for such claims.

"We did not intend and do not intend to have gambling as part of our services agreement. What we are doing is just clarifying our commitments," commented John Veroneau, deputy US trade representative.

"More than a dozen countries were able to expressly exclude gambling from their commitments, and many dozens more excluded the commitment in other ways. For the United States to say this was a mistake is just not true," countered Mark Mendel, lead counsel for Antigua and Barbuda in the dispute.


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