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Canada Macau & Australia Make 7 Nations Filing Claims in WTO Online Poker Online Gambling Case against USAFri, Jun 29th, 2007 @ 12:00am Australia, Canada and Macau have filed compensation claims against the United States in its ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) case for banning foreign online poker and online gambling businesses from taking US customers, joining the European Union (EU), Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, and India, which brings the current number of countries filing claims against the USA to seven. When the U.S. lost its final appeal March 2007 the United States Trade Representative announced, instead of abiding by the ruling and opening its market to offshore Internet gambling companies, that it would take the unprecedented legal step of withdrawing online gambling from the international commitments it made as part of the 1994 General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) treaty amongst the 150 members of the WTO. Under the GATS, if a country withdraws its commitments other nations can seek compensation for any services trade opportunities that they could prove they lost through the change. Canada and Australia compensation filings come as a bit of a surprise, as they had previously indicated they didn't want to be involved in Antigua's WTO case against the United States. One can gather that Canada's thriving online gambling industry, located on the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, an Indian reserve on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec (across from Montreal), prompted them to change their mind and file for compensation. Macau appears to be representing the Chinese market, independent of China itself. OTHER WTO MEMBER CLAIMS The tiny twin Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, who originated the case against the USA, filed a claim seeking $3.44 billion annual compensation from the United States (click here for related article). A Costa Rican official confirmed that they were seeking compensation, but declined to offer any specifics. An EU official stated that they will seek compensation through "commitments" to open up other trade sectors, according to Associated Press reports from Geneva (click here for related article). "We need new concessions that would be equal with the benefits lost," the official shared with AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to be quoted by name in media reports. Japan had sent a letter of interest, but did not file for compensation as previously thought. Brazil is conspicuously missing from the list, having earlier indicated that they were fully backing Antigua in the case. Read Related Articles:
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Sweden Undecided Whether Online Poker to Remain Gov't Monopoly Sweden has repeatedly been under fire from the European Commission to comply with EU laws that give EU-based operators free movement of goods and services between EU member countries. Today, Gambling Intelligence Group relayed that Jan Nyren, who is conducting Sweden's gambling investigation, will propose in his final report due in December that Sweden introduce a licensing system for online sports betting providers. But he says he has yet to decide whether to recommend online poker be opened to competition or remain the government monopoly of Svenska Spel.
World Series Of Poker Academy Debuts in LA Sept. 6-7 at The Bicycle Casino The World Series of Poker Academy, poker's premier series of instructional schools where participants learn first-hand from the world's greatest poker players, just announced details for its first-ever event in Los Angeles, California USA.
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Team PokerStars Nets Hockey Great Mats Sundin While the hockey world may have to keep waiting for Mats Sundin to decide his NHL future, fans of the felt will be seeing a lot of the fomer Toronto Maple Leafs captain. It has been announced that PokerStars has signed the hockey legend to an endorsement deal, making Sundin the newest PokerStars embassador.
Poker Pro Europe Magazine Expands Distribution into South Africa Poker Pro Europe magazine, as part of its global expansion, can now be found in casinos in South Africa and Swaziland. The distribution pushes the publication's total circulation over 55,000, making it one of the largest poker-related magazines outside the USA.
Amsair is Official Airline of World Series of Poker Europe Amsair was just announced as the latest top line sponsor for the forthcoming World Series of Poker Europe to be held next month in London, UK. The deal will make Amsair Executive Aviation the official airline of the tour and will allow Betfair Poker customers exclusive and discounted rates on any of the private jets in the extensive Amsair charter fleet.
No Withholding Taxes on Poker Tourneys The IRS has decided that every poker operator in the United States will have to report anyone who wins more than $5,000 in a poker tournament.
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WSOP November Niner Dennis Phillips Signs Up for Oracle Poker Consulting With 2008 World Series of Poker final table participants receiving the luxury of a 117 day break before the biggest day of their poker careers, it was believed that the final nine would take a large portion of the hiatus to fix any leaks in their poker game. "November Nine" chip leader Dennis Phillips was the first final tabler to make his coaching arrangements public, as his hiring of Oracle Poker Consulting was announced Wednesday in a press release. |
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