WTO Orders Compensation To Antigua For Online Gaming Losses

The World Trade Organization awarded the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda $21 million annually from the US, in hopes of settling an online gaming dispute.

According to the New York Times, Antigua was searching for $3.44 billion a year in damages for wrongly blocked online gaming, while the US claimed to owe no more than $500,000 annually for its involvement in restricting the access of American gamblers.

The strange ruling grants Antigua and Barbuda the right to ignore US copyright restrictions. Antigua can sidestep protections and distribute American music, movies and software, up to the value of the claim. Such a ruling has only occurred once before in the WTO's history.

By ruling in favor of Antigua, the WTO may have set the tone for future rulings against the US. Recently, the US has settled similar claims with the European Union, Japan and Canada. Costa Rica is one of many nations seeking compensation for the US for their unfair trade practices.

U.S. is working on removing online gaming from under WTO jurisdiction, as the cessation of cross border betting still remains the ultimate goal of the U.S. and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

More than 100 sites call Antigua and Barbuda home, making online gaming the nation's #2 employer.

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