|
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News
Poker News - Poker News
Search News:
WTO Rules in Antigua's Favor Again re Online Poker & Online GamblingMon, Jan 29th, 2007 @ 12:00am The World Trade Organization (WTO) has again ruled against the United States in favor of Antigua and Barbuda, this time for not taking 'the necessary steps to comply' with the April 2005 WTO ruling to correct discrimination against foreign Internet gambling operators, Reuters reported late last week. The tiny island nation of Antigua and Barbuda had built up an Internet gambling industry to create jobs when their tourist industry declined. In a case first brought to the WTO in 2003, Antigua originally challenged US laws blocking non-US internet gaming companies from operating inside US borders in 2004. It argued that US trade officials had signed the 1995 GATS treaty, committing it to allowing foreign entrants to its lucrative online gaming market. In April 2005, the WTO Appellate Body in response to an appeal lodged by the US ordered the United States to comply either by lifting its ban on foreign operators or by withdrawing a "discriminatory" exemption for US online horse-racing betting sites, within 18 months. Antigua and Barbuda complained the US had not complied with the 2005 ruling, so the WTO agreed in July 2006 to investigate their complaint, which resulted in the ruling last Thursday. Gretchen Hamel, a spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative, told Reuters that the United States will have opportunity to submit comments to the WTO before it issues its final, public report in March. After the final panel decision ruling in March, the United States has an option to appeal, and is widely expected to do so. The issue is a touchy one for the Bush administration, which claims to support free trade. Their position was made even more touchy when conservatives in Congress snuck through the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) last October making it illegal for banking institutions to handle transactions between online gambling sites and US residents, in an attempt to shut down access to online gambling businesses. The exception the UIGEA granted to US online horse betting sites and state lotteries will not help the US WTO case either. Hamel suggested that broad legislation, such as the UIGEA, may need to be modified when she said, "The panel report clarifies that compliance does not necessarily require new legislation, but could involve other steps such as administrative or judicial action." What remains to be seen is whether Antigua and Barbuda, as the WTO's tiniest member, will have the clout to get any rulings enforced, or whether the US will continue to make appeals to prolong having to take any corrective actions while it wipes out foreign competition. It also remains to be seen whether other countries whose licensed online gambling industries are likewise affected by the US will provide Antigua with any assistance. One especially looks toward the UK whose online gambling industry was decimated after UIGEA's passage, and whose executives are either being arrested or subpoenaed in connection with online gambling and online gambling IPOs. If the US remains unchecked, will the UK have a viable online gambling industry to be able to implement the Gaming Act of 2005 this coming September? Or, as the Telegraph reported, do the Americans 'want to drive foreigners out to establish their own Vegas gambling brands?' Read Related Articles:
More Poker News Articles
EGBA Sets New Best Practice Standards for Responsible Gaming The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), in support of their mission to promote fair competition for European-licensed operators and consumer choice in a regulated European online gaming market. has launched a new set of best practices to ensure consistent standards of player protection, fair gaming and responsible operator behavior in the European online poker, Internet gaming and betting environment.
World Poker Association Changes Membership Terms The new leadership under Founder and present Chairman of the World Poker Association (WPA), Jesse Jones, has taken immediate measures to address the needs of the over 1400 members who have joined the WPA to date, through several key membership changes. These changes include:
Stanley Ho's IPO Reveals Setbacks Since Macau Regulation, Competition Arrive The delayed listing of Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Holdings (SJM) group on Hong Kong's Stock Exchange until today, 16 July, is characteristic of the many challenges the firm has faced since 2002, when foreign operators were allowed to build casinos, and regulations increased. Since then, the 86-year old billionaire's four decade dominance of the Portuguese colony's gaming market, determining where and when you could play poker has waned.
'November Nine' Final Table of the World Series of Poker Is Set From 6,844 to nine, the players for the final table of the Main Event of the 39th World Series of Poker have now emerged after nearly two weeks at the tables. The so-called 'November Nine' will return on November 9 after a 117 day hiatus as the most well prepared final table in poker history, as well as being guinea pigs for this first-ever delayed final table experiment.
Poker Tournaments in Bars -- The New Prohibition? While the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has devastated internet poker, separate, quiet battles are being fought, and won, to make poker legal in bars under state laws.
'November Nine' Emerge Today at World Series of Poker, Hellmuth Places 45th Today, July 14, is a big day at the World Series of Poker, when the three remaining tables of the Main Event will be trimmed to one, from the 27 players starting play today Day 7. That means that today we will learn the identities of the 'November Nine', the nine finalists who will return November 9 to play out the final table under the television spotlights.
Biggest $250,000 Guaranteed Poker Tournament in Bodog History Coming History will be made this summer at Bodog Poker, as the online poker powerhouse hosts its largest guaranteed prize pool tournament ever on Sunday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. EST, with a guaranteed $250,000 in total prize money to be awarded-- regardless of the number of registrants.
$5 Million Guaranteed Prize Pool for 2008 Borgata Poker Open in Sept. Details of the 6th annual Borgata Poker Open series have just been announced: the 16-day tournament begins Sept. 3rd and concludes with the $10,000 buy-In 5-day World Poker Tour (WPT) / Borgata Poker Open Championship event, September 14-18, at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
PKR Now 15th Largest Online Poker Site Online poker site PKR recently announced that is has overtaken industry stalwarts Cryptologic and Entraction to claim 15th place in Pokerscout's online poker rankings, attributing its continued growth to highly innovative marketing campaigns.
Computer Beats Poker Pros in ReMatch Last weekend, a computer system called Polaris outperformed seven top online poker players at a human-vs.-machine competition held in Las Vegas. The score was computer 3, people 2, and one draw in the Texas Hold'em matches. |
 Online Poker »
  200% Deposit Bonus up to $1000 at LuckyHog.com  $10 Free No Deposit Required Earn up to $1,000 in 30 Days  Play Free during beta $50,000 in Prizes  Up to 60% Rakeback $200K+ in Races/Freerolls  Play Risk-Free Poker $100K Awarded Monthly  110% Poker Bonus from Bodog!  100% Deposit Bonus Up to $500  100% Sign up bonus up to $600 at Full Tilt Poker  The easiest way to a $10K seat. PokerSchoolOnline!  Double up your 1st $50 deposit And play in the Sunday Million ! Poker News »
Blog Coverage
Top News
EGBA Sets New Best Practice Standards...
Stanley Ho's IPO Reveals Setbacks Since... World Poker Association Changes... Top Tournaments
|
Discuss this article in our forum
Print this article
All Poker and free play poker content ©2008 Advanced Global Applications, LLC. All rights reserved.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, visit either: National Council on Problem Gambling or Gamblers Anonymous International Service