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ANTIGUA - How ever undeniable the strength of online
casinos as an industry, its future is still incredibly unstable. The United
States government has become a serious opponent of the online casino. Actively
the United States has attempted to ward off the threat that the international
online casino market poses their land-based casino.
The World Trade Organization has recently been compelled to
take sides in the ongoing battle. The WTO has ruled against the protectionist
measures taken by the US. Many feel the ruling is a blow to the anti-online
gambling Americans.
Antigua, the little island nation in the Caribbean, is the
latest battlefield in the online casino war. The United States is determined to
have their online casino betting laws apply internationally. Should the US get
its way, bets will only be allowed within the country and not at online casinos,
which are typically operated beyond US boarders.
At the moment, little Antigua has WTO on it side and that
may prompt the European Union to challenge the ban the US has placed on it own
online casino industry. Online casinos in Europe are banned from countries on
the North American continent. A final ruling will be made on the, still open,
case in the next couple of weeks. In addition, there is likely to be an appeal
by the United States.
Online casino gambling is not necessarily the main concern of the WTO. Their
argument is against the US protectionist policy that is preventing equal market
access to online casinos.
There is a chance that this dispute may reach beyond online
casinos. Should Antigua win, compelling the European Union to follow its
example, there is a chance the EU will take retaliatory actions against the US
by raising tariffs on imports.
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