United States Loses WTO Appeal

[BingoT]

United States Loses WTO Appeal

http://www.betsage.com/gamblingnews...statesloses.htm

[cynthial]

Hi BingoT,
The link seems to be broken or article was moved. Could you please check the source and repost link if you find it?
Thanks

[Webzcas]

The correct link is: http://www.betsage.com/gamblingnews/...tatesloses.htm

However I do believe JetSet has already published this InfoPowa Article in this forum.

[jetset]

ANTIGUAN LEGAL COUNSEL CRITICAL OF D OF J INVOLVEMENT IN WTO CASE

“What I have finally concluded is that this case is almost 100 per cent about the DoJ”

Antigua's legal counsel during its online gambling dispute with the United States at the World Trade Organisation has been sharply critical of American motivations and Department of Justice involvement this week.

Mark Mendel from Texas-based solicitors Mendel-Blumenfeld told iGaming Business that outdated impressions of online gambling by some in the US Department of Justice (DoJ) are behind America’s stance, adding that the position taken by the DoJ has been detrimental to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“What I have finally concluded is that this case is almost 100 percent about the DoJ,” said Mendel. “One or more DoJ members have been present at almost every meeting we have held with the United States over the past four years, at almost every WTO session - their footprint is big in this case.”

Mendel revealed that one DoJ representative in particular still speaks as if he is in a bad 1950s gangster film with mobsters ruling the world and buying politicians. "This may sound odd but I think that this issue, remote gambling, has been hijacked of sorts by a kind of dated old crowd in the DoJ who are still lost in the days of Bugsy Malone and smoky backrooms when gambling was run by the mob,” the lawyer said.

The Internet gambling case with the WTO had been damaging to the continued success of the organisation but that, with the European Union (EU) becoming involved, the United States will ultimately have no choice but to fold its hand.

"While Antigua is going to have to work hard and be creative to find ways to effectively retaliate against the United States, the EU won't have any trouble at all,' said Mendel. “The United States is literally facing multi-billions of trade retaliation from the EU in all sorts of trade completely unrelated to gambling. All of a sudden, for example, American exporters of auto parts, electric guitars or cotton sweaters to the EU are going to be shut or priced out of the market.

“All of those sectors stand to be sacrificed or at least severely compromised by the United States in this case. All so the United States can protect its domestic gambling industry or perhaps, even worse, to satisfy some dated little constituency in the DoJ. Simply boggles the mind."

[vinylweatherman]

This wont be the first time. A previous trade war centred on European Steel, produced more efficiently than in the US, and thus cheaper. When the US imposed tariffs to protect their domestic steel industry, we had EU counter tariffs on products unrelated to steel, such as the cotton sweaters and electric guitars quoted above. The EU could also take a more robust stance against Microsoft, who are accused of abusing their dominant position to make all things "American" in the computer industry, including dictating to us who we may sell EU manufactured computers to because of the American software they contain.

[Mousey]

Mendel revealed that one DoJ representative in particular still speaks as if he is in a bad 1950s gangster film with mobsters ruling the world and buying politicians. "This may sound odd but I think that this issue, remote gambling, has been hijacked of sorts by a kind of dated old crowd in the DoJ who are still lost in the days of Bugsy Malone and smoky backrooms when gambling was run by the mob,” the lawyer said.

It's the rabidness (is that a word?) of the DoJ regarding online gaming that totally befuddles me. Plus the fact that no one has challenged the DoJ and FBI in court regrading online gambling (excluding sportsbetting) so the Feds continue run amok. The DoJ has stuck its nose in where it doesn't belong -- yet again.

It would really, really be nice to see the WTO take this to the limit for a change, and not back down when the US says, "we're doing things our own way, butt out!"

[SlickWilly]

Hello everyone,

Before the US government got involved in all this Internet Gambling - gambling online was a pretty nice deal for US players.

The rise of sites like Casinomeister.com provided a backdrop of safety nets to police those not running 'fair gaming'.:

So what exactly is the U.S. government protecting American's from?

I guess a better question is whom is the U.S. government actually protecting?

My own take is that special interests have run amok since the Bush republicans took over in 2000. In his near 7 years in office now I can honestly say he has yet to serve me in any significant way. To date President Bush has served the needs of his family and friends only - not one regular American has benefited from his failed policies. His lies and hypocritical moral stances make me sick.

The DoJ is merely an extension of the Bush machine - just look at the issues surrounding the firings of Assistant Attorney Generals for proof.

While to date I have not had much use for the WTO and its one world economy bologna I hope the European Union and the WTO put the squeeze to the US and force a significant change in the US policy with regard to Internet Gambling.

I for one will not vote for a Replubican ever again (voted for a Congressman once years ago). They talk about small government then steal from you while they do more to control your lives beyond the purpose of good government.

Additionally, I will be emailing every democratic candidate for President letting them know that I will not even consider voting for them unless they have a stance on Internet Gambling that I agree with.

More people in the US need to get on board and make this an issue if we are to get back our rights, our country and our destiny.

VOTE - because of you don't some pious, arrogant Bushite will.

[GGW Laurie]

im a registered republican does that make me bad as bush? not hardly.i have contacted all of my reps. for my state about online gaming. have you? a few bad apples dont make the whole tree rotten. im leaning for fred thompson or rudy g. personally, but i will not vote for the first one that says they will make gaming online legall the top agenda that would make me as big a goof as bush.some people in the us like to bitch about the goverment but yet they dont vote. i have never failed to vote in any election, that is my right and i will continue to do so.

[Mousey]

It's good to see MSNBC pay attention to this.


Antigua takes U.S. to task over online gambling
Seeks $3.4 billion in sanctions from WTO because of restrictions
The Associated Press
Updated: 12:37 p.m. CT July 24, 2007
GENEVA - The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda asked the World Trade Organization on Tuesday for the right to authorize $3.4 billion in commercial sanctions against the United States for its failure to comply with a WTO ruling against its Web gambling restrictions.

Washington acknowledged that its online betting ban was ruled illegal by the WTO, but challenged Antigua's right to retaliate. The U.S. says it is in the process of rewriting its obligations under a 1994 WTO treaty, removing online gambling from the agreement.

The U.S. also rejected the amount requested by Antigua as "patently excessive."

"The level sought by Antigua and Barbuda is several times higher than Antigua and Barbuda's annual gross domestic product of all goods and services," U.S. trade lawyer Juan Millan told the WTO's dispute settlement body.

The WTO set up an arbitration panel to rule on the matter.In March, the WTO ruled that the U.S. had the right to prevent offshore betting, as a means of protecting public order and public morals. But the trade body said it was illegal to target online gambling, without equally applying the rules to American operators offering remote betting on horse and dog racing.

Antigua has been promoting gambling and other kinds of Internet commerce as a way .....

[MarcyW]

So nothing will change in the US right now though? Right?