Louie
07-11-2003, 04:52 PM
Tiny Caribbean State Takes on U.S. Over Gambling
Tue June 24, 2003 11:17 AM ET
GENEVA (Reuters) - The tiny Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda took on the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Tuesday, seeking a ruling on Washington's ban on cross-border Internet gambling.
The twin island state, which has developed online gaming services to earn revenue, said that the U.S. action broke WTO rules on open markets for services.
The United States, where gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry, denies free trade rules apply to gambling and says the cross-border ban protects its citizens, particularly children, from the financial and social risks of betting.
"We are surprised that another WTO member has chosen to challenge measures taken to address these concerns," U.S. envoy Linnet Deily told a meeting of the WTO's disputes settlement body. Decisions in trade rows can take months.
The Caribbean state's ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders said Internet gaming companies provided "much needed employment to thousands of our bright and computer literate young people."
Tue June 24, 2003 11:17 AM ET
GENEVA (Reuters) - The tiny Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda took on the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Tuesday, seeking a ruling on Washington's ban on cross-border Internet gambling.
The twin island state, which has developed online gaming services to earn revenue, said that the U.S. action broke WTO rules on open markets for services.
The United States, where gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry, denies free trade rules apply to gambling and says the cross-border ban protects its citizens, particularly children, from the financial and social risks of betting.
"We are surprised that another WTO member has chosen to challenge measures taken to address these concerns," U.S. envoy Linnet Deily told a meeting of the WTO's disputes settlement body. Decisions in trade rows can take months.
The Caribbean state's ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders said Internet gaming companies provided "much needed employment to thousands of our bright and computer literate young people."