WTO Online Gambling Decision in Antigua vs. USA Delayed

There has been a delay in the report that was supposed to stipulate on Friday the amount of damages Antigua would receive in its long going online gambling dispute with the US.  The World Trade Organization was to have presented the decision Friday.

"We understand the report has been delayed," said Gretchen Hamel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office.

The case is being closely watched by European Internet gambling companies, which were pushed out of the U.S. market by Congress last year.

In an April 2005 victory for Antigua, the WTO said a U.S. law allowing only domestic companies to provide online horse-race gambling services discriminated against foreign firms.

Antigua is one of the largest domiciles for online gambling enterprises.  That tiny nation of just over 60,000 has asked permission to impose $3.44 billion a year worth of "cross-retaliation" on the United States.

The United States says Antigua is entitled to only $500,000 in damages in the dispute.

European nations are also watching closely as they too have asked for damages which are likely to total a great deal more than what Antigua is seeking.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published December 14, 2007 1:13 pm EST