Newsflash

[Gibbon]

By Staff Writer - AP
Sept 26, 2007, 16:37
http://www.osga.com/artman/publish/article_5782.shtml
An association of online gambling groups is challenging a U.S. law that seeks to choke off electronic payments from gamblers to Internet companies operating in other countries. In suing the federal government, the Internet Media Entertainment & Gaming Association claims that Internet gambling is protected by First Amendment privacy rights, and that filtering technology already exists to make sure children and compulsive gamblers cannot access offshore betting sites.


http://www.theregister.com/2007/09/26/antigua_bushPublished Wednesday 26th September 2007
Although Antigua has roundly defeated its lumbering, puritanical northern neighbor at every step of the way in its WTO case, the US still seems disinclined to address the WTO ruling seriously.



http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2177817,00.htmlBrussels, Thursday September 27, 2007
Stalled compensation talks could hasten end to US online gaming ban...

[Froggy]

Very interesting.

I would love to see Antigua becoming the world headquarters for legal pirating.

Hollywood, the music and software industry would fry the politicians for dinner.

Froggy

[Gibbon]

Yep, I often think how foolish American consumers have become. The very notion of giving up rights to big cooperate interest repulses me. Back in the day when a VCR was a novelty, corporate behemoths fought against easily copied material. So what happened? Consumer freedom to copy gave rise to unprecedented profits in the music and film industry. Precisely the opposite of industry forecasts.

Currently in Sweden where consumers have a choice to backup their audio/video {CD/DVD} files without embedded DRM; Bush on the behest of Hollywood and others, is on an all out offensive to stifle intellectual property discourse in Sweden and the rest of Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirate_Bay








___________________________
If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other ~ Carl Shurz

[Gibbon]

This is by far the most significant WTO case ever and its implications for both the U.S. and the EU are enormous," Naotaka Matsukata, a senior policy advisor with the international law firm Alston & Bird, said in a statement. "Given the size of the U.S. gaming market, both the potential benefit for European industry and the corresponding damage to U.S. companies is unprecedented. Reuters (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2007-09-27T180731Z_01_N27357458_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-GAMBLING-TRADE.xml)

[Gibbon]

Antigua & Barbuda have won its case at the WTO and the appeals by the U.S. and now seeks remedy for its substantial losses. In its decision the WTO upheld a U.S. decision to prevent cross border gambling, it did however rule that it was illegal for the U.S. to target offshore gambling outlets and not apply the same rules to American operators.

.......action has sparked other countries, which include the entire 27 member European Union, Japan, Canada, Costa Rica, Macau, Australia and India, all WTO member states, to file compensation claims against the U.S. for real or future losses.

.... refusing to negotiate any settlement with Antigua as it is required to do. However the stakes of the outcome could actually determine if the WTO will cease to exist.

http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/antigua_brings_3_4_billion_internet_gambling_claim _to_wto_today_47668.html

[kenwoodallpromos]

My reading of the link is that the domestic USA online gambling "handle" is $100 billion?