WTO Online Gambling Antigua Compensation Ruling Delayed

One of the most highly anticipated decisions in the Internet gambling community has been delayed, according to Gretchen Hamel, US Trade Representative spokeswoman.

The decision was expected today, December 14th but Mark Mendel, the attorney for Antigua in the case, said he expects the to learn more on Monday.

"They'll let us know on Monday precisely what day to expect it," Mendel said before meeting with House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee members and other lawmakers to discuss the case.

Mendel said the papers of the ruling are probably having the finishing touches put on them today, and then the ruling needs to be translated.

The case the WTO was expected to rule on today was the Antigua & Barbuda compensation claim that the tiny island nations won because of an anti-online gambling law the United States illegally initiated late last year.

Consequences of the imminent ruling will be felt across many sectors of the online gambling industry. If the compensation ruling gives billions of dollars to Antigua, then the US will be in a situation that may see them forced to overturn the illegal UIGEA law they passed last year. Also, if the compensation claim is high the European Union will likely see astronomical claims relative to the Antigua decision. This too will push the US to change their stance.

On the other hand, if the ruling is low, like in the mid hundreds of thousands range, than the community can expect no changes to current laws. The US will most likely not budge from their stance that Internet gambling is illegal.

Other curious outsiders watching this ruling are the parties involved in the IMEGA case against the US DoJ. IMEGA claims the UIGEA is unconstitutional and against the law. The ruling in the case by the judge was scheduled over a month ago, but some analysts believe she is waiting to rule to see how the situation in the WTO plays out.

The WTO decision may also have an effect on the new regulations for the UIGEA that saw the comment period end on the 12th of December.

Whether the sum of the ruling is large or small it is certain to send shock waves through the entire Internet gambling community.

December 14, 2007
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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