The World Trade Organization, the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations, says the U.S. ban on offshore Internet gambling is illegal.It was a victory for Antigua, the smallest government ever to lodge a WTO complaint. The Caribbean nation of 80,000 people challenged Bush administration efforts to close the estimated $12 billion global business to U.S. residents. The U.S. banned credit card companies from processing payments to betting sites.
To avoid the penalties, the U.S. government would have to either permit Americans to gamble over foreign-based sites or eliminate exceptions for off-track betting on horses, including over the Internet, as permitted under the 1978 Interstate Horseracing Act. U.S. officials are likely to appeal. Thanks to Mark.
2 comments:
I think that this law is an outrages! if the government believe that people will stop gambling over the internet they cannot be more wrong! People will find a way to play at online casinos and other gambling sites, so what's the point?
i agree with the legislation which aims to ban credit cards as a payment method for online gambling of any sort... i mean its a no brainer when you consider you are placing somebody else’s money on an uncertain event happening with the aim to recoup more than you invested. Chance and credit do not mix well in my opinion, and continuing to allow it would only contribute further to negatively affecting the high levels of personal debt many citizens today find themselves in. However, I don't think it will work - i mean whats the point in banning credit card payments for online poker, for example, but not online sports betting? slightly hipocritical no? I mean how can you allow someone to participate in online horse racing betting, but not have a gamble on a hand of cards? both activities involve a large degree of chance, and neither are guaranteed to yield financial return.
It also infuriates me that the minority of irresponsible gamblers [those paying with someone elses money!] have now ruined the fun of online betting for everyone else - those like me who pay with money they actually have in their bank!! boooo. I am not against online gambling but i am totally against people doing it with someone elses money
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