“Antigua the Winner in Online Gambling Dispute”

The small island nation of Antigua is celebrating its victory in a dispute over the U.S.’s ban against internet gambling. Nevertheless, the WTO, ruling in favor of Antigua, will still allow the U.S. to maintain some of its restrictions.

Claiming that U.S. restrictions prohibiting Americans from engaging in online gambling were in violation of the General Agreement on Trades and Services (GATS), Antigua has finally won its case against the U.S. Antigua’s main worry, of course, was not necessarily the “legality” of the U.S. ban, but rather the fact that this ban, by preventing Americans from playing, was causing harm to the Antiguan economy.

The U.S., in response to the WTO verdict, claimed that their restrictions were intended to prevent money laundering and protect the public. But there is little doubt that these restrictions were primarily meant to protect the U.S.’s own gambling industry from competition. While there are states within the United States that do in fact prohibit gambling, there are some that allow it. This being the case, Antigua argued that if casinos are allowed to operate in some U.S. states, the Antiguans should have access as well.

U.S. officials continued to assert that in order to maintain public order and to “protect public morals” there would need to be certain restrictions in the online gambling industry. The WTO allowed for this, as long as these restrictions were clarified and specific.