|
.jpg) Antigua St. John's Minister of Finance, Harold Lovell, spoke out against the US Department of Justice's attacks on online poker earlier this week saying that the American authorities' actions were against international law and that it was a clear attempt to push foreign operators out of the US market. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against the US a few years back when they attempted to criminalize remote gaming services to American consumers but American authorities do not appear to have headed the ruling.
"I am concerned," said Minister Lovell, "that at this point in time United States authorities continue to prosecute non-domestic suppliers of remote gaming services, in clear contravention of international law.
I am not aware of any other situation where a member of the World Trade Organization has subjected persons to criminal prosecution under circumstances where the WTO has expressly ruled that to do so is in breach of an International treaty."
Antigua's legal counsel, Mark Mendel, agreed with Lovell saying, "The WTO ruled that these kinds of laws criminalizing the provision of remote gaming services are contrary to the obligations of the United States under the WTO agreements. The United States, being a very heavy user of the WTO rules to its own benefit, simply cannot continue to prosecute persons for engaging in legitimate International commerce.
"...what the United States has attempted to cloak as a moral issue is now clearly nothing but economic protectionism at its worst. Rather than engaging with Antigua and the world gaming community to reach a reasonable accommodation on this relatively new but now globalised form of economic commerce, the United States has instead determined to protect its domestic gaming interests regardless of International legal obligations.
"This is very hard to reconcile not only with its pronouncements regarding the imperative of other countries to strictly observe their WTO trade obligations, but also with stated official United States government policy of adherence to the rule of law.
"...given the time that has been spent by the Antiguan government on sincere attempts to negotiate a reasonable settlement with the United States, and the very meager results that have come of those discussions, it might be time for Antigua to go back to the WTO and compel American compliance with the rulings that this very small country fought so hard for and deserves to see implemented."
It appears that Antigua is prepared to fight another legal battle with the US over this important issue. Minister Lovell did not go into detail about what they have planned but he did say, "at this time we are examining all of the options we have against the United States as a result of the WTO decision. We are confident that the WTO rulings have significant strength and we are now looking into ways to capitalize on that in order to achieve our objectives."
As always, stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
