News

Monday, December 17, 2007
US successful in WTO gambling case

The US has successfully negotiated with other WTO members the compensation measures for withdrawing its gambling committments from free trade agreements.

The compensations aim to recompense countries for losses their companies are making by no longer having access to the US online gaming market.

Today, the European Union announced that it has reached an agreement with the US on compensation. Although the European Commission said in a statement today that it would continue to seek a non-discriminatory policy towards internet gambling in the US, the current compensation deal makes this a hollow claim. The EU has traded its potential online gambling interests for other sectors.

Upon certification of the compensation agreements by the WTO, gambling services will no longer be covered by the US' WTO commitments.