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Casinos> 2007
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7 Nations File Compensation Claims Against The U.s.a.
Canada and Australia join earlier nations in filing for
compensation on WTO withdrawal by America
It appears that Canada, Australia and Macau-China have joined Antigua
and Barbuda, the 27 nation European Union, India, Costa Rica, Macau
and possibly Japan in considering compensation claims against the
United States following its unilateral and unprecedented decision
to remove gambling from its decades-old World Trade Organisation
trade obligations (see previous InfoPowa reports).
The Casino City information site this week reported that "...an
official familiar with the case said compensation claims by Antigua
and Barbuda, the EU, India, Costa Rica, Canada, Macau and Australia
were made last week in response to America's decision to exclude
online gambling from its General Agreement of Trade in Services
Agreement (GATS) schedule."
Japan has also lodged a letter of interest in the case, but has
not asked for compensation, the official told the gambling information
site. "It's rather premature to say how things will proceed
from here," the source added.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is seeking $3.44 million
in compensation. A Costa Rican official has confirmed that his country
is also seeking compensation, but declined to offer details of the
claim.
The Americans have so far indicated that they do not think that
compensation is due, but have taken a softer line on the Antigua
and Barbuda issue which ignited the WTO confrontation, hinting that
the door to further negotiation may still be open.
It is thought highly unlikely that the US will remove its "carve-out"
discriminatory policy that allows horse racing, state lotteries
and fantasy gaming in the USA to operate over the Internet, however.
This is at the heart of the dispute, as other forms of Internet
gambling have been attacked through a law that imposes financial
transaction bans with online gaming companies.
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