US Faces $100 Billion Fine For Web Gambling Ban

Stony Stevenson writes with the news that the World Trade Organization is seeking billions of dollars in compensation from the United States from their ban on internet gambling. The view of the WTO is that the US has reneged on commitments to the organization. "The disputed concessions arise from Antigua's victory earlier this year when the WTO ruled that the US violated its treaty obligations by excluding online Antiguan gaming operators, while allowing domestic operators to offer various forms of online gaming. Instead of complying with the ruling, the Bush administration withdrew the sizeable gambling industry from its free trade commitments. As a result, all 151 WTO members are considering seeking compensation for the withdrawal equal to the size of the entire US land-based and online gaming market, estimated at nearly US$100 billion."

Who wants to bet?

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

US Congress in the pocket of US gaming industry association. The WTO is in the pocket of International gaming association. Good fight. Promises great action. Wanna bet who is going to win?

Obligatory Family Guy Quote

[locokamil]

WTO 1: Gentlemen, I propose we send a message to the US by fining them infinity billion dollars!
WTO 2: That's the spirit, Bob! But I think a real number might be more effective.

Ten bucks says...

[mdobossy]

... Ten bucks says, the US gov never pays up.

My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute

[RockMFR]

They were originally going to fine the US $1 million, but were informed that this was not much money at all.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[EveryNickIsTaken]

Agreed. I'm actually expecting a "Suck my balls!" kind of statement to be made by someone in the administration.

Re:Ten bucks says...

[Dunbal]

For $100Bn, it would probably be cheaper to "bring democracy to" Antigua. They should be careful what they wish for, soon those foreign online gambling organizations will find themselves with links to Al Qaeda they never knew they had. I also hear they are seeking to build nuclear weapons.

In before "troll" mod.

Re:Who wants to bet?

[GuyinVA]

I'd like to take that bet...


oh no, wait... I can't.

Time to bomb Antigua then.

[tjstork]

Gambling is an immoral tax, and for the WTO to try and enforce that on America's poor constitutes an attempted invasion by the people of Antigua. I think we should bomb every nation that hosts offshore gambling. There's really no other way, at this point, to protect Americans from sinners around the world.

Re:Obligatory Family Guy Quote

[Anonymous Coward]

Shit, I'll pay that fine. I know it is about $3.14, but let me know when you come up with an exact figure.

I'll be waiting.

Or better yet, I'm be willing to pay you $3.15 and let you keep the difference.

With fines that small, I won't seem like much of a lesson learned, though.

Re:Good!

[smurfsurf]

> No, the WTO is trying to arbitrate a trade dispute between member states.

I expect them to bring in Quai-Gon Gin and Obi-Wan to settle the dispute any time now ;-)

Re:Hmmmm....

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Labor Unions,

Thank you for fucking up my country by forcing our corporations to manufacture everything overseas, in order to afford your bloated blue collar wages.

Sincerely,

AC

Re:Obligatory Family Guy Quote

[xSquaredAdmin]

That's a completely irrational idea!

Re:State Right

[Scrameustache]

Basically, our goddamned government insists on sticking its nose in a place where it doesn't belong.

Yeah, about that, if you could, like, stop? We'd really appreciate it.

signed
-The World