Tiny country challenges U.S. on Internet gaming

Friday, August 4, 2006  

A tiny Caribbean country that is home to off-shore gaming web sites is challenging the United States and winning.

Antigua filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization after the operator of an Internet gaming site was convicted and imprisoned for taking bets from Americans. Jay Cohen said he couldn't understand why he was charged for violating the law of a country where he didn't live.

So Antigua took up the case, accusing the U.S. of unfairly singling out its country's gaming operators. The WTO has agreed, citing the proliferation of legal gaming like tribal casinos, horse racing and other forms of online betting.

Despite the victories, the WTO can't force the U.S. to do anything. So Antigua is asking to impose sanctions on American commerce.

At issue is the

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Against All Odds (The Washington Post 8/4)
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