A spokesman for the tiny island state of Antigua and Barbuda, a popular licensing jurisdiction for internet gambling companies, says the U.S. doesn't comply with a WTO ruling from last year that stated the U.S. discriminates against internet gambling companies operating from Antigua.
In it's ruling from last year the World Trade Organization (WTO) stated the U.S. could restrict online gambling on moral grounds, but only if it applied these restrictions equally. According to the WTO the U.S. failed to do just that, by treating the horse-racing industry differently than other online gaming sectors, including those located offshore.
The U.S. still has until April 3 to comply with the ruling, but Antigua says it is "extremely concerned" with the intentions of the U.S. because of the complete lack of action so far.
The fact Antigua is seeking publicity prior to the deadline expiring, might be partly prompted by recent legislation introduced by Republican R. Goodlatte. The proposed legislation would only make matters worse according to Antigua.
The proposed bill, called the Gambling Prohibition Act, aims to "crack down on the growing problem of illegal, offshore gambling, as well as illegal gambling that crosses state lines over phone lines and Internet technologies."
Goodlatte added in a press release: "For too long our children have been placed in harm's way as online gambling has been permitted to flourish into a $12 billion industry."
The bill will allow the 1961 Wire Act to be updated with language prohibiting internet gambling. The Wire Act currently only applies to sportsbetting over a telephone line. The bill also seeks to amend the penalties associated with violating the Wire Act by increasing the maximum prison term from two to five years.