WTO Decision Fizzles Online Gambling Chances

Filed in archive Poker Laws on December 21, 2007

Pokernews.com article from Amy Calistri:

During the negotiations, a price tag for the EU trade compensation package was estimated at $100 billion. Gretchen Hamel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's said the deal "involves commitments to maintain our liberalized markets for warehousing services, technical testing services, research and development services and postal services relating to outbound international letters." Hamel declined to disclose the value of the trade concessions that the US had to make to preserve its foreign ban on internet gambling.

Glad to see the government sees the slipping value of the American dollar, yet feels the need to shell out $100 billion in concessions just because they don't want to see people check-raising in their pajamas. With huge market for potential tax revenue, advertisement dollars, and foreign coin coming into the country with very little effort, why would we PAY to shoo away these funds? Public polls, although not scientific, have shown at least a tolerance towards online gambling, and nearly all have questioned the reasoning behind such bans since most states do allow gambling, including those scratch off tickets you just bought will your 64oz drink after filling up.