Will the decision for online gambling be in favor of USA or Antigua?

The world is waiting for the decision of the WTO concerning the case of Online Gambling of Antigua against USA. Is the decision going to be against USA? What will the reaction be? The countdown starts. TODAY, December 14, 2007 will be a day in the history for Online Gambling. In fact, The WTO Internet gambling trade conflict is the most significant WTO case in history.

Antigua is a recognized centre for online gambling companies. It was one of the first nations to legalize, license and regulate online gaming. The case will cost the USA billions of dollars. The real problem lies here: “U.S. unfairly prohibit foreign Internet gambling operators from accessing the U.S. market, while allowing domestic companies to legally accept online bets.”
USA’s commitment in the WTO is contrasting the actions it takes. Whether USA is the largest country and whether it has so much power, doesn’t allow it to infringe the WTO agreements.

The United States has argued Antigua concerning the compensation. USA is entitled to only $500,000 in compensation because of that ban. But Antigua, whose revenue is all concentrated on online gambling companies, has asked to impose $3.44 billion a year worth the damage it has made.

Statistics show some $80 billion to $100 billion is bet online around the world every year, with providers taking in from $15 billion to $20 billion in revenues and some 10 million Americans played Internet poker for cash in the past year.

Antigua is asking for this grant as a form of compensation. And if the American Government refuses to accept the ruling: Antiguans are planning to breach intellectual property laws by distributing copies of American music, movie and software products….and many others.
W.T.O. cannot back down because that would weaken its trustworthiness with the rest of the world.