Antigua’s legal counsel has dismissed the US government’s appeal of the landmark November WTO ruling in favour of the nation's eGaming sector, and said he remains confident Antigua will win the appeal.
In the original ruling, announced in November 2004, the WTO found the US to be in breach of international trade agreements by not allowing Antigua-based gaming companies to target US customers.
And Mark Mendel, lead legal counsel for Antigua, said the US appeal was simply “a re-arguing of the issues that the Panel found in our favour”.
“We do not consider it likely that the Appellate Body will take a significantly different view on these issues from the Panel,” Mendel said.
The US filed its appeal shortly before the 7 January deadline and a final decision from the WTO is now expected some time in May.
A spokesman for Antigua said the appeal was the “final hurdle” in the long running legal battle with the US.
The US appeal maintains that online gambling is specifically excluded from its existing trade agreements, although this has already been ruled against by the initial panel.
Press reports have suggested the US may disregard the WTO decision if it overrules its appeal, but the Antigua spokesman said the nation remained “confident” the US would comply with the WTO.
source : egaming review magazine
