Offshore bookies upbeat on WTO ruling

[Bettorsworld]

Betonsports CEO David Carruthers wants to set up shop in the US. “I’d be on the first airplane out of here,' said Carruthers, whose online bookmaker is currently based in Costa Rica. 'We would have our operation in the U.S. up and running in 30 days,' Carruthers said. The day that online bookmakers can set up shop in the US may be just a little bit nearer, thanks to the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) judgment in favour of Antigua against the US.

A WTO panel last week ruled in favor of a complaint from Antigua that the US’ prohibitionary measures towards online gambling constitute an unfair trade barrier.


Internet gambling companies think the ruling could boost the prospects of eventual US regulation of the online gambling industry. 'It's definitely a stepping stone,' said Simon Noble, CEO of offshore bookmaker BetWWTS.com.


Despite concerns about encouraging problem gambling, the average NCAA tournament bet on Betonsports.com is $60. Last year the tournament pulled in 1.6 million bets, totaling $96 million.


The US government will appeal the WTO decision, but if it loses and keeps trying to enforce a prohibition on online gambling, the US would be liable to trade sanctions. Despite this, the anti-online gambling lobby is still gung-ho about prohibition.


'Laws against sports betting and Internet gambling advance important social policy,' said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) the author of the Senate legislation on online gambling. 'We've had a ban on interstate sports gambling through telephone lines or wires since 1961. So long as we fail to clearly adapt this law to include the Internet, we will leave unchecked a dangerous and growing addiction.'

[stardust]

Senator Kyl

If the good Senator believes that "Laws against sports betting and Internet gambling advance important social policy" then why in the world would there be more than 50 ways to place a wager in Arizona.

To paraphrase my position - the Good Senator is full of shit. As long as Arizona is turning a buck of their gambling vehicles, it's ok; otherwise it's a social evil? Give it a break!

Like Claude Raines in Casablanca - the good Senator is "shocked, shocked that there is gambling going on [in Arizona]"

Everyone is entiltled to their own opinion, but they aren't entitled to their own facts. The facts are clear that Arizona not only allows gambling, but they promote it! On top of that, the odds are horrendous. They give the player the worst of it by a long margin. The lottery amounts to a "stupidy tax," for players too dumb to see they just can't win.

If he was against all gambling, I would disagree and respect his opinion; however he is pro-gambling when it's lining his pockets and anti-gambling when it isn't.