U.S. has until April to change Internet gambling law

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has granted the United States until April 3, 2006, to comply with a ruling regarding an unjust ban on Internet gambling services offered by Antigua. The WTO has ruled that the ban violates the WTO's policies, and the organization has slapped the U.S. with an earlier deadline despite the fact American representatives were hoping for a July date.

The United States Trade Representative's Office has announced they will concede to the WTO ruling but warns their compliance will not result in a general relaxation of U.S. Internet gambling laws.

A small Caribbean nation, Antigua & Barbuda has invested quite seriously in Internet gaming in an effort to boost local employment and the economy. The United States' position on Internet gaming has kept U.S. banks and major Internet search engines from doing business with gaming industry firms based on the island, which has in turn hindered the island's economic efforts.

The United States prohibits the placing of bets across state lines by electronic means and telephone wires. Antigua challenged the U.S.' regulations in 2003 in the WTO as a violation of commitments made by the United States when the WTO was formed in 1995.