Antigua & Barbuda Tells The US That Its Poker Crackdown Violates International Law

Antigua and Barbuda officials accused the U.S. on Wednesday of violating international trade law with the indictment of the  alleged operators of three offshore-based Internet poker companies and the domain seizures.

Both Antigua and Barbuda license Internet gambling companies.

The Caribbean nation’s finance minister, Harold Lovell, issued a statement saying:

“I am concerned that at this point in time United States authorities continue to prosecute nondomestic suppliers of remote gaming services in clear contravention of international law,” Lovell said.

Basically Antigua is saying the US is protecting its own gambling industry by cracking down on non-US gambling companies thereby engaging in protectionism.

Lovell went on to say:

“I am not aware of any other situation where a member of the World Trade Organization has subjected persons to criminal prosecution under circumstances where the WTO has expressly ruled that to do so is in breach of an International treaty”

Mark Mendel, the Caribbean government’s legal advisor, told Reuters:

“I don’t think there’s another country in the world that puts people in jail for engaging in trade that’s lawful under international law, by telephone on Thursday. “It’s as if Antigua would put Americans in jail for selling pineapples.”

One of the companies subject  to the domain name seizure and law enforcement action Absolute Poker, is licensed in Antigua.

source: thedomains

Do you feel the US is in violation of International law? If it means stopping the US from cracking down on online gambling then i say .........hell yes!

hmm interesting .. can we remember the steel tariffs ? that are still affecting millions from supposedly protecting our interests.. i am sad to say that i am an American sometimes , but alas i am a natural citizen and would only be second rate to any other country .. there are good things in this country , good people , and still the country is if not the best to live in still ... but our imperialism can't live on forever