Mark Mendel, Antigua’s head legal adviser in the WTO internet gambling dispute, commented: “Whatever the bill might specifically say, this is an excellent development. It is about time that the US gave this issue the thoughtful consideration it deserves rather than simply trying to prohibit it.”
Earlier this week, before Barney Frank announced his internet gambling bill, Sallie James of the Cato Institute said that if market expectations are any guide, the United States will likely end up allowing its citizens to gamble online. “In the hours after the WTO ruling was announced, stocks in online gaming companies lifted,” said James. “Investors clearly see the writing on the wall, even if the U.S. government does not.”