SOURCE: Bloomberg

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Gambling Addiction

The law's supporters argued that banning online gambling would lower levels of gambling addiction.

``We do not see any decrease in the number of online gamblers seeking help, and anecdotally we see an increase,'' said Kevin Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling in Washington.

``As with alcohol and drugs, prohibition of online gambling is one of the most ineffective ways of addressing a public health problem.''

The law may have made it harder for children to gamble online.

Dan Romer, research director of the Adolescent Risk Communication Institute of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, said its annual survey shows a reduction in underage gamblers on the Internet.

``It is simply harder for children to get their bets on online because it is more difficult to deposit now,'' he said.

World Trade Organization

There is a small chance that the U.S. may be forced to repeal the law.

The Antiguan government, which licensed many of the online sports bookies targeting the American market, has taken the U.S. to the World Trade Organization, arguing that anti-gambling laws restrict free trade.

The WTO agreed, but the Americans have so far ignored the rulings. The U.S. may be forced to change its stance once WTO sanctions start to bite.

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