Business news for Mon, 17 Dec 2007 & with word gaming. 6 news.

The compensation deal with the European Union over closure of the US internet gambling market is unlikely to reduce pressure for the US to relax its online gaming laws

THE United States' refusal to comply with a World Trade Organization decision on online gambling is threatening to undermine the entire set of rules binding the international trade system. The WTO is to decide soon on a demand from the tropical nation of Antigua and Barbuda for US$3.4 billion in annual compensation from the US, whose law banning Americans from betting on Internet gaming sites was first ruled illegal by the WTO in 2004. The implications of the case go far beyond Antigua, a nation of 69,000. That's because, instead of rewriting its gambling laws, the US rewrote its trade rules to remove the issue from the WTO's jurisdiction. The prospect that other nations may take a similar tack if cases don't go their way has spooked the international trade community. "This is by far the most significant WTO case ever," says Naotaka Matsukata, a policy adviser in Washington with Alston + Bird LLP and a former US trade official. Meanwhile, Antigua, which has

MGM Mirage, the US-based gaming and resorts group, is in discussions with Dubai World to extend their relationship into China

European online gaming companies were dealt a blow as the EU agreed to a US offer to open some other services markets as compensation for closing its online gambling market to foreign operators

Wim Stocks says his game-publishing start-up, Elephant Entertainment, offers opportunity in online gaming for both players and retailers.

MGM MIRAGE becomes the latest gaming giant to try and lure the Chinese gambler on Tuesday, when the company opens its first casino resort outside the United States in the tiny enclave of Macau.