EU Probe: US Laws Banning Internet Gambling Break WTO Rules

[Mousey]

MARCH 26, 2009, 9:15 A.M. ET

EU Probe: US Laws Banning Internet Gambling Break WTO Rules

BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--U.S. laws banning Internet gambling break international trade rules, a European Union report said Thursday.

Ending a formal 12-month investigation into the matter, the E.U. has concluded that U.S. moves to bar European online gambling companies from operating in the U.S. constitute an obstacle to trade.

Although proceedings at the World Trade Organization would be justified, the E.U should seek a negotiated solution ...

[vinylweatherman]

MARCH 26, 2009, 9:15 A.M. ET

EU Probe: US Laws Banning Internet Gambling Break WTO Rules

BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--U.S. laws banning Internet gambling break international trade rules, a European Union report said Thursday.

Ending a formal 12-month investigation into the matter, the E.U. has concluded that U.S. moves to bar European online gambling companies from operating in the U.S. constitute an obstacle to trade.

Although proceedings at the World Trade Organization would be justified, the E.U should seek a negotiated solution ...

They probably will, given that these negotiations will be with a new administration, and one of the "other persuasion" too. US B & M casinos will benefit from a settlement, since they would be free to offer their products in the EU, giving them at least twice the potential market than if they were restricted to the US alone.

[jetset]

The RGA will be happy to at least secure for its members freedom from DoJ retroactive prosecution for being in the US market pre-UIGEA, and if negotiation achieves this it will be of value to European groups trying to get on with their lives.

This comes at a propitious time imo, with a new and hopefully more enlightened US administration in place, and Barney Frank gearing up for another attack on the UIGEA this spring.

The way in which state lotteries deposits have been screwed up by the overkill application of the UIGEA regulations so far will perhaps encourage more legislators to adopt a friendlier position on Barney's next assault.

[mrcj]

Its not right if the US doesn't allow foreign competition, Surely there is a way around this issue anyway. Can the european casino's etc allow us transactions. If they did who would stop the punters from playing???
the internet police lol

[jeanette]

Here's a more about it from IGamingNews:

EU Says U.S. Laws Violate W.T.O. Rules

Europe's internal market regulator, the European Commission, announced Thursday that United States Internet gambling laws are inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules, but stressed a round of negotiations between European and American trade officials should precede any action at the W.T.O.

"It is for the US to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations," Catherine M. Ashton, the European trade commissioner, said in a prepared statement. "I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue."

The commission said its investigation -- the results of which are contained in a draft report just finalized -- found that United States laws "deny access and discriminate against foreign suppliers of gambling and betting services inconsistently with US WTO obligations" and that W.T.O. proceedings against those laws "would be justified."

[jetset]

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