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| | | March 11 - Since the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming
Enforcement Act (UIGEA) at the end of 2006 to block US citizens from gambling
online, the US Department of Justice has been an online gambling 'witch hunt'.
Now the tables could be turned with news that the European Union (EU) has begun
an enquiry designed to find out if America's online gambling policies are unfair
to
foreign operators.
Since the US online gambling ban, which had an enormously negative impact on the
global online gambling industry, many European online gambling firms have
complained to the European Commission (EC) that the United States has unfairly
targeted offshore gambling firms, while allowing its domestic companies to
continue to operate.
Said EU trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, 'While the United States has the
right to address legitimate public policy concerns relating to online gambling,
it cannot, however, discriminate against EU-based online gambling by excluding
them from its policy mix.'
In December last year, the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) lodged a complaint
with the EC claiming that the US Department of Justice was going
after foreign online gambling operators, while many US gambling companies,
particularly those involved in online horse betting, where left alone.
Said RGA chief, Clive Hawkswood, 'As the online gambling industry trade
association, we cannot just sit on the sidelines any longer and watch while our members
are being prosecuted by the US Department of Justice, while US companies continue to
operate untouched, happily reaping the rewards.'
The EU is expected to examine the complaints in the next 5 to 8 months, whereupon it will
aim to sit down with US authorities and reach a mutually acceptable
and beneficial solution. If this fails, the EU could lodge a complaint with the
World Trade Organization against the US.
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- eCOGRA Goes to Bat for Online Gambling Fans - 02-26-08
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