EU: US online gambling laws breach WTO

[The Buzz]

The European Union said yesterday that a U.S. crackdown on European online gambling companies violates U.S. commitments under the World Trade Organization.

From Reuters:

"The report finds that U.S. laws on remote gambling and their enforcement against EU companies constitute a barrier to market access on EU economic interests," the EU said in a summary.

"Furthermore, EU companies are discriminated against: U.S. companies are allowed to freely operate online gambling on horse racing in the U.S., while European companies and individuals cannot and even face legal action," the EU said.

Online gambling advocate (and U.S. Congressman) Barney Frank said he welcomed the E.U.'s findings:

"I'm struck by the people who think we have to abide absolutely and religiously by the WTO ... but when it comes to banning gambling and the WTO, they ignore it."

[ppw]

Has not this been said before though?? Unfortunately I dont believe that it will make any difference

[Bently]

I think its only there to protect their own industry, if every other country followed suite everyone would loose-out in the long run.

I personally can't see how the US can justify it.

[casinojack]

The US does what they want. who knows what fine they paid last year with the WTO, some speculate billions !

[ppw]

I agree, if every EU country started this protectionism it would make a mockery of the whole WTO ideal.

And if no country allows cross border trade then we may as well get rid of the euro and have the franc, deutch mark, lira etc etc back. Then that way I would probably get a better rate for CAC than 101.2 lol....Ive just sorted the global recession...wow!

[LiveCasinoPartners]

Am I wrong, or wasn't it less than a month ago that the EU commission was trying to place regional restrictions on online gambling? That's a hypocritical of them to take two complete opposite stances at the same political interval.

[vinism]

This is actually a case where the European Commission is at odds with the EU Parliament. The Commission, which is the executive branch of the EU, wants to online gambling to be part of the EU's single market economy, and is trying to force member countries to disband their monopolies and protectionist policies. And it's based on that philosophy that they're pressing the U.S. on Internet gambling trade policy. But most EU nations, as seen by an overwhelming vote by the EU parliament, disagree with the European Commission. These nations want gambling to be excluded from the single market so they can maintain their protectionist policies and lucrative tax bases. So yes, there is a lot of hypocrisy. But part of it is systemic in that the Commission is charged with trying to make the EU work, and that is often at odds with what its members want.

[Bently]

Perhaps the topic will be raised at the G20 Summit that takes place in London this Thursday,
but some how I very much doubt it! although I am sure the topic of Protectionism will be on the "waffel" agenda.

[raphnix]

I think its only there to protect their own industry, if every other country followed suite everyone would loose-out in the long run.

I personally can't see how the US can justify it.

Yeah. I suppose I can agree with you.

Europeen Union must be weary of the growing online casino industry in US and that could beat some of their potential online businesses.

[Chalkie]

The EU is just a web of deceipt, there are more left hands than right hands and none of them know what the other is doing!

Bigger bunch of crooks than the Cosa Nostra

About time the EU was dissolved (In a vat of acid preferably) ...