US vs. EU questionaire

According to Financial Times, United States Trade Representative to the World Organization brushed away the questionnaire sent by the European Union to various American parties concerning the US monopoly policy on Internet gambling.
There will be a meeting between European Commissioner Peter Mandelson, his team, and Americans next month to discuss the complaints referred by the Remote Gaming Association. The conclusions reached of the questionnaire might allow EU to continue to put their efforts on further pursuit of the claims.

The European Commission was pushed by the RGA, to investigate complaints from European online gambling operators that US gambling laws are targeting European companies to protect certain US operators, such as the websites run by the American horse-betting industry.

According to the FT reports that Susan Schwab, the US Trade Representative, commented on the European Commission's questionnaire that there was "no basis for any allegation of ‘discriminatory enforcement’ of US gambling laws”.

The questionnaire was based on “mistaken assumption”, told Schwab to the Commission. According to her, the 2006 legislation did not change which gambling activities were lawful or unlawful. The USTR explained that enforcing US law and bringing charges was based on a number of factors, but nationality was not one of them.

It seems like the response shows how it lacks the concern on the part of US officialdom and how it’s ignoring the elimination in US gambling laws like the UIGEA that enable online betting through US horse racing and lottery websites whilst barring transactions with European companies and prosecuting visiting European gambling executives.Due to the UIGEA, several major European companies exit the US gambling market at a cost of billions of dollars in lost revenues and declining share prices.

The fear among several large European companies that they may be tracked down by the US Department of Justice for activities in the United States might worsen the issue, leading to ongoing negotiations with the Americans and the possibility of "settlement" agreements.

The US is guilty of “unfair and discriminatory treatment of the EU gambling industry and the continuing threat of prosecutions cannot be allowed to go unchecked,” claims Clive Hawkswood, the RGA's chief executive claims.

Next week, Congressman Barney Frank's HR5767 bill prohibiting further implementation of the supporting regulations for the UIGEA goes before the House Financial Services Committee for discussion and markup on June 24.

Casino News: US vs. EU questionaire

US vs. EU questionaire