RGA Hopes US, EU Online Gambling Talks Strive For No Prosecutions

The timetable has been set for talks between US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and European Union Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton. Over the next couple of months, negotiations will be taking place to try to bring the US into compliance with EU trade agreements.

The Remote Gambling Association has a message for the two representatives during the negotiations. The RGA wants the main focus to be on freeing any foreign companies from prosecution, not necessarily compensation for the past.

"The aim is to secure what the European Commission deems as a reliable undertaking that EU gambling interests won't be pursued by the DoJ for activities which should have been under protection of WTO agreements," said RGA Chief Executive Clive Hawkswood, to EGRmagazine.com, "There's no issue of compensation."

Basically, what that means is that the foreign gaming companies will eat whatever money they have lost by having to leave the US market, so long as they are not at risk of prosecution by the US government. Even with the goal being indemnity, lawmakers in the US are intent on changing the online gambling laws in the country.

Representative Barney Frank has been arguing against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act for several years. He recently has proposed legislation that would overturn the UIGEA and set the framework for legalized and regulated Internet gambling in the US.

Frank's attempt last year to overturn the UIGEA fell on deaf ears in Congress. This time around, however, his fellow Democrats have control of Congress, which should make it easier for Frank's views to be heard and accepted.

The US had been investigated by the EU, and the report from that investigation showed that the US was in violation of EU trade agreements. The EU has given the US a grace period to correct the violations before bringing their case to the World Trade Organization. Representatives Kirk and Ashton have agreed to keep in touch regarding the issue over the next couple of months.

July 22, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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