Formal Complaint Filed

January 8, 2008

The European Commission has filed a formal complaint against the United States because of their online gambling policy. They claim that the US is practicing discrimination and are in violation of international trade law. The companies that make up the union are calling for the abolishment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA.

They say that they need to regulate online gambling instead of banning it, and thus creating an opportunity for outside online gambling companies to gain admittance to their residents. They say that under the treaties signed the country is not holding up their end of the deal.

They filed under a provision of the European Union’s Trade Barriers Regulation by the Remote Gambling Association, or RGA, which represents the online gambling companies in Europe. There had been threats of them filing against the US, and many think that they were just waiting to see how things were panning out with the other suits that had been brought against the country.

The RGA says that by threatening and pressing criminal prosecutions, forfeitures and other enforcement actions against online gambling companies located outside of the US that they are in violation of their trade laws. By continuing to allow online gambling within their country, they are creating a monopoly within their borders which is illegal and a clear discrimination against the European online gambling companies.

The RGA knows that with the win that Antigua just had over the US in regards to their online gambling issues that they are in a much better position to negotiate. They say that with the WTO ruling in the small country’s favor, it simply shows that the US is violating all kinds of online gambling regulations and will have to comply just as they would expect other countries to.




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