EU To Investigate U.S. Online Gambling Crackdown

[engine]

The European Union launched an investigation on Monday into whether U.S. prosecutions of foreign online gambling companies were discriminatory, possibly paving the way for action at the World Trade Organization.

"The U.S. has the right to address legitimate public policy concerns relating to Internet gambling, but discrimination against EU companies cannot be part of the policy mix," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said in a statement.

EU To Investigate U.S. Online Gambling Crackdown [uk.reuters.com]

[8foldpath]

I wonder what the time horizon is for any sort of re-integration of these sites into the legit-business economy will be. I read an article in the 'Economist' about 2 months ago which seemed to put the world in favor of a majority of the side-effects of poker. It teaches math, reading into peoples behaviors, statistics, etc.. All fairly high level skillsets which you don't get in most class room activities.

[DamonHD]

I'd personally be a lot better off by now if the US was playing fair (and by the rules that *it* insisted on at GATT) rather than pandering to a rather narrow part of its electorate in a flagrantly protectionist and inconsistent manner.

As everyone agrees I think, the US has every right to ban things on grounds of morality, etc, but not with the 'unless you're a US company' rider.

Rgds

Damon

[thecoalman]

rather than pandering to a rather narrow part of its electorate in a flagrantly protectionist and inconsistent manner.

IMO That really has nothing to do with it , gambling is alive and well in most parts of the US. At the very least most states have... drum roll please... state sponsored lotteries. They just legalized casinos recently in the state where I live and they are getting 50% or better of the take. That is why they don't want to see online gambling.

[DamonHD]

Which part of protectionist and inconsistent was I being unclear about? B^>

(Even without getting into the whole horse-racing carveout bit...)

Rgds

Damon

[edited by: DamonHD at 10:55 pm (utc) on Mar. 11, 2008]

[Moncao]

I wish online gambling was illegal anywhere (I neither promote nor play), but the US move is discrimination and they should put their own house in order before clamping down on profitable EU houses! I still remember being offered free (OK, $1 a night) accommodation in Vegas plus free betting chips.