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EU Trade Commissioner Urges US to Regulate
Online Gambling
by Lance Kessel Onlinecasinosworld.com
November 26,
2007
While visiting the U.S. recently, the European Union Trade Commissioner,
Peter Mandelson, had some tough things to say to say to U.S. trade
representatives who are making motions to back out of international trade
obligations by divvying out compensation claims. Over the course of his visit,
Mandelson told reporters that compensation was not enough to satisfy the EU. The
real issue at hand is about the U.S. continuing to get away with discriminatory
practices simply because it has the money to "buy off" other nations.
Well, besides the fact that the U.S. really does not have the money to do
this anyways (although I'm sure they will put it up in the good name of
taxpayers even though it will further deepen the federal deficit), now that the
EU, WTO and European Commission all agree to disagree with the US stance on
internet betting regulation, there is a much better chance the U.S. will think
twice about paying out claims it cannot afford anyways.
Currently, the US government is trying to negotiate compensation claims with
EU member countries and the WTO. It's not surprise they are trying to pay much
less than what is actually on the table - billions of dollars. Perhaps the U.S.
government does not really believe they have an online gambling industry that
generates billions of dollars in a single year? Well, although we know that's
not the case, it sure would explain the senseless decision to try and ban online
gambling.
The primary reason Commissioner Mandelson was in the U.S. was to discourse
with Congressman Barney Frank, who is spearheading a legislative effort to
overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and implement regulation
protocols that would give individual State's the power to regulate much in the
same way they do for land-based casinos. In addition to letting the U.S. know
that compensation is not the answer, he discussed options with Frank regarding
current regulation efforts.
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