EU, Online Poker’s Best Friend?
Posted on March 11, 2008
Filed Under Las Vegas
Monday the BBC reported the EU has agreed to assess European online gaming firm's complaints of discrimination imposed against them as a results of the 2006 US Internet gaming ban. The complaints claim the US allows US companies to provide Internet gambling services to its citizens while excluding any US rivals from doing business. The EU firm's complaints continue with claims that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutes foreign gambling operators even though US gambling firms continue to do business as usual.
Internet gambling trade organization, the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), filed a complaint with the EU in December. It is expected the EU inquiry will take several months to reach a conclusion. An EU spokesperson reported the EU is looking forward to debating the US in an effort to reach a solution.
The World Trade Organization ruled against the US last December in a similar case involving Antigua and Barbuda complaints of banning them from offering Internet gambling to the US. The action resulted in a $21 million sanction against the US.
In other Internet poker news, the Finns are considering an Internet poker ban of sorts that would make winning players, credit card companies, and online poker rooms open to claims for losses by Internet poker players. According to this proposal, a winning online Finnish player could be held responsible to return any winnings from fellow Finns. Since the online poker rooms would also be responsible for this unacceptable liability the end result would be the banning of Finnish players from online poker rooms.
Germany already has an online gambling ban in place; but, the EU is challenging the ban and some internal German factions are also complaining. A German court recently favored an Internet gambling firm by throwing out a prior judgment against them and allowing them to resume offering their services in Germany.
When it comes to Internet gaming the EU has taken the side of the gaming Industry and ruled against those that would take away our freedom of choice. Let's hope they continue through with their latest investigation of the US online poker bans and not settle for some apples-for-oranges trade sanctions compromise.
If history serves me, the US will get it's way. After all, we are the biggest, baddest dude on the block and in the final analysis, it's our way or the highway and that's the American way. In past dealings between the US and the EU over the US gambling ban the Eu has proven to be a toothless paper tiger. Don't expect any relief anytime soon.
As we have stated in past posts, the return of real money Internet casinos to US players will probably come form online casinos operating as a division of a major land based US casino company. The Vegas movers and shakers have made public their interest in developing an Internet presence. Some have already proofed their concepts and software so when the day finally arrives they can quickly open the door for business. Wouldn't it be ironic if that day came right after the last European based Internet casino had closed as a result of all the gaming bans? That would be a coincidence akin to a miracle.
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