EU Fed Up with
US Online Gambling Runaround
June 24 - While the United States has always been considered one
of the world's most 'arrogant and bullying' nations, it seems
that many people in many parts of the world are getting fed up
with this arrogance and are prepared to stand up to the
super-power.
No, I am not referring to terrorists, but the European Union (EU)
which comprises 27 member states, almost 500 million people and
generates an estimated 30 percent of the world's nominal gross
domestic product combined ($16.8 trillion in 2007).
The European Commission (EC), which represents the EU, has
decided to escalate a case involving a claim by European
online casino and online poker operators that US gambling
laws are being used unfairly against foreign operators in order
to protect its domestic gambling industry.
Last week, in another prime example of its lack of tact and
diplomacy, the United States ignored claims being investigated
by the EC that the country is discriminating against European
online gambling companies, in order to protect its own gambling
interests.
The EC is investigating claims made by the London-based Remote
Gambling Association (RGA), that although US online gambling
operators should be persecuted by the US Justice Department,
just as offshore online gambling firms have been, they have been
left alone.
In response to a set of official EC questions regarding the
matter, US trade representative, Susan Schwab, summed up the
position of the United States in a letter, with the following
quote: 'There is no basis for any allegation of discriminatory
enforcement of US gambling laws.'
What this means is that US believes it is doing no wrong - as
usual. (When, if ever, was the last time you heard an American
politician apologize for anything, such as starting a war based
on false information, financing coups in weak countries, or
driving up oil prices for the whole world?)
The US doesn't apologize for much, which is most often the way
with bullies. Hopefully though, a planned trip to Washington DC
next month by an EU delegation led by EU trade commissioner, Peter
Mandelson, will help knock some sense of fairness into US
lawmakers.
Don't hold your breathe though.
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