EU pressures US into online gaming
12th November, 2007
Meetings on the Transatlantic Economic Cooperation took place in Washington DC this week and Mandelson met eith US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
They spoke of online casino operators and poker rooms and how the US banning online gaming was having a detrimental effect on the revenues of these European operators and how they should open their doors to them or else pay compensation.
This week, the World Trade Organisation had found the USA guilty of violating trade laws by barring Antiguan gaming operators from the US market. Following this momentous decision, the US proceeded to withdraw their WTO obligations with regards to gaming.
The EU and US leaders are locked in talks to decide the level of the settlement they believe due.
Antigua is already looking into their compensation and Costa Rica, India and Canada are also looking for compensation.
US operators are also looking for a way back into the US - where gaming is dominated by Vegas based operators.
