EU Trade calls for change in US Gambling Laws

Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner has decided to put more pressure on the United States to change their Internet gambling laws.

When the WTO rules against the US in the case brought by Antigua and Barbuda in connection with the UIGEA, the United States just decided to remove gambling services from commitments made dating all the way back to 1994. The EU Commissioner spoke out against the US in order to avoid the big fines that were coming.

He has said that there needs to be a change made in the US legislation that takes out the discrimination against EU operators. When WTO members default on its commitments compensation is due, the amount of the compensation is in talks right now.

European Online gambling companies are asking for over $100 billion in retribution for the business that they say they have lost after the UIGEA, Antigua and Barbuda are also seeking amounts exceeding $3 billion, the US says that those numbers are way too much and that there will be talks and cases to figure out exactly what is owed to whom.