EU to Challenge US Online Gambling Law
By Tobias Buck in Brussels, Financial Times


US legislation on online betting was described as protectionist by the European Unions top financial regulator on Tuesday and may trigger legal action before the World Trade Organisation.

The legislation makes it illegal for banks and credit card companies to process online bets placed by American citizens with foreign gambling sites.

Charlie McCreevy, the EU internal market commissioner, said: In my view it is probably a restrictive practice and we might take it up in another forum. He added that the case could go to the WTO, and also suggested he would pursue the matter with his American counterparts on a visit to the US in March.

Though it is not clear whether the Union will follow through on Mr Mc-Creevys threat of WTO action, his remarks highlight the deep divide between Brussels and Washington over gambling restrictions. The Commission has long argued that gambling and sports betting operations should enjoy the same rights as other service providers, and has repeatedly attacked European countries that impose undue restrictions on the industry.

The US, by contrast, has launched a broad regulatory crackdown on foreign gambling and sports betting operators, culminating in the arrest last year of two senior British industry executives for alleged violations of US anti-gambling provisions. The countrys tough stance has already sparked one legal defeat for the US at the WTO in a case brought by Antigua and Barbuda, two Caribbean island states with big offshore internet gambling operations.

The Geneva-based body ruled that the US had violated international trade agreements by allowing online horse-betting by US sites but not from abroad.

However, that case, in which the EU supported many of the complainants arguments, is not directed specifically at the October 2006 law that targets banks and credit card companies. Commission officials said they would in any case wait for a final compliance ruling in the Antigua case before making any further legal moves.

Both EU and US trade officials are currently engaged in a last-ditch attempt to restart talks on a sweeping global trade deal known as the Doha round a factor that could severely limit Brussels appetite for fresh bilateral trade spats. While Mr McCreevys advisers believe the October 2006 law includes several WTO incompatibilities, the ex-treme sensitivity surrounding gambling policy may reduce the chances of the Commission bringing a case.

Mr McCreevy stressed that there was no major momentum behind a new WTO complaint, and his officials pointed out that a final decision on such a move would in any case rest with Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner.

However, Mr McCreevys intervention still marks a notable escalation in the Commissions approach towards the US gambling crackdown. It also stands in contrast to the Brussels bodys silence on the arrests of the UK gambling executives in the US in July and September last year.

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Originally published to Gambling911.com January 30, 2007 6:52 pm ET

I still say this (US relaxing) is pie in the sky. The fact is that PRTY had it too easy - they were making profits which any normal=real business could only dream of. They should have used this brief time to build their brand and become a serious player in many other forms of gaming and gambling - instead I suspect the Execs took their money and ran for the golf-club and yacht showrooms.
1 March 2007:- RNS tells it like it is: "the execs need an incentive scheme" - so will that make them more effective than previously? I doubt it - a few sackings would concentrate minds, along with a move to London (or Manchester!), so shareholders would have access to these execs. As to the disposal of property - I suspect we are going to see a short-arm deal where the buyers will be grinning from ear to ear...if there isn't a shareholder-led claw-back clause you will know the deal smells. Company business must be at arms length- - -that means an open-market deal, or London-auction, so it is clear who is bidding what. I have grave suspicions that Execs should be working for the company and not doing self-deals in company time...and not at all with company property.
Will the company benefit from these EGM -specials.....don't be silly, if execs need incentive to do a day's work, or create "Shareholder-value", it is clear they are unsuited to the posts...the suggestion that they will be involved in some property-deal is further evidence, IMHO.
I guess the smart people sold at 40p, yet I'm hoping things may improve, but removing these execs will be the first step....this RNS provides the best evidence: that they have no interest in shareholders...........Grr.
All IMHO...but let's see, eh?

Well, according to Shares mag. it seems there MAY be some US gambling allowed...and the likes of PRTY should be set to benefit.
My comments re the land transaction still hold, so I doubt I shall increase my holding...just let it run .....currently about 47p to buy.

However, it would be nice to think our Execs are working hard to develop the business without-US-involvment, just in case it doesn't happen...or is overturned by another Politician keen to get the righteous ground.