European Union Officials to Meet With US Delegates Over Online Gambling

A delegation of European Union trade officials will conduct talks with US officials at the end of this month over prosecutions and market restrictions concerning online gambling that appear to European interests to be restrictive and discriminatory in nature, according to Poker News.

Previously the US side was to have filled out an extensive questionnaire prepared by EU officials in an effort to determine why the United States would prohibit publicly traded European online gaming firms like PartyGaming and Sportingbet from marketing within the United States.  Several of these firms have filed a formal complaint with the EU via the Remote Gaming Association. 

But Gambling911.com would be remiss in pointing out that the European Union has had difficulties keeping their own house of cards in order.  Several EU countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden and France, have taken equally aggressive stances against Internet gambling to that of the United States. 

Sweden has benefited from having one of the most lucrative online poker websites, Svenska Spel.  But Svenkska Spel is a monopoly that the European Union has condemned, though they appear powerless at this point much the same way they have been unable to force the hand of the United States Government.   

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will head the delegation that will meet with US officials, which was announced shortly after the USTR's brief response.