Online Casino Ban May be Challenged by EU

15 Feb 2007

The European Union may just challenge the US restrictions regarding online casino gaming. According to the EU, the legality of online casino gaming in the United States was ambiguous for many years, yet it was effectively banned last October with the passing of the UIGEA, or Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by the US Congress and President George W. Bush. Technically, the ban on online casinos focuses on blocking and prohibiting financial transactions between these institutions and online gambling players.

Several British online casino gaming firms were forced out of the US market as a result. Many online casino fans who reside in the US are finding other ways to continue this popular pastime without being caught or punished by the authorities. ‘In my view it is probably a restrictive practice and we might take it up in another fora,’ EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the European Parliament.

McCreevy later told reporters the US rules were a ‘prima facie’ case of protectionism. He added that the World Trade Organization was a possible venue for challenging them. What the future holds for online casino gaming fans that live in the US is unknown. Surely the US online casino players are behind the EU if it decides to tackle the US and its recent online casino gaming ban. What will happen in this debate and challenge only time will reveal. US online casino fans may actually win in the end. In the meantime, they can cross their fingers and hope that the EU can take the US and win.

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