Finally, at the end of last week, the findings of the long-lasting UIGEA investigations conducted by the EU Trade Commission were publicized. As already anticipated the results of the report were not in favor of the vastly criticized UIGEA enactment.
Earlier last week we already announced that the European Commission was on its way to publicize the long-awaited results, with the article containing additional information on how the whole issue lead off.
12 Months Later
After a twelve-month investigation the EU Trade Commission finally announced that with the enactment of the UIGEA in 2006, the U.S. violated the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements between the U.S. and Europe.
The main conclusion of the research is that by allowing domestic companies to operate on the online gambling market, yet disallowing foreign entrants, the States effectively put into place protectionist measures. These types of measures are absolutely not consistent with the ideals of free trade and competition that the WTO fights to realize.
Negotiated Solution
American companies like for example Churchill Downs Inc., were not thwarted in any way from offering online gambling services. While such business opportunities were fenced from European companies, the report does not suggest the filing of a formal claim at the WTO for missed business profits.
The concluding piece of advice that the report gives is to come to a negotiated solution with the Obama Administration. As we have seen from previous news articles on CasinoGuide, such a solution would be a viable option.
