EU Online Gambling Decision Splits Casino Factions
The decision by the European Parliament not to devise standardized rules for regulating online casinos has drawn both praise and condemnation from within the gaming industry. The European Casino Association, representing land casinos, applauded the ruling, while the Remote Gaming Association, representing online gambling sites, expressed regret.The EP voted almost unanimously to adopt a resolution prepared by a Danish Member. The Resolution notes the dangers particular to gambling and stresses that gambling's special nature demands it be excepted from normal commerce agreements.
The result is that individual nations will continue to create their own laws and regulatory system, a process which has resulted in ten nations being cited for failure to conform to EU trade standards. Land casino operators prefer this arrangement, which allows them to resist competition in some countries.
The RGA, led by Clive Hawkswood, has asked for a Union-wide regulatory system to prevent national laws from violating the European Treaty and limiting competition. Hawkswood denounced the Resolution, saying a report commissioned by the EP had reached drastically different results and showed Internet gambling could be regarded as any other commercial product.
The end result is that the courts will continue to be the only source of relief for Internet gambling sites disputing national laws. Hawkswood says that as many as twenty countries are operating to protect their domestic online casinos and monopolies.
"We will of course keep campaigning for the rights of our members but the reality is that effective change will only be achieved when more member states introduce their own licensing regimes," said Hawkswood.
