European Commission Investigation Finds U.S. Laws on Internet Gambling Violate Trade Agreement
U.S. regulation of Internet gambling would resolve trade dispute
As part of a formal investigation, the European Commission has issued a preliminary report that finds U.S. laws on Internet gambling are legally not justified and discriminatory. The report found that the treatment of foreign Internet gambling operators by the U.S. under existing domestic law constituted a barrier to market access for European companies and is inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Legislation previously introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) would resolve the trade dispute by regulating Internet gambling and creating a level playing field among domestic and foreign Internet gambling operators.
“The European Commission investigation further highlights the need for the Obama Administration and Congress to regulate Internet gambling not only to protect consumers, but in order to restore integrity to the international trade system,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. “The Obama Administration should seek to forge a new direction on Internet gambling, rather than keeping in place a protectionist trade policy that hypocritically discriminates against foreign online gambling operators.”
E.U. Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton released a statement that encourages the U.S. to regulate Internet gambling as a way to address this issue. “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations. I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue,” said Commissioner Ashton.
Rt Hon. David Blunkett MP, former U.K. Home Secretary and current Member of the U.K. Parliament joined in calling for U.S. regulation, saying, “I fully support the call by the E.U. Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, for urgent U.S. action to regularise the trade relationship, respect WTO rules and to regulate online gambling. This would provide not only fair competition, but protection for individuals and families, and a legal basis on which substantial revenue could be raised at a time of considerable pressure on public finances.”
The investigation by the European Commission is the result of a Trade Barrier Regulation complaint filed by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which represents the largest remote gambling companies in Europe. In its complaint the RGA claims the United States violates international trade law by threatening and pursuing criminal prosecutions, forfeitures and other enforcement actions against foreign Internet gambling operators, while allowing domestic U.S. online gambling operators, primarily horse betting, to flourish.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the European Commission could pursue discussions with the U.S. to find an appropriate solution to end the discrimination. If the parties cannot settle the matter themselves, the Commission could bring a case against the U.S. to the WTO.
A recent analysis found that the U.S. could receive as much as $51.9 billion in federal revenue over the next decade if Internet gambling is regulated as proposed in legislation previously introduced by Representatives Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative
The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit www.safeandsecureig.org. The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.
March Madness Can Create Gambling Problems
The following was released today by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey:
“March Madness” is a highlight of the year for many sports fans. Many alumni and fans actively root for their team and support their preferences with a bet. Some people, however, bet beyond their means and become focused on the tournament to the exclusion of daily responsibilities. Excitement easily turns to depression, debt and desperation.
March Madness office pools attract a large number of people who have not gambled before. Donald Weinbaum, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, says “A percentage of adolescents and adults who gamble on these games will eventually get addicted to the action … the rush … the thrill of sometimes winning … and will become problem or compulsive gamblers. Without treatment, their lives will become progressively worse.” What starts as an innocent pastime can become a catalyst and gateway for other gambling and eventually devastation.
The Nevada Gaming Commission estimates legal wagering on March Madness at $80-90 million, and Nevada is the only place where sports gambling is legal. Sports gambling analyst Danny Sheridan believes that more than $7 billion is bet illegally through office pools, bets with friends, on-line betting and betting with bookies. The NCAA estimates that one in ten Americans will complete a tournament bracket.
According to The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, 26% of young men 14 – 22 bet monthly on sports and 10% bet weekly. Nine percent of callers to New Jersey’s 1-800-GAMBLER(R) helpline say sports betting is their primary form of gambling.
Many people choose to watch the NCAA tournament at work over the Internet. This clearly has a negative impact on workplace productivity. As a result, some companies have developed policies against gambling to deal with the growing problem.
For most people, March Madness is a fun time. It does not become problematic. For a small percentage, it can initiate or accelerate a growing gambling problem. Symptoms include lies to loved ones, betting more than you planned, and a solitary focus on the bet. Gambling is an addiction and can be treated. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER(R). You will be referred to a Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor and/or given information about a Gamblers Anonymous meeting in your vicinity. You owe it to yourself or your friend to do so.
For further information contact Donald Weinbaum at 609-588-5515 ext. 17 or don@800gambler.org.
Source: Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ, Inc.
WSN.com Launches New Football Odds Comparison Product
World Sports Network Helps Football Bettors Find the Best Odds Faster and Easier
Committed to giving sports bettors improved access to professional sports betting information, World Sports Network today announces the launch of its new football betting odds comparison product.
With coverage of nearly every available bet for thousands of upcoming football matches, this product provides bettors with an incredibly wide and deep amount of information. Other websites tend to present this information in an overwhelming and hard to navigate manner, but WSN now makes it easy to compare odds quickly through a simple user interface that gives bettors direct access to key betting markets all on one page.
Access to the new WSN odds comparison is now available at: http://www.wsn.com/football-odds/
“WSN has been a leader for some time in betting statistics, but we wanted to give our users better access to football odds. Even though other websites publish some of this information, nobody has the same professional focus or extensive coverage of Asian Handicap or Asian Totals as WSN. This product caters to professional punters who know what they are looking for and need that information ASAP,” commented COO Kevin McCrystle. In addition to current odds for more than 20 bookmakers, the new product will also feature an interactive historical odds chart.
The odds comparison coverage includes:
- Over 200 different betting markets for major football events
- Over 600 different football competitions
- Over 200,000,000 current and historical odds
The new odds comparison will compliment WSN’s already popular live score service and informative matchup pages.