If the U.S. seriously thinks they are going to get away with passing the
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and not facing any repercussions from
the international community, they have another thing coming. I know that doesn't
sound very threatening by the words alone, so picture a little, old lady
brandishing a cane and capping the same statement with the word "sonny".
Well,
I'll tell you one thing. Peter Mendelson is no little, old lady (not that
there's anything wrong with that). What Mr. Mendelson has that no other little
old ladies have or anybody has for that matter, is the position of Trade
Commissioner in the European Union. A pretty powerful seat to say the least, the
Trade Commissioner has the means to put some heavy fines on the U.S. in response
to its protectionist behavior of online gambling activities.
Following the criticism of Internal Market and Services Commissioner of the
European Commission, Charlie McCreevy, the U.S. has found itself in a more
hostile situation than perhaps it bargained for. Granted, as negotiations are
being made regarding billions in claims from EU and WTO members like Antigua and
Barbuda, the U.S. is apparently opting to pay these claims in light of breaking
their commitment to the WTO. However, Mendelson is saying that financial
reparation is not enough.
While the Commissioner was in Washington DC recently to meet with Barney
Frank about proposed legislation to regulate online casino gambling in the U.S.,
he made it known that he will continue to argue on behalf of the European
market. Mendelson came out and said it: "Compensation does not do the job".
Rather, online gambling legislation needs to be in place and discriminatory
policies against European online casinos and betting operators must come to an
end.
I know what you might be saying. It's just the European Union, right? What
can they really do? Well, in regards to wielding financial claims, we are
literally talking about billions of dollars (that's how much the U.S. market is
worth). If you ask me, a nation who has lost so much favor in the international
community cannot afford to lose even more by acting bullish and stubborn
over something that can be effectively regulated.