EU Trade Commissioner Gets Applauds from Online Gaming Operators
During his time in Washington, Mandelson used the opportunity to lobby for compensation that is due to the European online gambling industry because of the United States going back on its WTO obligations that would open their online gaming market to foreign competition.
Estimates that the United States could be responsible for in compensation to the European online gaming operators, is running in the billions of dollars. The EU is still in negotiations over the amount due.
While in Washington, Mandelson is reported as saying: "The US has so far opted for compensation to make right what is wrong. I don't think compensation does that job. What we really need is for legislation to be put right and for foreign operators not to be discriminated against in the way that the present legislation does. I will continue to make these arguments on behalf of European industry".
The CEO at the Remote Gaming Association, Clive Hawkswood, commented on Mandelson's efforts saying, "We were very pleased to hear Commissioner Mandelson's public support for non-discriminatory legislation to regulate gambling in the US. It is in the consumer's interest to have a legitimate, well regulated market. We urge the Commission to ensure that adequate legislation is in place before concluding the current compensation negotiations."