Will European Union Talk With US

Some of the online gambling operators have asked the European Union Trade Chief Peter Mandelson to speak with United States legislators hoping he can convince them to change the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

The online gambling operators that are still concerned about this ban being changed are ones that when U.S. poker players left their sites lost profits and have recovered but want American players back such as PartyGaming, Bwin, SportingBet, and 888.com.

In recent talks between the United States and the European Union Naotaka Matuskata of Alston & Bird law firm as the senior policy advisor did not offer what could be termed meaningful compensation. In turn the European Union requested the United States reverse the online gambling ban, as neither side could come to an agreement the talks have been extended to December 14^th.

From Nvember 7^th until the 9^th Mandelson is scheduled to be in Washington and a spokesman has said he is planning on speaking with Barney Frank who has questioned the UIGEA as well as chair of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee.

In a comment from Mandelson, he stated that the European Commission would make every effort to agree to the best deal possible.