The Remote Gambling Association has urged the European Commission to take steps to protect EU interests from what it describes as "retroactive and discriminatory" enforcement by US authorities in the area of internet gambling.
The organisation made its call following the news that Anurag Dikshit, a principal shareholder of PartyGaming, pleaded guilty to charges under the 1961 Wire Act. This is the first time the act has been applied to internet gambling beyond sports betting.
Despite never offering sports betting and ceasing to accept US customers for its poker and casino games when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006 was passed, United States District Judge Rakoff accepted Dikshit’s plea and fine of $300m.
"These events show that the outgoing US administration and the Department of Justice have demonstrated a total disrespect for the legal rights of the European online gaming companies and those associated with them, and a complete disregard for US international commitments under GATS," said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the RGA.
"That this happens while the US internet gambling market, the biggest in the world, continues to grow and while US companies are free to develop their businesses in Europe, is quite astonishing. In the circumstances it is not unreasonable for us once again to seek the support and protection of the European Commission."
