Hopes for Online gambling ban to be repealed - 25th February 2009

In 2006 congress passed a bill to ban gambling in America. This was then signed into law by President George Bush. The law made online gambling illegal in America and there were heavy penalties put into place for those who profited from internet gambling. Even companies that promoted online gambling were penalized.

This law forced European companies such as PartyGaming and 888.com out of the US market. These European companies still face criminal prosecution for their activities before the ban was imposed. The founder of PartyGaming, Anurag Dikshit pleaded guilty to online gambling charges and agreed to pay $300million in fines. He could still face a custodial sentence.

EU officials claim the US put pressure on Dikshit to make a deal and that the US justice department had crossed the line. An industry petition has lead the European Commission to begin formal investigation to ascertain whether the US was only singling out European companies.

As a result of this, one US lawmaker is eager to have the ban on internet gambling repealed. He claims that the anti-gambling law is affecting the relationship between the EU and the United States and has already hurt trade ties between them.

Media Man Australia

European Gaming

PartyGaming

888

Online Casino News

Casino News