The British Government have commented on the current online gambling trade dispute between Europe and the U.S, indicating that they favor regulation of Internet gambling, rather than total prohibition.
Emily Bourne, the private secretary of the British Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, wrote a letter to several financial service and gambling companies, saying "The British Government has signaled quite clearly its support for regulation rather than prohibition of gambling by the recent implementation of the Gambling Act of 2005."
Recent legislation introduced by Representative Barney Frank, known as the Internet Gambling Regulation Enforcement Act, could help resolve the potential $100 billion gambling dispute, and bring U.S into line with the international trade agreements – leveling the playing field for domestic and international operators.
The dispute began with Antigua's World Trade Organization victory over the U.S. earlier in the year. When the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) ruled that the U.S. had violated trade rules by barring Antiguan online gambling companies from operating in the U.S. market, the US withdrew from its W.T.O. obligations regarding free trade in the gaming area.
The U.S. withdrawal has allowed Europe and other countries in the W.T.O. to demand trade concessions up to the value of the entire sector on an annual basis. The U.S. gaming industry is worth $100 billion, and Europe and the U.S. are currently undertaking discussions to agree on a settlement figure. The discussions have already been extended twice as they are unable to agree on the size of the concessions.
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