EU's biggest mistake was agreeing to let the U.S. rewrite its commitments without specifying any conditions. Mandelsson is an idiot. What he should have said was the following at the time of the deal for storage and shipping concessions and had the USTR sign it.
"The EU believes the United States' decision to rewrite its gambling commitments is being done for no other reason than for protection of U.S. based casinos who eventually will enter the internet market and to protect the horse racing and lottery industries in the States. At the same time we are willing to allow the U.S. to rewrite its commitments in return for the aforementioned concessions with the following provisos.
1- There has been no law in the U.S. that specifically addresses internet gambling except the USTR which was attached to the Safe Port Bill on October 2, 2006. The law still does not have regulations adapted for it but any companies and their agents/owners that withdrew from the U.S. prior to October 3, 2006 can not be arrested for gambling services offered to the U.S. market prior to that time.
2- If the United States at any time offers online gambling between states other than horse racing, fantasy sports or lotteries then it is clear the reasons given by the U.S. to rewrite its commitments were bogus and all agreements henceforth are rescinded.
3- Any funds being held by the U.S. Department of Justice must be released immediately and any persons being held by the U.S. Department of Justice relating to gambling services offered prior to October 2, 2006 must be released without conditions.  |