Good news comes out of the US for European online gaming companies in the form of two US legislators who are urging US enforcement agencies to quit their pursuit of European gaming companies who were active in the US prior to the implementation of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

Robert Wexler and Steve Cohen, both in the US House of Representatives, have sent letters to the US Attorney General Michael Mukasey urging him to consider abandoning going after European online gaming companies as this could lead to a damaging World Trade Organization dispute between the European Union and the US.

"In all likelihood, this [pursuit of European companies] issue will escalate and I understand could result in WTO action focused specifically on how the U.S. government enforces its laws," said Representative Wexler in his letter. "I cannot see how that can be in the interests of this country."

Windows Casino and another popular European-based online operator King Solomons Casino have both expressed support for the sentiments expressed in the two letters sent by each US representative. While both online casinos have made admirable progress in developing new markets since the implementation of UIGEA, a softening of US online gaming policy towards non-US online gaming companies is recognized as conducive to all concerned.

The US move to implement UIGEA in late 2006 prompted the European Commission to look into whether the US was actively targeting EU-based online gaming companies, despite US online gaming companies still being allowed to operate freely in the EU.

Written for Online Casino World by Mike Rutherford - Your Online Casino News