UK, Malta protest over EU Gaming Initiative

Brussels, 1-12-08, Reuters: Britain and Malta teamed up on Monday against the French move to form a policy for regulating the multi-billion Euro gambling industry.

France’s discussion was put on a paper distributed to the 27 member states’ industry members which said that there were “already grounds for seeking a common approach”.
France’s position on trying to forge a strict intergovernmental regulation has been based on the ground that today gambling is a cross-border business which today cannot be dealt with at a national level only.

“The common challenges identified would appear to justify the development of a new EU-level approach”, the document obtained by Reuters said.

EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the meeting he has not proposed common EU rules on gambling as no consensus existed among the states to adopt it.

The issue is politically sensitive as it involves important tax revenues in many countries. Online gaming firms are battling many governments as they face barriers to operating freely in some countries.

The Czech Republic – to-be EU president as of January 1st – indicated that it will continue with the debate to follow on France’s footsteps but did not give any clearer commitment, Reuters reported.

“They left the door open to discussing the issue in future despite strong opposition from Britain and Malta”, a diplomat who attended the meeting said.

Britain and Malta, both known for their liberal regulations towards internet gambling, intervened to say that gambling should remain a national competence, the diplomat said.

“Malta said the French initiative is a cul de sac” another EU official said.