The European Union has today announced an investigation into the actions of the US Department of Justice in its own ongoing investigations into EU-based gaming sites.  Eventually this could lead to a World Trade Organisation investigation and directive aimed squarely at the US.  This investigation is a result of a complaint by the Remote Gaming Association (RGA) made to the European Commission in December 2007.

The basics as I understand it are that the US had commitments to allow EU-based gaming sites to operate in the US under WTO regulations.  The complaint rests on the fact that the US is allegedly, selectively applying regulations to non-US gaming companies anf therefore violating WTO regulations relating to market access for internation suppliers.

In the long term this could lead to a re-opening of the US market but this is very unlikely.  Let’s face it, if the US wants to restrict foreign suppliers of anything, they won’t be told what to do.  A more likely outcome is a more transparent process of restriction and a cessation of DOJ investigation into non-US gaming companies.

The original press release by the European Commission can be found here: Trade Barriers Regulation