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Online casinos are under fire in the European Union.  Danish Socialist MEP Christel Schaldemose drafted a report on Internet Gambling that was recently reviewed by the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.  Online casinos are not represented in the best of lights.

The report has no direct baring on future European Commission actions for or against online casino, but it has the ability to cause issues of justification for national monopolies, national sovereignty, and cross boarder gambling to resurface. 

“Once again we are to be protected from ourselves,” complained a European industry observer.

Schaldemose’s report found list of issues that can be seen as strikes against online casinos.  According to the report online casino only make up about 5 percent of gambling activity in the European Union.  The focus on her report centered on the integrity of the online gambling industry in relations to issues such as fraud, problem gambling, money laundering, and exposure to children.  The reports supports the idea that individual countries in the European Union are justified in wanting to individually regulate their national gambling markets.

A number of attacks are made on the European Unions current policy toward online casinos.  Schaldemose’s report demands the European Commission clarify the competence of Member States and the European Union on the issue of online casinos.  The report also supports the position that the European Court of Justice should not define the European gambling market.  It is pointed out that 50% of all cases currently being adjudicated by the European Court of Justice revolves around gambling in Europe.
 

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