EU Urges US To Drop Unlawful Online Poker Ban

The European Union this week urged the United States to drop its ban on non U.S. online gambling companies because it does not comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and it discriminates against foreign Internet gambling sites.

The EU argues that preventing foreign operators like Britain's PartyGaming from entering the $4 billion US market is a breach of global trade rules, which has resulted in EU companies losing revenue and stock market value.

The report is likely to garner support for upcoming bill by Rep. Barney Frank that promises to regulate the online gambling industry and remove and

Frank who is chairman of the U.S. Financial Services said: "This is further argument for repealing the law which currently restricts the personal freedom of American adults to gamble online."

"This report particularly shows the inconsistency of the Bush Administration, which frequently argued we had to abide by the WTO even when it cost American jobs, but ignored the WTO when it didn't fit the conservatives' ideological beliefs."