GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 3 - January 2008

GPWA TIMES | Making a Difference 28 “In my view it is probably a restrictive practice and we might take it up in another [forum],” McCreevy told the European Parliament in January of 2007. Thanks in part to McCreevy’s words, the issue was brought up again later in the year as the Antigua-U.S. WTO online gambling case wound its way toward a conclusion. In November, months after several coun- tries had filed compensation claims against the U.S. for withdrawing Internet gambling from its schedule of trade commitments, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson traveled to Washington to fight for the online gaming industry. He asked the U.S. Congress to repeal the UIGEA and allow foreign access to its online gambling market. He also said allowing access to the market was a much better option than com- pensating the EU for shutting them out. Ultimately, Mandelson’s and McCreevy’s words fell on deaf ears. In December, the EU settled its compen- sation claim against the U.S. by ensuring access to the American postal and warehouse sectors. But even in defeat, the online gaming industry has clearly found a new hero. An industry that frequent- ly finds itself on the wrong end of legislation and politics found a formidable advocate in the halls of power. It found someone who would stand up and fight for its rights to access markets. The online gaming industry found Charlie McCreevy – and it couldn’t be happier.