RGA DENIES SUPPORT FOR U.S. INITIATIVE TO AMEND THE UIGEA

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UK trade association more interested in Europe, it appears

The US market for online gambling may be worth billions, but it is not worth fighting for seems to be the conclusion reached by the British trade association the Remote Gaming Association this week.

According to a report in E-Gaming Review, the Association has admitted that it refused to put its weight behind the moves this week by Congressman Barney Frank to put forward legislation to regulate online gaming in the United States.

EGR claims the refusal came despite meetings and discussions taking place in the months running up to this week’s announcement on the introduction of Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007.

Clive Hawkswood, chief executive at the RGA, told EGR that the organisation and its members were not interested in becoming “heavily involved” in the recent lobbying effort.

He added: “That is for a mix of reasons. Some companies have never been involved in the US. Others meanwhile have left the US alone and are concentrating elsewhere. Some are worried about what their share price reaction would be.”

The RGA represents the majority of major online operators in the UK.

Hawkswood was responding to accusations from sources close to the lobbying effort in the US that the RGA had failed to show any enthusiasm for this week’s moves. “These guys have got to come to the table,” said the source. “There is a lot of upside here if they do.”

However, Hawkswood suggested the suspicion was that any regulation would effectively be in favour of US casino operators. He added: “Do we think our involvement could tip the scales? No. Look at it from the opposite angle. Did US involvement in the lobbying effort for the UK supercasino help at all? Or was it rather a hindrance?”

A spokesperson at Ladbrokes said of the consensus against getting involved: “It’s a question of priorities and resources. There is movement in Europe at the moment, with the EU behind us, so that is what we are concentrating on.”

Another spokesperson at a leading operator added: “There may come a time to step on the gas once again in the US – but that time is not now.”

Perhaps it is this sort of negative approach that helped create the right climate for Senator Bill Frist to maneuver the UIGEA into being in the first place....