It is no secret that the European Union has been striving for the advancement of online casinos in the last several years.  The EU believes all companies have a right to operate and should not be blocked from a country in doing their business.  Some countries have online casinos but hold a monopoly not allowing foreign online casinos in.  The United States is one that has been fighting against the EU demands, not only of foreign online casinos but any that would pop up in the United States.

With such controversy surrounding online casinos and the EU vying for more countries to accept their policies it is not surprising that we hear about the European Union making a move again.  The EU has had some success with countries opening their doors to online casinos, but there are still those who defy the regulations.

There is a new Internal Markets Commissioner inside the EU.  He has stated he will address the online casino situation to solve the disputes that have been ongoing.  In fact he has already drafted a positioning paper on the online casino and gambling trade.  France, Germany, and Greece have not adjusted their online gambling laws as yet, nor has the US.  Any country in violation of the laws and those who have monopolies will be targeted in this new move by the EU.

Barnier stated his paper will be ready by the fall and should be approved by the College of Commissioners.  Barnier also stated that while some nations are going to the Court of Justice not all countries can expect this.  In Portugal a Court of Justice decision banned foreign gaming due to special circumstances.

Free trade, as the EU believes in, is still very important.  This means that most countries in the EU will not be able to continue their blocks on the foreign online casinos.  Instead these countries will have to open their doors or pay hefty fines.  Barnier stated they would be examining any of the laws countries have, most particularly those that are fighting the process.  He stated even Malta needs to update their rules, but the changes that need to be made are not to be for restrictive practices.  Instead any changes made should make it easier for foreign companies to get in with regulations on how they are allowed to operate.  Any online casino should be awarded a license, but many are still waiting for the changes to happen and the talk to end.