The RGA Comments on the Recent PartyGaming Settlement With the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Remote Gambling Association has released a statement with their thoughts on the recent settlement between the DOJ and PartyGaming co-founder Anurag Dikshit.

As Gambling101.org previously reported earlier in the week, Anurag settled with the DOJ for $300 million recently as he agreed to plead guilty for violating US laws on Internet Gambling.

In the statement the RGA commented:

“This is the first time this Act has been applied to Internet gambling beyond sports-betting. Despite never offering sports-betting and ceasing to accept US customers for its poker and casino games when the still-controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was passed, United States District Judge Rakoff accepted the plea of Mr. Anurag Dikshit and a fine of $300M.”

Clive Hawkswood, the Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, commented that when the shareholder was pressured into making a deal “a major line has been crossed and it could set a very worrying precedent.”

Hawkswood also criticized the United States authorities for not going after European online gaming companies and their continued breach of the World Trade Organization commitment. Hawkswood stated:

“These events show that the outgoing US administration and the Department of Justice have demonstrated a total disrespect for the legal rights of European online gaming companies and those associated with them and a complete disregard for US international commitments under GATS.”

Hawkswood also stated that the RGA will continue to work with the European Commission for protection and support and stated that the Commissions resolve will be strengthened by the United States continuous breaches of international law.

The RGA represents the world’s largest licensed, and stock market-listed remote gambling companies and provides the industry with a single voice on all the issues of importance to regulators, legislators, and key decision makers around the world.