European Union member states have been holding talks about whether they are legally bound to have free and open trade with regards to the online gambling industry. The European Commission has been trying to convince member states to open their gaming markets in the same way that other trade within the EU is open and free.

Many of the EU countries have discovered that regulating and restricting their own online gambling brings in much needed revenue in these difficult economic times. Opening the market could mean a loss of revenue for individual states, even though it is likely that more revenue would be collectively brought in.

Those Internet casinos that have been unable to operate in EU countries are being represented by a number of associations, such as the Remote Gaming Association, who are hoping to open the closed EU gambling markets and to put an end to the online gambling monopolies that exist. Most of the EU countries that have state monopolies or protectionist state legislation are unwilling to open up the market to other gambling operators.

A vote was held for EU states, and the decision was reached that opening up the online gambling market would not be enforced. Each EU country is allowed, at least for the time being, to make choices based on their “own initiative” as far as Internet gambling is concerned. This is different to other EU trade agreements which follow a single standard for the entire European Union.

For those who were expecting and hoping for change in the EUs online casino legislation in the near future, it now seems that it will not be coming anytime soon.