To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member states on the effect of US law on EU business interests in the United States, with particular reference to (i) online gambling companies and (ii) companies providing financial services to the online gambling sector. (206564)

The UK remained in close contact with the European Commission in connection with the negotiation of an agreed compensation package following the US Administration's decision to withdraw from a World Trade Organisation commitment to provide access to the US online gambling market to non-US companies.

The European Commission is now investigating the United States' ban on remote gambling and its enforcement action against UK and European companies for activities conducted in the US as a result of a complaint under the Trade Barriers Regulation made by the UK gambling industry. The UK Government welcome the European Commission's decision to investigate and we await their conclusions with interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Indian Government on the effect of US law on the operation of UK businesses in the online gambling sector; and with what other governments outside the EU he has discussed the issue. (206565)

The UK has not had discussions with the Indian Government or other governments outside the EU on the effect of US law on the operation of businesses in the online gambling sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what restrictions apply to US companies in the UK online gambling sector; and what assessment he has made of the development of online gambling services in the UK by US companies. (206567)

Only companies that are licensed in the UK, in an EEA state or Gibraltar, or in the jurisdictions permitted by the Secretary of State under section 331 of the Gambling Act 2005—currently the Isle of Man, Alderney and Tasmania—are permitted to advertise online gambling services in the UK.

No US jurisdictions are currently permitted to advertise online gambling services in the UK. That means that no US companies licensed in a US jurisdiction are able to advertise online gambling services here.

The UK Government have not made any assessment of the development of online gambling services in the UK by US companies.