As reported by several international press media and communication corporations, two respected U.S. lawmakers have solicited the U.S. Justice Department to postpone all its investigations regarding the European online gambling companies and what they call “possible criminal violations” that took place before Congress approved the UIGEA bill in 2006 which forbids all online gambling activities in the U.S.

Rep. Robert Wexler, a Democrat from the state of Florida, and Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from the state of Tennessee, sent two separate letters issued the U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey to advise him that the continuation of a criminal prosecution could lead to a potentially damaging trade argument between the U.S and the European Union at the World Trade Organization. Previously, the U.S got involved in a series of legal problems that ended up with a W#TO arbitration filed by Antigua after claims of unfair actions that has economically affected its online casinos, sportsbetting companies and online poker industry.

"'In all likelihood, this issue will escalate and I understand could result in WTO action focused specifically on how the U.S. government enforces its laws. I cannot see how that can be in the interests of this country,' Wexler said in a letter to Mukasey sent on Wednesday.

"European Internet gambling companies lost billions of euros in market value after Congress moved to shut down the U.S. market by making it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. That prompted the European Commission to launch a formal investigation in March into whether Washington was singling out EU companies for enforcement actions, while allowing U.S. online firms to operate freely..." said Cohen.