Clive Hawkswood stated that Mandelson was right to insist that the US open its online gambling market to European firms and urged the European Commission to keep up the pressure.

“We were very pleased to hear Commissioner Mandelson’s public support for non-discriminatory legislation to regulate gambling in the US,” said Hawkswood.

“It is in the consumer's interest to have a legitimate and well regulated market. We urge the Commission to ensure that adequate legislation is in place before concluding the current compensation negotiations.”

Mandelson had travelled to America to press claims brought against the White House following its withdrawing from World Trade Organisation obligations. He reported to the European Parliament upon his return that the United States should let foreign companies into its multibillion-dollar online gaming market instead of trying to compensate European firms for shutting them out.

The Remote Gaming Association represents leading public companies engaged in online gambling and Hawkswood had earlier accused the US government of ‘blatantly protectionist behaviour’.

“US companies are entitled to operate in European markets while we've been forced out of the United States,” said Hawkswood.