The European Commission dealt a blow to European online gaming companies on Monday when it accepted a US offer of openings in other sectors to compensate for closing the US gambling market to foreign firms.
European companies such as PartyGaming and bwin Interactive Entertainment had hoped the European Union executive might shun a settlement and fight on instead to restore their ability to operate in the world's biggest market. Shares in PartyGaming were down 4.1 percent at 29 pence at 1200 GMT, and bwin stock was down 2 percent at 26.11 euros.
"A bilateral agreement was signed in Geneva, which provides EU service suppliers with new trade opportunities in the US postal and courier, research and development, storage and warehouse sectors," the Commission said in a statement.