September 8 - Two days ago another online gambling executive was arrested in the United States, this time Sportingbet Plc
Chairman Peter Dicks, following the arrest just over a month ago of then BetOnSports CEO, David Carruthers.
Sportingbet is one of the largest betting sites on the Internet.
Like Carruthers, 64-year old Dicks was arrested at a US airport.
Just before midnight on Wednesday September 6, he was arrested at New York's JFK airport on a warrant issued in the state of Louisiana in May this year, as part of an ongoing online gambling investigation.
Dicks was still in jail in New York last night as his lawyers continued to fight
his extradition to Louisiana to face criminal charges of illegal online
gambling. As a result of Dicks' arrest, online betting company shares
fell yesterday.
Sportingbet is the second foreign online gambling company to be targeted by the US government in an apparent crackdown of illegal online gambling in the country.
United States government officials were quoted as saying that online
betting sites may encourage 'money laundering' and the 'selling of drugs', as
well as underage and problem gambling.
If convicted, Dicks may face a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $20
000 in Louisiana.
