Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Fears that more senior executives working for online gambling firms could be
arrested were fuelled today following the resignation of a lawyer who served
under former US President George W. Bush from the roles of chairman and
chief executive of World Gaming. Almost all of the internet betting firm's
business comes from the US, and the resignation of James Grossman, along
with fellow non-executive director Clare Roberts, comes at a crucial time
for the industry reports the Financial Times. On Thursday, British
businessman Peter Dicks, former chairman of Sportingbet, is due to appear in
a New York court for a hearing to find whether he should be extradited to
Louisiana to face charges of "gambling by computer". The FT says several
online gambling companies have stressed to investors that their executives
have either been advised not to make trips to the US or had no plans to do
so. US senators are currently engaged in a fight to tighten the country's
laws against gambling. The arrest of Mr Dicks and the indictment issued by
the US justice department in July against another British firm, Betonsports,
has raised fears in the industry that it may be impossible to protect
executives from anti-gambling laws.