2006 was a tumultuous last year for online casino gambling. In July, David Carruthers CEO of BetOnSports was arrested in Texas while making a connecting flight from the UK to Costa Rica. He and others were charged with allegedly committing conspiracy, racketeering and fraud while taking sports bets from U.S. residents. Later in September, Peter Dicks CEO of Sportingbet was also arrested at JFK Airport on a warrant issued by Louisiana from an investigation of illegal gambling activity dating to May of 2006.

The DOJ is seeking the forfeiture of $4.5 billion in USD, cars and computers from the BetOnSports defendants...most of whom reside outside of the US. The final blow to US online gambling came late in 2006 when President Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, attached to the Port Securities Bill, making it illegal for US banks to accept payments from online casinos and gambling websites. Its a shame that the US just did not follow Britain's lead and legally tax the proceeds. That is around 6 Billion a year from US players.

Now....since it is almost impossible to stop Internet gambling because of the freedom which comes along an Internet connection, the US is trying to prevent Internet gambling by prohibiting access to funding vehicles such as US credit cards and bank processing. That is precisely what the bill accomplishes, it stops the US connection to online gambling through US credit card and banks. Federally regulated establishments.
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