Deep South rivals 'implicated' in arrest of Sportingbet boss

Nick Mathiason
Sunday September 17, 2006
The Observer


Louisiana authorities may have instigated the arrest of Peter Dicks, the chairman of online gambling firm Sportingbet, under pressure from gambling firms in the Deep South.
Dicks was arrested for alleged violation of the US Wire Act, which forbids gambling firms taking sport bets from US citizens by phone.

New York police acted on a warrant from Louisiana state officials and arrested Dicks. Sources close to the investigation say that evidence against Dicks is not convincing enough for him to be extradited. They believe the state's lax attitude to gambling has created a thriving local industry and that Sportingbet's success may have antagonised local firms.


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Dicks last week resigned from Sportingbet, which, at its peak, was valued at 2bn; its value has subsequently halved. Founded in 1998, Sportingbet says it is the world's leading online gambling company. It took 48 million bets last year, generating 1.5bn, and has 2.7 million registered customers.
The past three months have been disastrous for the online gambling industry. Last July, BetonSport chief David Carruthers was charged with violating the US Wire Act and, last Friday, French police detained two men who run the Austrian sport bet outfit, Bwin


Nick Mathiason
Sunday September 17, 2006
The Observer


Louisiana authorities may have instigated the arrest of Peter Dicks, the chairman of online gambling firm Sportingbet, under pressure from gambling firms in the Deep South.
Dicks was arrested for alleged violation of the US Wire Act, which forbids gambling firms taking sport bets from US citizens by phone.

New York police acted on a warrant from Louisiana state officials and arrested Dicks. Sources close to the investigation say that evidence against Dicks is not convincing enough for him to be extradited. They believe the state's lax attitude to gambling has created a thriving local industry and that Sportingbet's success may have antagonised local firms.


Article continues

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Dicks last week resigned from Sportingbet, which, at its peak, was valued at 2bn; its value has subsequently halved. Founded in 1998, Sportingbet says it is the world's leading online gambling company. It took 48 million bets last year, generating 1.5bn, and has 2.7 million registered customers.
The past three months have been disastrous for the online gambling industry. Last July, BetonSport chief David Carruthers was charged with violating the US Wire Act and, last Friday, French police detained two men who run the Austrian sport bet outfit, Bwin