Sportingbet Chairman arrested in Dallas
London - Earlier today, Peter Dicks, chairman of Sportingbet was arrested in Dallas. The 64 old is to appear in a US court later today. The charges he will face are still unknown.
Dicks was traveling to Sportingbet’s Costa Rica office when he was arrested. This move is the latest in a series of steps by the US Government to try to clamp down on internet gambling, the most notable of which was the arrest of BetonSports chief executive, David Carruthers.
Carruthers’ arrest was in response to BetonSports failing to pay federal betting taxes of $3.3 billion and the US Department of Justice is seeking a forfeiture of $4.5 billion from the company.
In the wake of Dicks’ arrest, Sportingbet's shares were suspended from trading but other gambling firms were not so lucky. Partypoker’s shares staggered 11% while there was a 17% drop to 888 Holdings.
Sportingbet which owns the well known Paradise Poker online poker room has over two million customers as well as a turnover of over one billion dollars.
The hearing is scheduled some time later this afternoon.