US Arrests Second Online Gambling Executive

Sportingbet Plc's chairman, Peter Dicks, was arrested by the US authorities Thursday after arriving from an international flight at JFK International Airport. Apparently unbeknownst to Dicks, the Louisiana State Police had an outstanding warrant for his arrest since May of this year on charges related to his involvement with online gambling activities in the state of Louisiana, an activity that is prohibited in that state and in many other US jurisdictions.

No information has been made available as to whether federal charges have been laid against Dicks or are pending but such charges are a real possibility and if laid, would likely include Sportingbet Plc and its other executives. American operating service suppliers of Sportingbet Plc are also likely to be targeted.

On Friday, Dicks appeared in court for a bail hearing and was released on $50,000 bail, pending extradition to Louisiana. Dicks is said to have refused to be voluntarily transferred to Louisiana to face the charges laid against him. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 14, 2006. Despite the arrest of its Chairman, Sportingbet Plc does not appear to have taken any steps to curtail bets from US citizens. Dicks is a director of Polar Technology Trust Plc and Standard Microsystems Corp.