Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

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.