Internet-gambling firm agrees to U.S. ban
Betonsports PLC, a U.K. Internet gambling firm under indictment and the subject of a U.S. government lawsuit, agreed to cease operations in the U.S. to settle the civil litigation. U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson in St. Louis federal court Thursday approved the accord banning Betonsports. The company and 11 people, including founder Gary Kaplan and former Chief Executive Officer David Carruthers, still face charges of criminal racketeering related to illegal gambling. Internet gambling, a $12 billion industry, violates federal laws against placing bets using a telephone or electronic means over state lines, prosecutors said. A new U.S. law bars credit card companies from collecting payments for such transactions. Betonsports' board of directors agreed to accept the injunction, "as it is seen as a major step in the negotiation to settle the outstanding criminal action," the company said in a statement. Carruthers was arrested in July as he changed planes at a Dallas airport. He has been under house arrest in St. Louis since pleading not guilty July 31.
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