Online Gambling News all over the world 25.10.2009

25.10.2009, Tennis Integrity Unit Investigating Online Gambling Surge / USA Online Gambling Task Force Searches for E mails / PartyGaming Shares On the Stock Block

Tennis Integrity Unit Investigating Online Gambling Surge
An Associated Press article out of London U.K is reporting that Tennis Authorities are investigating a WTA Tour match at the U.S. Open. Caroline Wozniacki apparently caused punters to wager excessively on her opponent when she was close to losing in straight sets.

The nineteen year old Danish born Wozniacki, is ranked the sixth best tennis player in the world. Her wise decision to withdraw from the first-round match at the Luxembourg Open was caused by a hamstring injury sustained while leading Anne Kremer of Luxembourg. A simple explanation for the betting surge was the overheard conversation that Wozniacki's father, Piotr, had with his daughter during the match. He apparently told his daughter to stop playing in his native language of Polish. He felt her leg injury would jeopardize her chances of being able to play the next round.

While speaking to Danish radio Piotr Wozniacki said, "I went onto the court and said to her: 'Caro, it does not matter whether it's going to be 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2. You can not play the next round, so you shouldn't take the risk," "I'm very proud of Caroline, because she stopped the fight and gave her opponent a chance."

The newly formed Tennis Integrity Unit is not commenting on the issue nor is Betfair who works with the unit to look into possible problems. WTA spokesperson Neil Robinson said, "We're just looking into everything that happened in this match,"

Betfair spokesperson Tony Calvin said, "Under the terms of our memorandum of understanding with sporting bodies worldwide, it is up to the sporting authorities to comment,"

Ekstra Bladet the Danish newspaper reported that Wozniacki professed her innocence and said, "So, people bet on my matches. Some win, others lose. I just know that I am clean. It is most important to me," adding, "And if anyone is in doubt about my injury, I can both produce scan from the hospital and a report from the tournament physiotherapist."

The young player could still face fines imposed by the International Tennis Federation for 'lack of effort.' There is really no evidence to suggest that Wozniacki conspired to fix the match.

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USA Online Gambling Task Force Searches for E mails
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit has one step further to stop payment processing for online gambling in the USA. Electracash, Inc., the California payment-processor whose bank accounts were seized in July by federal investigators in Maryland is once again the focus of an investigation. As America gets closer to the December first date of strengthened enforcement of it's prohibition on online gambling the law is getting tougher.

The Federal Task force is now going after evidence of gambling-related communications in Electracash's e-mail account with New York-based Intermedia. According to the report by the Baltimore City Paper Electracash's chief executive officer, D. Lee Falls could not be reached for a comment on the situation.

Richard S. Gunn, the investigator who applied for the e-mail warrant, is an Anne Arundel County police detective and task-force officer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Gunn was the affiant for the seizure of Forshay Enterprises bank accounts. HMD, Inc., and Electracash are also payment processors whose bank accounts were seized.

IRS criminal investigator Randall Carrow, in a 2008 affidavit said Electracash was owned by Edward Courdy, and Michael Garone. Both have been charged with money laundering, last year. Courdy and Garone appear to be the only defendants charged in the investigation, and neither has been called to appear in court to answer to the charges.

The U.S. government filed forfeiture proceedings against the assets of Courdy and Garone. Seizing nearly $10 million from Courdy last year and more than $14,million from Garone.

The government also took $40 million in online gambling processing bank accounts, and seems content to keep the money, knowing these men won't chance an appearance in a US court.

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PartyGaming Shares On the Stock Block
PartyGaming is going to be a little different once the shares that co founder Anurag Dikshit divests himself of the last of his holdings on PartyGaming. He says he will donate all of the money he gains from the sale to his favourite charity. The gentleman owns 28 percent of the shares in the company of which he has posted two thirds on the London Exchange as for sale. Forbes Online recently reported that shares had fluctuated in a downward trend until settling at a minor loss. the 75 million shares are on the block now with the remaining 35 million shares coming up for sale at a later date.

The charity the entreprenuer wishes to donate all funds to is the Kusuma Trust. The expected $150 million dollars will go to the Trust in total. Still very much in its infancy, Kusuma is addressing a wide number of issues concerning education and children at risk with the intention of narrowing our focus in a few years time. At that point we intend to direct funding to fewer initiatives proven to have the most dramatic impact on society as a whole. Currently the Trust provides financial support and education to children in India, Britain and Gibraltar. These actions by the shareholder distancing himself from the company suggests that this is a move for PartyGaming as it may try it’s luck in securing a licence in the USA. The former co founder pleaded guilty in America and paid a $300 million dollar fine to the Department of Justice. PartyGaming paid out a $105 million fine as part of a non- prosecution agreement. The company seems to want a clean slate in the USA expecting future consideration in that market.

Über iGaming News:

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--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Online Gambling News all over the world 25.10.2009 ---


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