[mathdotcom]

July 14, 2010 - Tampa Bay, FL - Tampa Area Resident Evades Arrest on Bookmaking Charges

Local police have reportedly uncovered a sophisticated bookmaking operation in the Tampa Bay area. While police will not comment on the identity of the alleged bookie, they did admit that the suspect fleed the scene in a kayak before continuing his escape on foot. "The suspect at large had a sophisticated bookmaking operation that was mostly conducted by way of an internet gambling forum, using fake "points" as a cover for actual exchanges of cash", says Sergeant Mike Boyd. Boyd estimates that the value of a point on the forum to be worth 1/8th of a dollar, but the conversion rate used by the bookie suspect was actually 1 point for $100.

"The operation was reported to us anonymously," says Boyd, "all we know is that the informant sent the e-mail from a Compaq computer. We are actively seeking to get in touch with this informant to collaborate his story and perhaps to illicit details of the suspect's current whereabouts". Some have suggested that the informant is likely a losing bettor whose best alternative to paying his gambling debts was to report his bookie, though Boyd has some doubts about this hypothesis. "The suspect was known to offer generous betting lines; in fact, the last known bet the suspect offered was Tiger Woods at 6.5 to 1 - at these fair prices it is hard to imagine anyone racking up a serious amount of debt", says Boyd.

Police are asking local residents to contact local authorities if they spot the suspected bookie, whose sketch has been provided below. While the location of the suspect is unknown, police have already taken steps to set up surveillance at all slot machines and no-limit poker tables in the Sunshine state.



- Reuters