Bets off as gambling shares fall
Shares in Sportingbet tumbled yesterday as investors deserted the troubled online gaming firm following the arrest of its chairman in the US.
Trading in the shares was suspended last week when Peter Dicks was arrested at JFK Airport in New York under laws covering "gambling by computer".
The 64-year-old was released on Friday after he put up bail of $50,000 (£27,500) and shares began trading again yesterday.
But they plunged by more than 40 per cent, wiping £400m off the value of the company as investors took fright.
The arrest of Mr Dicks, independent non-executive chairman of Sporting- bet, came just two months after BetonSports' chief executive was charged under the 1961 Wire Act, which bans the placing of bets on sporting events via the telephone in the US.
The arrests of two such high-profile industry figures have rocked the online gaming sector as doubts persist over its future in the key US market.
Sportingbet generates some 70 per cent of its profits from US punters and its businesses include well-known brands such as Paradise Poker.
Shares in Sportingbet tumbled yesterday as investors deserted the troubled online gaming firm following the arrest of its chairman in the US.
Trading in the shares was suspended last week when Peter Dicks was arrested at JFK Airport in New York under laws covering "gambling by computer".
The 64-year-old was released on Friday after he put up bail of $50,000 (£27,500) and shares began trading again yesterday.
But they plunged by more than 40 per cent, wiping £400m off the value of the company as investors took fright.
The arrest of Mr Dicks, independent non-executive chairman of Sporting- bet, came just two months after BetonSports' chief executive was charged under the 1961 Wire Act, which bans the placing of bets on sporting events via the telephone in the US.
The arrests of two such high-profile industry figures have rocked the online gaming sector as doubts persist over its future in the key US market.
Sportingbet generates some 70 per cent of its profits from US punters and its businesses include well-known brands such as Paradise Poker.