Sportingbet boss says to step up U.S. push - FT
Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:23 AM BST
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LONDON (Reuters) - Online bookmaker Sportingbet (SBT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) will step up efforts to expand in the United States despite U.S. arrests of British gambling bosses, its new chief executive told the Financial Times.
Andrew McIver, who becomes chief executive in October, was quoted in the newspaper's Thursday edition saying Sportingbet would increase its push to find more U.S. customers and acquisitions.
"It's still the U.S. -- or what's the point? I still hold that view," McIver was quoted as saying in an interview.
His comments follow the arrest of Sportingbet Chairman Peter Dicks at JFK airport in New York earlier this month on charges of "gambling by computer."
Dicks' arrest followed that in July of David Carruthers, who was then chief executive of BETonSPORTS (BSS.L: Quote, Profile, Research), by U.S. federal authorities on racketeering charges.
Costa-Rica based BETonSPORTS has since said it is closing its U.S. business.
The arrest of Dicks added to fears of a U.S. crackdown on the online gambling industry and has hit online gambling stocks.
Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:23 AM BST
Email This Article | Print This Article | RSS [-] Text [+]
LONDON (Reuters) - Online bookmaker Sportingbet (SBT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) will step up efforts to expand in the United States despite U.S. arrests of British gambling bosses, its new chief executive told the Financial Times.
Andrew McIver, who becomes chief executive in October, was quoted in the newspaper's Thursday edition saying Sportingbet would increase its push to find more U.S. customers and acquisitions.
"It's still the U.S. -- or what's the point? I still hold that view," McIver was quoted as saying in an interview.
His comments follow the arrest of Sportingbet Chairman Peter Dicks at JFK airport in New York earlier this month on charges of "gambling by computer."
Dicks' arrest followed that in July of David Carruthers, who was then chief executive of BETonSPORTS (BSS.L: Quote, Profile, Research), by U.S. federal authorities on racketeering charges.
Costa-Rica based BETonSPORTS has since said it is closing its U.S. business.
The arrest of Dicks added to fears of a U.S. crackdown on the online gambling industry and has hit online gambling stocks.
