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OPTIMAL TO HOLD DEPOSITS FROM ONLINE GAMBLING

Warrants of Seizure for millions issued by US Attorney's office

Judging by a press release from the listed Optimal Group Inc. this week it appears that the parent company for processors like FirePay has been under pressure from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York relating to its ongoing investigation of the U.S. Internet gambling industry.

The company has initiated discussions with the U.S. Attorney's Office and is in the process of responding to a "voluntary request" for information issued by the authorities, the release informs interested parties.

Optimal Group has received a copy of warrants of seizure issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office against funds of certain payment processors on deposit with two U.S. banks. These funds include monies on deposit to the credit of Optimal affiliates, namely, approximately $4.2 million that FirePay Limited has on deposit in a reserve account and approximately $15 million that Optimal Payments has on deposit in a money market account.

Through counsel, Optimal has been assured by the U.S. Attorney's Office that the issue of the warrants does not impact in any way upon its discussions with the enforcement officials, or upon any eventual outcome of those discussions. What that means is not clear from the release.

Optimal Group Inc. is a payments company with operations primarily in North America and the United Kingdom. Through wholly-owned subsidiary Optimal Payments, the group processes credit card payments for Internet businesses, mail-order/telephone-order and retail point-of-sale merchants, and process electronic checks and direct debits online and by phone.