Neteller executive denies that his company is holding up payment to players

The ongoing tragedy of the BetonSports decline (see previous InfoPowa reports) continued this week as assertions and denials went back and forth regarding payouts to players as ordered by a US federal court.

Following Department of Justice prosecutions and a restraining order from a federal court, the embattled online gambling group has had to close its site to all US players, a move that slashed some 80 percent of its business off the books. The order also required the company to pay deposits back to players, something a spokesman said it could not do owing to a suspension in its contracts with e-cash processing outfits like Neteller.

This week, in an exclusive interview with TheOnlineWire.com, the Vice President of Neteller flatly denied his eProcessing company is preventing monies from being transferred by BetonSports to its customers.

"Neteller is not holding any funds from BetonSports.com and thus has not frozen or held any reserve funds from this company." Andrew Gilchrist, the VP of Corporate Development and Communications said.

Gilchrist went on to tell TheOnlineWire that Neteller halted all transfers to BetonSports.com following the indictments by the US Department of Justice against certain related companies and individuals but has continued to allow transfers from the company to facilitate member payouts. Transfers to and from Easybets.com Asian-facing wallet are operating as usual."

Adding more fuel to the fires of player and investor discontent were reports in Gambling911 that advertising venues have been asked to refund money back to BetonSports via a dormant company owned by BetonSports dismissed CEO David Carruthers, who has just been released on bail but remains confined to a DoJ approved hotel in the city of St. Louis, Missouri pending charges under a 22 count grand jury indictment.

Gambling911 reports that investigations by online gaming publication TheOnlineWire.com have shown that advertising venues were asked to send refund credits due to BetonSports to World Answer LTFD, run by Carruthers.

Both Gambling911 and The Online Wire are seeking legal representation for customers and shareholders in an effort to recover funds.

Earlier, the British newspaper The Observer reported on moves being considered by disgruntled BetonSports investors, saying: "Shareholders in BetonSports PLC, the British internet gaming group that has been targeted by a US crackdown on online gambling, are considering taking legal action against the company's advisors Evolution Securities and Baker Tilly. They are unhappy that the history of the company's founder Gary Kaplan was not made clear at the time the company floated two years ago."

Over the weekend, reports started to surface that that all previous BetonSports related phone numbers had been disconnected without advising increasingly impatient players and investors of new contact addresses and channels. Observers reported that new numbers would likely not be in the companys traditional Costa Rica region but would probably be moved to the UK where the directors continue to reside.

Gambling911 reported that up until the lines closed down company employees had been answering recent enquiries and were able to provide verifications of balances and target dates for payment ranging between 30 to 90 days.

The publication also reported the shocking news that an unidentified executive of BetonSports subsidiary Easybets.com had offered to provide inside information on events at BetonSports for an undisclosed price.

More news here.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa