INTER-STATE ARRESTS ON BETCHA CASE

24 August 2007

Lawyer Nick and webbie staff face extradition

The state of Louisiana in the United States was in the online gambling headlines again as the week closed with a report from The Daily Advertiser that Louisiana State Police troopers have arrested three Seattle men for allegedly operating an illegal gambling Web site branded Betcha.com.

Presumably the inter-state action took place in Washington State and was prearranged by Washington and Louisiana state authorities, although this was not yet clear as we went to press. The men are being held at an unknown location in Seattle, Washington and it is not known whether bail was set, although The Daily Advertiser report does confirm that extradition proceedings to transfer the three men to Louisiana to face charges have been initiated.

The men arrested were identified in a police press release as Nicholas Jenkins (38) a lawyer, together with Peter Abrahamson (25) the Betcha.com system administrator and Josie Imlay (25) the head technician.

The release alleged that the Betcha.com site allowed people to place bets electronically, which is illegal in Louisiana. The Web site also charged fees for people to place bets, depending on how much money was being wagered. It added that bets were being accepted from people in Louisiana as well as other states, suggesting that a "sting" operation had been undertaken to prove Louisiana involvement in the same way as state authorities acted against Sportingbet in a case last year.

The alternative to a sting operation could be that computer equipment confiscated in an earlier raid on Betcha.com by Washington State Gambling Commission officials yielded confidential information on player activity in Louisiana, although this is speculation at present.

The release revealed that the arrests were triggered after troopers conducted a month-long investigation with the assistance of the Washington State Gambling Commission.

If successfully extradited to Louisiana and subsequently convicted, the three men could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $20 000, The Daily Advertiser reports, adding rather ominously that more arrests are expected in the case.

Jenkins and his site Betcha.com (see previous InfoPowa report) were in the news earlier this year after Washington State Gambling Commission officials clashed with Jenkins over the legality of his business model, which he claims renders Betcha.com legal by not completing the betting circle with payment.

State officials were not convinced and ordered Jenkins to close the site, following this with a raid in which computer and other equipment were allegedly confiscated. Jenkins vowed to fight the case, which has not yet appeared before a court.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa