Why the Costa Ricans declined to assist US feds in Betonsports quest

Earlier InfoPowa bulletins on rumours that US federal officials had been denied assistance by the Costa Rican government on the BetonSports investigation were confirmed by reports in local newspapers this week.

Costa Rica Vice President Laura Chinchilla revealed to the Tico newspaper Al Dia that officers of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (GAFIC) informed the Costa Rican government of an imminent strike by the U.S. Department of Justice against Tico based businesses and their executives [BetonSports] during a meeting held in San Jose last week.

Chinchilla told the newspaper that Costa Rica has no law that regulates the sports betting industry, therefore the government doesn't have legal means to intervene and assist the DoJ in regard to its request to extradite the company's founder Gary Kaplan.

Interpol Costa Rica told Al Dia that as of Wednesday they had not been notified of the arrest warrant issued for Gary Kaplan, believed to be resident in Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, the LA Times opined in a leader piece: "Instead of hassling offshore gambling CEOs at airports, the feds should legalize online betting. There's a far more effective way to bring Internet gaming within reach of Uncle Sam: Legalize it."

"Maybe enough senators still believe in liberty and free trade to defeat this bill. And maybe the FBI has more pressing tasks than scouring tarmacs for the expatriate enablers of victimless acts." The editorial concluded.

BetWWTS, a prominent sports betting operation that was also indicted by the DoJ on May 16 2006, informed its customers that effective this week the company will no longer accept bets via phone.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa