BETCHA.COM DECISION POSTPONED FOR A WEEK

12 October 2007

Governor still undecided on extradition of Washington state citizen to Louisiana on Internet gambling allegations


Nick Jenkins, the 38 year old Seattle entrepreneur and owner of now defunct Betcha.com (see previous InfoPowa reports) will have another week of stress and waiting to hear his fate after Governor Chris Gregoire postponed her decision on a request his extradition by Louisiana authorities.

In a sting operation a Louisiana trooper placed a bet at Betcha.com in July this year after Jenkins had a run-in with Washington State gambling officials over whether his betting site was illegal or not. The dispute was followed by a Washington State raid on the Betcha.com offices and confiscation of computer equipment, effectively putting Jenkins out of business. He has launched litigation against the state gambling authorities as a result.

Jenkins site benefitted by only 70 cents from the transaction at the centre of the row, but Louisiana officials nevertheless prssed ahead with a request that Jenkins be extradited to the southern state. Washington governor Gregoire has the final word on whether such a course of action should go ahead.

Jenkins, who is himself a lawyer, has asserted throughout the affair that his Betcha.com site was legal because it served only as a gambling forum and did not bank games.

His lawyer, Lee Rousso, says delaying the extradition hearing until next Wednesday may give him time to work something out.

BETCHA.COM EXTRADITION APPEAL REJECTED (Update)
Owner and colleagues voluntarily surrender to Louisiana authorities

The Betcha.com saga (see previous InfoPowa reports) continued this week with the sad news that Washington State governor Chris Gregoire has granted a request by Louisiana authorities that owner Nick Jenkins and his colleagues Josie M. Imlay and Peter M. Abrahamsen be extradited on "illegal gambling" charges.

Jenkins had appealed to the governor of his home state not to allow the extradition to proceed until his own case against the Washington State gambling board has been decided - the board raided and shut down Jenkins's site when he argued its legality as a betting venue between third parties.

The three Betcha.com colleagues voluntarily flew to Louisiana this week and surrendered to state police, who immediately arrested them, confirming that if convicted, the three could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $20 000 each.

Louisiana became involved in the case when a state trooper conducting a sting investigation placed a bet through the site which realised a return for Betcha.com of a mere 70 cents.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa