BetsonSports CEO David Carruthers arrested in the U.S.

[erehwon]

So when does it start for adult webmasters?

-=-

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...D8ITVM9G6.html

By DAVID KOENIG
Associated Press
07/17/2006

David Carruthers, whom authorities say runs an offshore gambling
company that illegally takes bets from U.S. residents, was ordered
held in custody Monday after a brief appearance in federal district
court.

Carruthers was arrested over the weekend as he tried to change flights
en route from the United Kingdom to Costa Rica, where his BetsonSports
PLC is based.

A sealed indictment had been issued in Missouri. Federal Magistrate
Judge Charles Bleil ordered the indictment unsealed, but prosecutors
declined to make a copy available until they could hold a press
conference later Monday.

Federal prosecutor Mark Nichols summarized the multi-count indictment
in open court, saying that Carruthers and several other people were
charged with conspiracy in offering bets on professional and college
sports to U.S. residents.

BetonSports took wagers on an Internet site and over a toll-free
telephone line, Nichols said.

Carruthers is chief executive and a director of the company, which was
incorporated in the United Kingdom. According to the company's Web
site, Carruthers had over 24 years of experience in the U.K. gambling
industry with Ladbrokes PLC before joining BetonSports in 2000.

Prosecutors asked that Carruthers be held until he could be sent to
Missouri to face charges. Bleil agreed that Carruthers would remain in
custody at least until a detention hearing can be held Friday in Fort
Worth.

Carruthers' first appearance in court lasted about 10 minutes. He was
led into the courtroom in handcuffs, wearing a lime green T-shirt with
the words "World Traveler" across the front, faded jeans and gray
suede shoes.

When a court officials asked Carruthers if he had read the charges
against him, he said no. Tim Evans, an attorney who appeared on
Carruthers' behalf, handed him a document, adding, "You won't have
time to read it all, of course."

Carruthers spoke only when the judge asked him if he understood the
charges. "Yes," he replied.

Evans declined to comment after the hearing, saying he hadn't had time
to fully read the indictment. Nichols declined to comment, and
referred questions to prosecutors in Missouri, who declined to make
the unsealed indictment available.

Internet gambling has become a political issue in Washington. Last
week, the House passed a bill that would make it illegal for American
banks and credit card issuers to make payments to online gambling
sites. The bill's fate in the Senate is uncertain, in part because of
exemptions granted for horse racing and state lotteries.

[Tdog]

Why would someone use there real name on a gambling website like that?

[Jensen]

D- to D+ Poor, some risk to players funds. Poor customer service, etc (sportsbookreview.com)

not a man I would trust my money with anyway...

[XPays]

Originally Posted by Tdog

Why would someone use there real name on a gambling website like that?

why would the guy fly through the u.s. is another question-- that was a lapse in judgement.

[Manowar]

foolish to go to america

[EdgeXXX]

Originally Posted by Tdog

Why would someone use there real name on a gambling website like that?

Why would he use a fake name unless it's some kind of scam? He is the CEO of a legitimate corporation (and therefor his real name would be listed in the companies articles of incorporation), so why wouldn't he use his real name?

[detoxed]

Yeah no clue why the fuck he came here

[MaddCaz]

shoulda never touched down where he could be arrested

[erehwon]

Originally Posted by detoxed

Yeah no clue why the fuck he came here

Short his stock?!?

[marketsmart]

i am assuming he is an american citizen?

[minusonebit]

This type of stuff will continue as long as we allow the religious nuts and the moral police to dictate to us what we may see, do and hear. Its time for all of us to rebuke the church openly, publically and violently. People who keep putting these types of systems up need to be shouted down or taken out by whatever means nessicary, up to and including the excercise of our constitutionally-protected right to overthrow the government.

[madawgz]

thats fucked up damn government...

[BoyAlley]

Originally Posted by marketsmart

i am assuming he is an american citizen?

That's a VERY good question. Surely he has to be a US Citizen and they're not arresting foreign operators of foreign websites that are perfectly legal in their native country?

[TreasureBucks]

Originally Posted by minusonebit

This type of stuff will continue as long as we allow the religious nuts and the moral police to dictate to us what we may see, do and hear. Its time for all of us to rebuke the church openly, publically and violently. People who keep putting these types of systems up need to be shouted down or taken out by whatever means nessicary, up to and including the excercise of our constitutionally-protected right to overthrow the government.

the church?? what does the church have to do with this?? lol

This about physical gambling establishments, and there politician friends using laws to stamp out competition that doesnt bring money into this country.

[Michael O]

............David Carruthers has been an outspoken proponent of legalizing gambling in the United States and has openly lobbied in Washington for legislative changes. The arrest comes a few days after the House approved HR 4411, also known as the ban online gambling bill. Mr. Carruthers is a United Kingdom citizen.

http://www.theonlinewire.com/articleView.aspx?ID=1093


..............Carruthers was in custody in Fort Worth, Texas, after a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri returned a 22-count indictment charging 11 individuals and four corporations on various charges of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement...........

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...ETONSPORTS.XML

[GatorB]

Originally Posted by TreasureBucks

the church?? what does the church have to do with this?? lol

This about physical gambling establishments, and there politician friends using laws to stamp out competition that doesnt bring money into this country.

If the casino owners were smart they'd be FOR online gambling. How many people NEVER go to Vegas or any casino? So they are losing revenue. for those that do what better advertising is there? mos tpeole that go to Vegas go maybe once a year or every few years. Well make some money on them inbetween and keep YOUR name in thier minds when they do decide to go.

The casino owners remind me of the movie studios about 30 years ago when they tried to stop VCR because they thought they would LOSE money because of them. How many movies actually turn a profit or lessen their losses because of video/DVD sales? Why do the big corporations never get it until they spend millions of $$$ on lawsuits or lobbying before they realize "Hey this could MAKE us money" ?

[Webby]

Originally Posted by Tdog

Why would someone use there real name on a gambling website like that?

It's it a legal gambling operation Tdog - no reason to use anything other than a real name.

[GatorB]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

............David Carruthers has been an outspoken proponent of legalizing gambling in the United States and has openly lobbied in Washington for legislative changes. The arrest comes a few days after the House approved HR 4411, also known as the ban online gambling bill. Mr. Carruthers is a United Kingdom citizen.

http://www.theonlinewire.com/articleView.aspx?ID=1093

Sorry, but online gambling is LEGAL in the UK. The US does not control the internet and Mr Carruthers can't help if Americans type his websites name into their address bar. And it's Visa and other CC comnpanies that process any funds Americans spend at the website so shouldn't they be arrested too. Hmmmmmmm. This will be thrown out.

[slavdogg]

Originally Posted by XPays

why would the guy fly through the u.s. is another question-- that was a lapse in judgement.

There is no other way to fly from England to Central America...

Getting publicity that will come out of all this is priceless inself, so maybe that was part of the plan too.

[Webby]

This smells like an interesting "event" about to arise.

It was tried before a few years back the the manager of the Royal Bank of Canada who ran their Grand Caymen operation.

He had a flight landing over US territory and, in this instance, there were no charges, - he was simply kidnapped for a period. During this time he was pressured to give up data from RBC Grand Caymen to US officials. He never did and eventually he was released.

David Carruthers is not an idiot, but both a shrewd businessman and an advocate for the online gaming industry.

Interesting because basically what is being claimed... ie that online gaming is an offense in one country - hence there is justification for the arrest of an individual even on a stop-over flight to that country.

By the same reasoning and applying this to the adult industry, any webmaster is open to arrest if he passes thru a country where elements of "adult" are illegal - even tho he has no business interests in that country.

Bottom line - game playing. There are repercussions to game playing.

[Webby]

Originally Posted by slavdogg

There is no other way to fly from England to Central America...

Getting publicity that will come out of all this is priceless inself, so maybe that was part of the plan too.

Agree.. the highlighting of this has enormous potential publicity - and could be a strong "anti" if handled incorrectly - not just in gaming world.

Think there is currently flights from the EU to Costa Rica direct slavdogg. One is KLM and believe Iberia also have flights with have no stop-over in US territory.

There are also other flights planned over the next few years - one being from Heathrow direct to Costa Rica using the new larger Airbus aircraft. There is construction started on a new airport (bigger than Santamaria International - San Jose) with the extended runway needed for this type of aircraft.

[minusonebit]

Originally Posted by TreasureBucks

the church?? what does the church have to do with this?? lol

This about physical gambling establishments, and there politician friends using laws to stamp out competition that doesnt bring money into this country.

What does the church have to do with trying to stamp out gambling? Are you really that dense?

[Webby]

Damn... just checked... There is also another underlying issue here.

The govt of Antigua lodged a complaint a few years ago with the World Trade Organisation in respect of online gaming being blocked by the US (relates to card transations etc).

The WTO ruled in favor of the Antiguan govt and the US then wished to lodge an appeal.

Part of David Carruthers business activities relate to licensed gaming in Antigua. It is possible this action is an attempt to side-step the WTO gaming ruling - who knows - time will tell.

[lyn1]

Originally Posted by TreasureBucks

the church?? what does the church have to do with this?? lol

This about physical gambling establishments, and there politician friends using laws to stamp out competition that doesnt bring money into this country.

Unadulterated crap. It's all about revenue or more to the point, lost revenue. If the yanks let this guy operate, imagine the tax they are missing out on...very simple economics to me.

Lyn

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by lyn1

Uvery simple economics to me.

Lyn

everything is simple to you...

...great to be a simple mind .. no need to think

[minusonebit]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

everything is simple to you...

...great to be a simple mind .. no need to think

[XPays]

Originally Posted by slavdogg

There is no other way to fly from England to Central America...

Getting publicity that will come out of all this is priceless inself, so maybe that was part of the plan too.

klm goes nonstop from amsterdam to curacao- then from curacao it's a hop to costa rica. you are right he must want the publicity.

edit- i see webby hit this topic---

[DaddyHalbucks]

Geez, the feds must have really wanted him.

[TreasureBucks]

Originally Posted by minusonebit

What does the church have to do with trying to stamp out gambling? Are you really that dense?

Churchees love gambling. cmon...I thought you knew that

That goes for all the other fun things out there. Without all the vices, what else would they do on sunday?

[Degenerate]

Originally Posted by GatorB

This will be thrown out.

Yup, without a doubt.

[lyn1]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

everything is simple to you...

...great to be a simple mind .. no need to think

Simple minds are amused by simple things. Obviously you are so simple you didn't study economics at college.

Maybe they should have let you study simple economics when you were excelling at playschool last year.

A little bit of commonsense takes you a long way in this world

Lyn

[GatorB]

Originally Posted by TreasureBucks

Churchees love gambling. cmon...I thought you knew that

That goes for all the other fun things out there. Without all the vices, what else would they do on sunday?

Churches are anti-gambling because it's "evil". Well except for BINGO that doesn't count for some reason. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that revenues from bingo benefit them, but that's just some crazy theory I came up with.

[gecko]

What was he thinking?

[TreasureBucks]

Originally Posted by GatorB

Churches are anti-gambling because it's "evil". Well except for BINGO that doesn't count for some reason. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that revenues from bingo benefit them, but that's just some crazy theory I came up with.

I didnt want to hotlink this one... it is a church an all...

http:// www . nativitybridgeport.org/bingo.htm

yea yea, ok so there may or may not be a cash prize but....look!!

NOW SMOKE FREE!!

[LiveDose]

He was stupid to come back to the US.

[Vitasoy]

Suck to be him about now..

[$5 submissions]

Although he's a UK citizen, he's on US territory so he's fair game

[Webby]

Originally Posted by LiveDose

He was stupid to come back to the US.

One thing David is not, is stupid.

He is an officer of BetOnSports plc, a multi-billion dollar public company with listing on the London Stock Exchange. BetOnSports is licensed and regulated in over 60 countries.

David is also a very articulate spokesman for the gaming industry and is well-aware of having protections in place to cover minors, client funds and generally an advocate for adopting good business practices within the industry. He has invited representatives of the US legislature to visit his company and inspect their methods of operation, particularly to dispelling myths propogated by several senators.

One issue he has addressed repeatedly in Washington is the stupidity in having gambling "illegal" and where this is pushed underground to the point where there are no controls and offer little protection for minors or clients.

Time will tell, but suspect this has nothing to do with BetOnSports or David Carruthers specifically, but more to do with the US having a judgement against them at the World Trade Organisation and where the government of Antigua - a place where David has interests - won for allegations of unfair trade practices. Some people can be bad losers.

[bknoob]

hmmm damn

[joshuawk]

welcome to america!!:::::::::::::>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.egdmlaw.com/fsl5cs/Attorneys/Attorneys34.asp

There is his lawyer, added him to my 'lawyer' bookmarks.

[joshuawk]

and oh yea internet gambling should be illegal in my opinion!

BUSH isnt that bad of a guy he is just trying to keep the country in order!

[scottybuzz]

why should internet gambling be illegal when gambling in vegas isnt...?

[joshll]

Originally Posted by Manowar

foolish to go to america

I Agree

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by scottybuzz

why should internet gambling be illegal when gambling in vegas isnt...?

The answer is in your question ....

[Sarah_Jayne]

Well, his comanpy's stock has been suspended on the London stock exchange.

[GiveIntoMe]

of course we still love america dont we guys & gals HAHAHAHAHAHA