William Hill Stops All Bets From US Customers

IRISH EXAMINER (www.irishexaminer.com)

27/09/2006 – 3:10:39 PM

British bookmaker William Hill said today it had stopped taking casino and poker bets from US customers amid confusion over internet gambling laws there.

Online sports betting contravenes the 1961 Wire Act in America, which bans the placing of bets on sporting events via the telephone line in the states.

William Hill already has measures in place to prevent American gamblers logging onto its website and placing bets on sports events.

But the firm said it was also pulling out of casino and poker until there was a better understanding over how the law will affect its business.

William Hill said in a statement it would not accept casino or poker business from customers with a US address or US-issued credit card.

Chief executive David Harding said: “The advice we have had is that online gambling is not illegal under the Wire Act, but there are clearly attempts within the US to make it illegal.

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