As reported by: Reuters via Yahoo
The United States has arrested a second Internet gaming executive, adding to fears of a crackdown on the lucrative industry and wiping over $1.5 billion off the stock market value of the UK-listed sector on Thursday.

Online bookmaker Sportingbet.com Plc said its chairman, Peter Dicks, had been detained by U.S. authorities, mirroring the detention in July of another online gaming CEO on racketeering charges.

Dicks was arrested on Internet gambling charges as part of an ongoing investigation into Sportingbet.com (London:SBT.L - News), said Senior Trooper Dwight Robinette of the Louisiana State Police.

Robinette said the arrest warrant was issued for Dicks and others in May. The arrest warrants are sealed and there are no indictments, he said.

Late on Thursday, Dicks appeared before New York City Criminal Court for Queens County seeking bail, but he was told the judge there did not have authority to make such a decision.

In the Queens County court, Dicks' lawyer, Peter Neiman, said: "He is really not a flight risk. This is not some mobster who has connections to the crime world."

Dicks is now expected to seek bail at the New York Supreme Court on Friday.

A separate New York City Criminal Court hearing on whether Dicks should be extradited to Louisiana has been set for September 14.


Article By: Reuters via Yahoo