Online Gambling
Payment Processor Fined $9 million
 June 6 - Leading Canadian-based online gambling payment
processor, Citadel, has agreed to pay U.S. prosecutors $9.1
million in 'fines' to avoid further prosecution by the US
Department of Justice on conspiracy charges.
Citadel, part of ESI Entertainment Systems Inc, has been one of
many offshore firms targeted as part of the US Justice
Department's 'witch hunt' against offshore online
gambling-related companies that have conducted business with
US-based players
The Internet payment processor has been accused of processing
over $2 billion in online gambling transactions between 2003 and
2007, much of that from US online gamblers. Citadel was also
targeted because it allegedly operated without a proper license
and violated US federal anti-online gambling laws.
Under the terms of its agreement with prosecutors, Citadel will
have to admit to 'criminal wrongdoing', pay the US government
the $9.1 million in fines or 'restitution', cooperate with
authorities in their ongoing 'online gambling investigations',
and avoid any further wrongdoing for the next 18 months.
In October 2006, the United States passed the Unlawful Internet
Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA), banning online gambling in the
country. As such, the US Department of Justice has gone after
some of the industry's biggest players.
These have included another top online payment processor,
Neteller, and operator of the world's largest online poker room,
PartyGaming Plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Both reached similar 'agreements' with US authorities, and
agreed to forfeit/pay the United States $136 million and $1
billion respectively.
It just goes to show that while the United States was once
perhaps considered a protective 'big brother' to the world, it
has evolved into a menacing 'big bully'. And you don't have to
look very far for evidence of this, judging by its hypocritical
foreign policies and blatant disregard for world opinion.
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