NETeller Buys An Expensive 'Get Out Of Jail Free' Card

from the justice-is-served dept

What does it take to avoid the wrath of the US government and its war on online gambling? In the case of NETeller, the online payment service that helped many US citizens fund online gambling accounts, it only needed to pony up $136 million, before being let on its way. By forfeiting that money and admitting guilt, NETeller can now resume business, provided it doesn't facilitate online gambling any more. Unfortunately, the company's founders weren't so lucky, as they'll be doing time for the crime of running the business. The settlement is also good news for customers in the US who have seen their money frozen on the site. With the settlement, NETeller is now clear to disburse the money back.
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Filed Under: gambling
Companies: neteller


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  • identicon
    Overcast, 18 Jul 2007 @ 5:30pm

    Oh, but it's ok to play the lottery.

    Just no 'Non-Official' gambling. Soon it will be no 'Non-Official' Speech, or no 'Non-Official' food.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      John, 18 Jul 2007 @ 5:48pm

      Re:

      Really, the US government should stop wasting it's time trying to fight online gambling. There are problems in the world and online gambling isn't one of them.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2007 @ 6:01pm

        Re: Re: wasting time

        It's not a case of politicians wasting time. It's politicians paying back donors for their generous contributions, and future lobbying jobs.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ScaredOfTheMan, 18 Jul 2007 @ 5:54pm

    Never did understand that?

    Gambling is simple a game of risk played with money.

    I don't understand why, if its so bad to bet on sports or other things do we allow:

    The Entire State of Nevada
    Any sort of Lottery
    Native American Casinos
    Casino Cruises to no where
    The Stock Market
    The mutual fund market
    The futures market
    or any currency market

    Isn't all the same, you can lose you a$$ or win big in any of these things. So why single out online gambling? could it be because the government is not getting its piece of the action, like it does (directly or indirectly) from the rest.

    It just seems like hypocrisy to me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shalkar, 18 Jul 2007 @ 7:32pm

    My Opinion is:

    Who cares about gambling! Worry about "hardcore" drugs that take needles, global warming and the price of gas! THAT is something time worthy! Gambling? So what! Online gambling just means when you lose the shirt off your back, you have to mail it to them! ;P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    RB, 18 Jul 2007 @ 9:09pm

    Online Gambling

    The US law is so stupid...
    You cant put a gate around the Internet....Bush is an idiot and so are the Senate and Congress.
    So, porn is ok I suppose?
    Is this some law that was funded by casinos in Vegas and Atlantic City to protect their interests?
    Trump, Wynn, and others involved?
    You betcha...the "law" is nothing but just bribes being paid to top officials...BIG MONEY being passed from Vegas to congressman...the guy who wrote the bill, I can guarantee you took lots of bribes....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    senator blutarski, 21 Jul 2007 @ 7:13am

    neteller

    Once again the us has shown it's hypocrisy. It's ok to slaughter human beings but gambling, no way! Bush and his bible thumpers are total idiots.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lock up, 3 Jan 2010 @ 10:54pm

    neteller

    FOr neteller it wasn't about gambling. It was about money laundering and tax avoidance. They went to great lengths to move money around many countries under false company names. They even had the balls to publish in their prospectus that their business violates US law. And why isn't every executive with this company in jail? Money talks. Why is it that 2 bit uneducated black american fill jails for stealing less than $25? No money.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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