Sportingbet (SBT.L), operator of Paradise Poker, is seeking a bail hearing for its two junior staff members who were arrested in Turkey last month in connection with Sportingbet’s Turkish-facing sports betting operation Superbahis.com.
Sportingbet has hired a Turkish law firm to defend the two men, who are both Turkish nationals living in London. Neither of them has yet been charged with a crime.
Andrew McIver, the company’s Group Chief Executive, told reporters: ‘We are seeking a hearing next week to get the Turkish equivalent of bail or a charge. The whole thing is very frustrating. It’s very unfair on the individuals.”
According to McIver, Turkish nationals contributed almost 14% of Sportingbet’s net gaming revenues in the company’s third quarter. That was down from 26% in the second quarter of 2008.
PartyGaming (PRTY.L) pulled out of the Turkish market last year. Their reason cited was “recent legislation which prohibits certain forms of online gaming “.
Sportingbet’s interpretation of the law is that it since their computer processing is in the Channel Islands and their customer support is based in Dublin Irelands, they have no assets or operations of any kind in Turkey and can therefore continue taking bets from its citizens.
Back in October 2006, Sportingbet announced Paradise Poker would stop taking deposits from US customers. Additionally, Sportingbet sold all its US-facing sportsbetting and casino businesses, including Sportsbook.com and Sports.com, to a group of private investors for $1, and an assumption of $13.2 million in debts.