Betting Operation Stopped
A Washington based man who ran the FantasyThunder betting site is under arrest
in the state this week for operating an illegal online casino betting site.
Washington is the only state in the US that actually enforces tough
anti-internet gambling regulations and prosecutes operators and any individual
or company that supports the internet gambling industry. The website in
question, FantasyThunder, has been in operation for nearly ten years now and has
long allowed gamblers to place bets on a variety of games and sports, including
the US NASCAR races. This year though, the online casino went under and was
unable to payout winnings to players – thus triggering a chain reaction that has
led to the arrest of the man allegedly in charge of the betting site, David B.
Watkins.
Watkins lives in the Spokane Valley in Western Washington and has operated the
illegal online casino betting operation from the state even though the gambling
industry is specifically illegal and a felony offence in the State. Over the
past several years Watkins has operated the site under the radar of the State
government and continued to take bets from all over the world (including the US)
on a wide variety of sporting events. In just the fast couple of months though,
apparent difficulties with the business caused Watkins to notify players that
the online betting site was illegal, would be shutting down, and that there was
no money left to either reimburse players or payout winnings from recent bets.
Washington authorities became suspicious that Watkins was operating the illegal
betting site out of his home when players began to complain to the Washington
officials. Watkin’s house has been raided to evidence and he is facing one count
of felony internet gambling. Players will not be targeted according to state
officials and instead will be asked to testify against Watkins. |