The imposing shadow cast by the current crackdown by U.S. officials on the online gambling world has prompted two prominent industry executives to leave their positions. World Gaming chairman James Grossman and non-executive director Clare Roberts have reportedly both handed-in their resignations to the gaming software outfit, rumored to have been a takeover target of beleaguered online sports betting firm Sportingbet.

Independent of their positions with World Gaming, both Grossman and Roberts are practicing attorneys in the U.S.. In addition, Grossman also acts as an advisor to the U.S. government, according to a company spokesman, with Roberts being a former Attorney General of Antigua. “Clearly they’ve got other business interests and they’ve got to be able to go to the US to be able to carry on their other business interests,â€? said the World Gaming statement, adding replacements will be named in due course, with no timetable set as of yet.

The recent high-profile arrests of both Sportingbet chairman Peter Dicks (who has since resigned) as well as David Carruthers, the now-terminated chief executive officer of BetOnSports, has sent chills throughout the industry. Under the Wire Act of 1961, sports betting is illegal in the U.S., although grey area remains as to whether this applies to the internet, and more specifically, poker and casino games played via the medium. Fear of arrest has likewise prompted PartyGaming chairman Michael Jackson to state on record that he will not currently even travel to the U.S. unless absolutely necessary.

- Rex Harris