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| Online gambling boss jailed in US | Online gambling boss jailed in US |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| A US court has jailed the founder of an online gambling firm for more than four years and ordered him to forfeit more than $43m (£26m) in illicit earnings. | A US court has jailed the founder of an online gambling firm for more than four years and ordered him to forfeit more than $43m (£26m) in illicit earnings. |
| Gary Kaplan, 50, had admitted various charges of fraud and racketeering related to his company, BetOnSports. | Gary Kaplan, 50, had admitted various charges of fraud and racketeering related to his company, BetOnSports. |
| The London-based company encouraged American gamblers to place bets online, an illegal practice in the US. | |
| Prosecutors say that Gary Kaplan still has millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts. | Prosecutors say that Gary Kaplan still has millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts. |
| US authorities have been investigating offshore sports gambling since 1997, and BetOnSports since 2001. | US authorities have been investigating offshore sports gambling since 1997, and BetOnSports since 2001. |
| In August, Kaplan admitted setting up offshore businesses in Antigua, Costa Rica and the Caribbean island of Aruba, to provide gambling for US residents through the internet and toll-free telephone numbers. | In August, Kaplan admitted setting up offshore businesses in Antigua, Costa Rica and the Caribbean island of Aruba, to provide gambling for US residents through the internet and toll-free telephone numbers. |
| Kaplan's lawyers had asked for leniency, arguing that their client wanted to set up charitable projects to help the community. | Kaplan's lawyers had asked for leniency, arguing that their client wanted to set up charitable projects to help the community. |
| But US District Judge Carol Jackson, in St Louis, Missouri, said Kaplan "continued to disrespect" the law and broke laws he didn't agree with. | But US District Judge Carol Jackson, in St Louis, Missouri, said Kaplan "continued to disrespect" the law and broke laws he didn't agree with. |
| "Mr Kaplan made an educated decision, a gamble if you will. Now, here's the payoff," she added. | "Mr Kaplan made an educated decision, a gamble if you will. Now, here's the payoff," she added. |
| She said Kaplan would not be allowed to launch or run a business without the permission of the probation office. | She said Kaplan would not be allowed to launch or run a business without the permission of the probation office. |
| Kaplan founded his offshore betting company in 1995. | Kaplan founded his offshore betting company in 1995. |
| By 2004, BetOnSports' main base in Costa Rica employed 1,700 people and had nearly one million registered customers, the St Louis Business Journal reported. | By 2004, BetOnSports' main base in Costa Rica employed 1,700 people and had nearly one million registered customers, the St Louis Business Journal reported. |
| In that year, Kaplan sold BetOnSports shares on the London Stock Exchange which netted him more than $100m (£61m), according to prosecutors. | In that year, Kaplan sold BetOnSports shares on the London Stock Exchange which netted him more than $100m (£61m), according to prosecutors. |