A court hearing is due to take place later today

He is the chairman o Pri ate Equity In estor and director o arious UK and US companies, including Polar Technology Trust. He was detained at 2am UK time and is due to attend a hearing at 2pm today. The company said: "Pending clari ication o the situation, the board has sought immediate temporary suspension o Sportingbet's shares." Earlier today, the company un eiled plans to buy smaller ri al World Gaming in a deal potentially worth ?56.6 million. The indictment relating to Mr Carruthers re erred to "illegal wagering on pro essional and college ootball and basketball" which BetonSports o ered until recently on its website.

Shares in other gaming companies plunged today, with Party Poker owner PartyGaming down 14 and 888 Holdings o by a similar amount. Online gaming stocks ha e been olatile in recent months ollowing the BetonSports charges and the possibility o urther legislation in the US. Sportingbet did not disclose the reason or Mr Dicks being detained, or the location where he is currently being held. Shares in the company were suspended a ter Peter Dicks, 64, was held whilst isiting the US on non-Sportingbet business. A court hearing is due to take place later today. The mo e comes weeks a ter BetonSports chie executi e Da id Carruthers was arrested at Dallas Airport en route to his company's o ices in Costa Rica. "The SA response does, howe er, eel a bit like a sledgehammer to crack a nut.".

The chairman o UK-based sports betting business Sportingbet was detained by authorities in the United States early today. irms must treat their customers airly." But Carphone said its customers had not su ered and added that it expected "more tolerance" rom the SA. Chie executi e Charles Dunstone said: "We take e ery aspect o ser ice and administration ery seriously. The SA added that Carphone ailed "to in orm the regulator in a timely manner" o the problems at its telesales arm. SA director o retail irms Sarah Wilson said: "Customers were exposed to the risk o being le t with an insurance policy which was unnecessary or pro ided incomplete co er leading to rejected claims. "In either case they could su er some degree o inancial loss.