Gaming site Golden Casino is the focal point of an investigation into online gaming payment processors
Thursday 29th October 2009
Gaming site Golden Casino is the focal point of an investigation into online gaming payment processors by the US Attorney’s office out of Baltimore, Maryland. According to Dan Smith of the Baltimore City Paper, the investigation is about to bear fruit: “It appears that the investigation is an active phase. I’ll likely [have] more pieces as new SSWs come available, or whatever else develops at the courthouse.'
Smith also said that the court in Baltimore now has a record of a seizure of $365,366.69 from two bank accounts in the name of Atrium Financial Group (AFG). An affidavit, which is not sealed, reveals that AFG distributes money to online gamers, including players at Golden Casino.
According to the affidavit, the process leading to the AFG seizures began on July 14, 2008 when Louisiana State Police (LSP) started an “undercover gambling account” with Golden Casino. When the LSP requested a payout, the check they received bounced.
Smith reports that the affidavit goes on to outline a total of approximately $6.3 million that has been wired by either Con-Tex or IFC to AFG bank accounts in the US. The AFG accounts were held with Mercantile, Sovereign Bank, Wachovia Bank, National City Bank and TD Bank North and they have now all been closed, according to the affidavit, due to suspicions that the money was linked to illegal gambling.
The investigation continues.
