Business as Un-Usual: Legends Sports Still Paying Out Within Hours
While no official statement has been issued by the betting company following Wednesday’s shocking wave of indictments by US law enforcement, a few customers of Legends.com (also found at www.legends.eu) have reported payouts within just a matter of hours on Thursday.
The company was sent into a tailspin after several executives and agents associated with Panama City-based Legends were named in an indictment handed down by the US Justice Department office out of Oklahoma City. That indictment alleges defendants were running an illegal sports wagering establishment since at least 2003 utilizing agents within the US.
A separate related indictment out of the Northern District of New York remains sealed, however, a handful of arrests were made in connection to that investigation within Albany and the Orlando, Florida area. Gambling911.com has not yet gained access to the Northern District of New York indictment via Pacer although the local Times-Union newspaper of Albany appears to have been provided some details related to that investigation.
On Thursday, another of the defendants, Spiros Athanas of New Hampshire, turned himself into authorities and was arraigned. He was listed as a part owner in Legends Sports while also running TheGreek.com, the later of which no longer accepts customers from within the US.
TheGreek.com has been in operation since 1996 while Legends, previously utilizing the name MVP Sports, was one of the first US-facing sportsbooks to set up shop in Costa Rica in or around 1997.
Both sportsbooks continued offering lines on games and taking bets from players. Both were reportedly issuing payouts without delay Thursday.
Industry experts told Gambling911.com on Thursday they believe that federal agents somehow managed to infiltrate some Legends Sports operatives email accounts and computers with information dating as far back as 2004. It was also confirmed Thursday that law enforcement wire tapped Skype conversations between Legends employees and operatives residing within the US.
The Department of Justice is attempting to seize $1 billion in cash and assets.
Legal experts who wish to remain anonymous tell Gambling911.com they are doubtful the Government will be able to recover even a quarter of this amount.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
