Montana Man Charged With Running Internet Gambling Website

BILLINGS, Mont. (Associated Press) A man with a 2003 conviction for running an illegal bookmaking business out of a Billings card room is now charged with helping people access an illegal Internet gambling site.

The Billings Gazette reports John Fischer pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of operating an illegal gambling enterprise.

The state attorney general's office filed the charge alleging that Fischer gave people usernames and passwords to use online gambling sites to make their wagers.

Court records say Fischer told investigators he was a "bookie" operating as a middleman in a nationwide network that allowed people to bet on professional baseball and football and NCAA sporting events.

A preliminary review of Fischer's finances revealed at least $136,000 in possible gambling losses. Court records say Fischer insisted he was not making any money from his bookmaking enterprise.

The website in question was MyMVPClub.com.