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No word yet on the reasons behind the abrupt closure of UK-based Purple Lounge, an online poker room and casino operated by Media Corporation (not to be confused with the Rupert Murdock publishing empire). Customers were not provided with any prior warning as to the shutdown. Players had experienced slow payouts in recent months despite Purple Lounge’s operation within a mostly Web poker-friendly environment. Purple Lounge had not accepted business from US players.
Just two weeks ago, Media Corporation announced its intent to purchase The Poker Channel in the UK. At the time of the announcement, Media Corporation had suspended trading. In January, the company also shed some of its underperforming publishing assets including the TV listings service onthebox.com.
But the story that really riveted readers of Gambling911.com was the shocking arrests involving the wife of Media Corp PLC Non-Executive Director Chris Gorman last August. Gorman resigned from his post last month.
You can’t make this stuff up even if you try.
Mary Gorman, 43, was charged with performing oral sex on an unknown black man during a hip hop event at the Roxy Club in Orlando, outside of Disney World, while her husband watched. Chris, 44, was also taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest. Those charges were later dropped. The couple was on a family vacation at the time. Their two small children were reportedly left back at their hotel room under adult supervision.
Mrs. Gorman was also charged with drug possession and assault on a police officer.
Media Corp issued a statement Friday that it had loaned Purple Lounge over £900k and has thus far “received no dividends or cash payments from the business”, resulting in what it calls a “temporary closure”.
In January, Purple Lounge had moved its online poker room from the Microgaming Network to Swedish-based Entraction, which is also home to Victor Chandler.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
