BetOnSports to close down US operations

London-listed online betting giant BetOnSports said it would shut down its US operations, according to an AFP report.

The report, quoting a statement, said BetOnSports planned to cease operations in Costa Rica and Antigua "as soon as possible."

The group added it would pay any liabilities to staff and creditors and repay balances due to US customers "in an orderly manner," the report said.

BetonSports made the announcement in light of the temporary restraining order issued by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri preventing it from taking bets from US citizens.

The report said the order came after a 22-count indictment was served on BetonSports and 11 individuals, including former CEO David Carruthers and the company's controversial founder Gary Kaplan, alleging various charges of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud.

The crackdown highlighted efforts in the US to enforce a ban on Internet gambling even though most of the Web sites taking bets were offshore, the report said.