PartyGaming does damage control with DOJ

PartyPoker.com stopped accepting U.S. customers last fall.

In a proactive move, PartyGaming Plc. has initiated discussions with the U.S. Attorney's Office, which has made a request for information from the company.

The company owns PartyPoker.com, which cut ties with U.S. customers after the country instituted an online gambling ban - the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA - last fall.

In a release Monday, the PartyGaming said it is voluntarily responding to the information order issued by the Attorney's Office.

"Following enactment of the UIGEA, actions have been taken by certain U.S. law enforcement agencies with respect to third parties that had previously been involved in the online gaming sector in the U.S.," the statement said.

"This has created some uncertainty as to what actions, if any, U.S. law enforcement agencies may take against industry participants, based on activity in the US prior to October 13, 2006."

Though the statement said it is too early to discuss the potential outcome of the discussions, PartyGaming did say it believes online gaming should be offered by regulated operators and that this is the direction in which the industry should be headed.

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