Attorney General's News Release

April 25, 1997

Nixon puts temporary halt to Internet gambling business's access to Missouri customers

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon has halted, at least temporarily, the access of an Internet gambling business to Missouri customers. Nixon obtained an agreement yesterday with Interactive Gaming & Communications Corp. (IGC) that requires it to not accept bets or open accounts for Missourians until a state court rules on Nixon's motion for a preliminary injunction against the company.

Nixon filed suit on April 7 against IGC, a publicly traded business based in Blue Bell, Pa., after an undercover investigator from the Attorney General's Office was told by a company representative that it was legal for Missouri residents to participate in an online slots tournament. The investigator then was able to set up an account with IGC and place a bet from Missouri.

Nixon said the agreement requires IGC to post a prominent notice on its website informing readers that it will not open accounts for Missourians for the time being. IGC also will be required to return any applications and payments sent to it from Missouri.

A hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction scheduled for today in Jackson County Circuit Court was continued, but will be reset for no later than May 30, Nixon said.

"We will continue to oppose any attempts to represent that this form of unregulated gambling is legal in Missouri," Nixon said. "This agreement places at least a temporary halt to this business taking bets from Missouri until the larger issue is decided in a Missouri court of law."

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818