WESTERN BUREAU - Montego Bay-based Sports Data Services Limited and its managing director Spiros Athanas, who are accused of illegally carrying out internet betting, are to stand trial on October 26.

The matter is to be tried in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Athanas and Sports Data Services Limited are alleged to have carried on the business of pool betting and bookmaking at Olympic Data Services Limited - a subsidiary of Sports Data Services Limited - without the requisite licence or authorisation to do so. This alleged offence is in breach of section 20a of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, the prosecution has maintained.

The company was licensed by JAMPRO to operate as a telemarketing agency when it was established at the Montego Bay Free Zone in 1996. However, the company has allegedly been operating outside the ambit of that licence, taking bets locally and overseas via calls made to a 1-800 number.

It is the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) that has brought the suit against Athanas and his company.
The BGLC is represented by attorneys Dr Lloyd Barnett and Dr Adolph Edwards, while attorneys Norma Linton and Clayton Morgan represent Athanas.

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