In response to the measures taken by the Turkish authorities to detain people related to SuperBahis, the Turkish-facing business of Sportingbet Plc, the company has said it is building a more balanced geographic risk profile and is gradually reducing its reliance on that market. Sportingbet’s net gaming revenue from Turkey for the quarter ended 30 April 2008 was around 14%, a reduction from 26% the previous quarter.

Two UK-based Turkish national employees have been detained whilst on holiday in Turkey but Sportingbet has so far received no formal clarification of events. Other people detained recently have been individuals related to Maslin Properties Limited, the Group’s ex-marketing partner in the region. SuperBahis is a mainly Turkish language sportsbook, skill game site, casino and poker room licensed in Antigua & Barbuda.

Claiming to be the world’s leading online gambling company, Sportingbet’s turnover for the financial year ended 31 July 2007 was £1,324.9 million. Since the enactment of the UK Gambling Act 2005 in September last year, the company moved its licensable activities to the Channel Islands but retains a physical operational presence in the UK as well as in Ireland, Italy, Australia and Antigua. (E-05.29.08)

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