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Offshore Gambling Site Laundered $2 Million

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The operators of an offshore gambling website used Amazon gift cards to launder nearly $2 million over the past few years, a Department of Homeland Security investigator alleged in a recent application for a seizure warrant filed in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.

The filing alleges that the Costa Rica-based gambling site, 5Dimes, instructed U.S. customers to use Amazon gift cards to fund their 5Dimes sports betting, in an effort to skirt the U.S. financial system. The feds say 5Dimes also paid out winnings to U.S. customers in Amazon gift cards, or in merchandise they picked out on Amazon-com.

“[T]he investigation has determined that 5Dimes has developed an alternative to the traditional online financial payment methods, which is unavailable to 5Dimes under federal law, in order to operate its illegal betting operation in the U.S.,” the document reads. “This illegal alternative relies on the use of [Amazon gift cards], in violation of Amazon’s terms of service.”

The Homeland Security warrant application makes the case to seize a total of $159,000 spread among 15 Amazon accounts believed to be tied to 5Dimes. Over the years, the Amazon accounts, which bear names such as GC Lover and Blue Iguana, have held nearly $1.9 million in funds combined. Amazon has shut down the GC Lover account, according to the filing.

5Dimes does not charge a fee for bettors who fund their accounts with Amazon gift cards. The company has instructed bettors to purchase these gift cards at a traditional retail store, in cash, and email a photo of the card information along with a receipt. The gambling site also offers bettors a 10 percent bonus if they choose to receive their winnings in the form of Amazon gift cards added to their Amazon account.

The company also used the gift cards to purchase merchandise, such as 100 office chairs and 50 custom sweatshirts silkscreened with the 5Dimes logo, the application says.

An Amazon spokesman declined to comment. The betting site did not respond to a message sent to a company email account.




Offshore Gambling Site Laundered $2 Million in Amazon Gift Cards, Feds Say | Re/code
Join: 2006/12/07 Messages: 29893
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Manne wrote:

The operators of an offshore gambling website used Amazon gift cards to launder nearly $2 million over the past few years, a Department of Homeland Security investigator alleged in a recent application for a seizure warrant filed in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.

The filing alleges that the Costa Rica-based gambling site, 5Dimes, instructed U.S. customers to use Amazon gift cards to fund their 5Dimes sports betting, in an effort to skirt the U.S. financial system. The feds say 5Dimes also paid out winnings to U.S. customers in Amazon gift cards, or in merchandise they picked out on Amazon-com.

“[T]he investigation has determined that 5Dimes has developed an alternative to the traditional online financial payment methods, which is unavailable to 5Dimes under federal law, in order to operate its illegal betting operation in the U.S.,” the document reads. “This illegal alternative relies on the use of [Amazon gift cards], in violation of Amazon’s terms of service.”

The Homeland Security warrant application makes the case to seize a total of $159,000 spread among 15 Amazon accounts believed to be tied to 5Dimes. Over the years, the Amazon accounts, which bear names such as GC Lover and Blue Iguana, have held nearly $1.9 million in funds combined. Amazon has shut down the GC Lover account, according to the filing.

5Dimes does not charge a fee for bettors who fund their accounts with Amazon gift cards. The company has instructed bettors to purchase these gift cards at a traditional retail store, in cash, and email a photo of the card information along with a receipt. The gambling site also offers bettors a 10 percent bonus if they choose to receive their winnings in the form of Amazon gift cards added to their Amazon account.

The company also used the gift cards to purchase merchandise, such as 100 office chairs and 50 custom sweatshirts silkscreened with the 5Dimes logo, the application says.

An Amazon spokesman declined to comment. The betting site did not respond to a message sent to a company email account.




Offshore Gambling Site Laundered $2 Million in Amazon Gift Cards, Feds Say | Re/code

I playing at 5Dimes sometimes. Playing there is sometimes like being a little kid in a candy store. 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino offers players a unique online gaming experience with sports betting, online casino gaming, online poker room, a full racebook. They having a lot of customers no reason to be greedy!!
Join: 2006/12/11 Messages: 1758
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mike1 wrote:

I playing at 5Dimes sometimes. Playing there is sometimes like being a little kid in a candy store. 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino offers players a unique online gaming experience with sports betting, online casino gaming, online poker room, a full racebook. They having a lot of customers no reason to be greedy!!

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough. Greedy people are never satisfied!!
Join: 2015/09/20 Messages: 247
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mike1 wrote:

I playing at 5Dimes sometimes. Playing there is sometimes like being a little kid in a candy store. 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino offers players a unique online gaming experience with sports betting, online casino gaming, online poker room, a full racebook. They having a lot of customers no reason to be greedy!!

I playing at 5Dimes sometimes. Playing there is sometimes like being a little kid in a candy store. 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino offers players a unique online gaming experience with sports betting, online casino gaming, online poker room, a full racebook. They having a lot of customers no reason to be greedy!!



I think all gambling site owner are taking more than they can eat!!
Join: 2006/12/07 Messages: 29893
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Manne wrote:

I playing at 5Dimes sometimes. Playing there is sometimes like being a little kid in a candy store. 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino offers players a unique online gaming experience with sports betting, online casino gaming, online poker room, a full racebook. They having a lot of customers no reason to be greedy!!



I think all gambling site owner are taking more than they can eat!!

The way they laundered the money is quite strategic and wise but not enough not to get caught hah. Owners and operators of such casino are surely blinded by money. I hope they get the legal consequence they deserve.
Join: 2016/03/13 Messages: 53
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