SPORTINGBET CHAIRMAN DETAINED IN U.S.

(403) (7-September-2006)

Details still sparse, but executive was not travelling on Sportingbet business when arrested

Details are still coming in, but Sportingbet plc has asked for the temporary suspension of its shares on the London stock exchange following the detention in the United States of non-executive chairman Peter Dicks (64)

Apparently Dicks was detained late evening Wednesday US time whilst visiting the States, but his visit was not of a business nature or connected with Sportingbet plc.

A terse notice on the Sportingbet plc corporate site says that a hearing is scheduled for 2pm British Standard Time today (Thursday) and that the company has wisely asked for trading in it's shares to be temporarily suspended.