FIREONE EXTINGUISHES U.S. PLAYERS

(656) (10-October-2006)

e-payment processor expects heavy losses and will be cutting costs

Fireone Group , which processes online credit card payments for the online gaming industry, is to stop US transactions it announced this week through parent Optimal .

The move is a direct result of new US legislation designed to hamper online gambling financial transactions and due for signature by the US president this week.

FireOne Group stated that it will continue to offer its multi-currency credit and debit card and FirePay electronic wallet processing to the online gambling industry originating from non-U.S. consumers and not prohibited by the Act, and will consider card-not-present payment processing opportunities outside of online gambling.