James Grossman, the non-executive chairman of World Gaming, and Clare Roberts, a non-executive director, resigned last week giving no reason for their departures. But although neither person was being actively pursued by the US authorities a source close to World Gaming said that their activities prevented them from living a normal life.

Both Grossman and Roberts are high-powered attorneys with business interests besides World Gaming, many of which lie within US borders. Having recently witnessed the arrest of Peter Dicks, the non-executive chairman of Sportingbet, it is believed they felt their normal lives were in jeopardy.