The woes of BetonSports seemed to increase this week with reports in the British media that it appeared that competitors had a copy of the besieged sportsbook's customer list and were offering discounted betting promotions to steal its business.

The Guardian reported that rival websites are trying to cash in on BetonSports' legal problems in the by sending unsolicited emails to its former customers. Without naming sources or further details, the newspaper says BoS believes contact details for its customer database have been illegally sold to rival operators.

London-listed BetonSports was forced to shut the vital American part of the business last month after David Carruthers, its then chief executive, was arrested in July on a grand jury indictment alleging it was part of a multibillion-dollar illegal gambling enterprise in America.