BY TOM SOMACH

Internet gambling company Bet On Sports PLC, which operated an online poker room, online casino and online sportsbook, has pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway announced. =A0 Her office had been pursuing a 22-count criminal indictment against the London-based firm and its top executives since July, and had settled civil charges against the company in November that permanently bars it from accepting any bets from gamblers in the U.S.

Bet On Sports founder Gary S. Kaplan, who is American, and chief executive David Carruthers, who is Scottish, remain under arrest and the company’s plea deal will not end their prosecution, Hanaway said.

Under U.S. federal law, companies like Bet On Sports can plead guilty and be penalized in the same way individuals can be.

“This plea constitutes a submission by the company to the U.S. justice system,” Hanaway said.

“This plea, combined with the terms of the civil junction, should put an end to the Bet on Sports illegal gambling empire,” she added.

Hanaway agreed to drop any further criminal prosecution of the company.

In return, Bet On Sports must supply witnesses and evidence in the pending cases against Kaplan, Carruthers and some low-level defendants in the company.

Sentencing for Bet On Sports is set for Oct. 19.

The company faces a fine up to $500,000 and possible forfeitures, and also is subject to a permanent injunction that requires it to repay wagers received from U.S. gamblers held by the company as of last June.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)