Jagr settles gambling debt
NEW YORK (AP) – Jaromir Jagr reportedly agreed to pay $450,000 several years ago to settle a debt with an Internet gambling site. Jagr, now of the Washington Capitals, owed more than $500,000, but William Caesar – the owner of Belize-based gambling Web site CaribSports – discounted the debt, Sports Illustrated reported.
Jagr agreed to make nine monthly payments of $37,500 and one payment of $112,500. But after his payments stopped, Caesar leaked the story to pressure Jagr to settle his debt, the magazine said.
Caesar accepted a little more than 20 percent of Jagr’s outstanding balance as the final payment.
Caesar told the magazine he had technicians configure Jagr’s betting page so the hockey star could not bet on NHL games.
“We did that for our own protection, not just his,” Caesar said. “That would destroy us, if he destroyed the game.”