BELLEVILLE – A Chicago attorney is suing a professional gambler for allegedly placing bets online using an unlicensed online gambling operation.
Attorney Mark Lavery filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Erik Beimfohr, Liam Murphy, Peter Overzet and Patrick Kerrane.
The lawsuit states that Beimfohr is a professional gambler that illegally bets on sports online using an unlicensed online gambling operation (UOGO) known as Underdog Sports, Inc. Murphy, Overzet and Kerrane allegedly act as bookie agents for the Underdog Sports.
Beimfohr has allegedly made numerous winning sports bets with Murphy, Overzet and Kerrane winning thousands of dollars. The lawsuit states that these wagers were made in violation of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act since Underdog Sports is not licensed to offer online sports betting or any type of gambling in the state of Illinois. The lawsuit adds that Underdog Sports violates the Illinois Sports Wagering Act by taking online bets from individuals under age 21 and that wagers made with the Underdog Sports violate Illinois gaming board regulations.
According to the complaint, 720 ILCS 5/28-8 states that "any person who by gambling shall lose to any other person, any sum of money or thing of value, amounting to the sum of $50 or more and shall pay or deliver the same or any part thereof, may sue for and recover the money or other thing of value, so lost and paid or delivered, in a civil action against the winner thereof, with costs, in the circuit court."
" After such determination, the court shall enter a judgment of triple the amount so determined," the suit states.
Since no other person has filed a lawsuit against Beimfohr to recover money won from Underdog Sports, Lavery has taken action against the defendant.
Lavery is seeking a judgement in his favor against Beimfohr for the amount won from Underdog Sports, plus court costs.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 23LA0185