May.16, 2010

FALLEN internet tycoon Daniel Tzvetkoff will argue that poker is not gambling as he fights charges linked to an allegedly illegal online gaming operation.

The 27-year-old high-flier yesterday pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in a $US500 million ($A564 million) internet gaming scheme.

Wearing a navy prison uniform but no handcuffs, the bankrupt tech whizz appeared fresh and alert as US Marshals ushered him into the New York Southern District Court in downtown Manhattan.

Australian Tzvetkoff, who once owned the most expensive mansion on the Gold Coast, remains locked up in a Brooklyn jail as the US Attorney's office builds its case against him.

The office, which has emails and financial documents detailing Tzvetkoff's activities, believes even more evidence could emerge from related investigations that are still going, US assistant attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown told the court.

Tzvetkoff is charged with bank fraud conspiracy, money laundering, gambling conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors allege Tzvetkoff's Brisbane-based billing company Intabill processed $US500 million ($A564 million) in transactions on behalf of illegal online gaming operators in the US.

Mr Devlin-Brown yesterday told judge Lewis Kaplan he expected Tzvetkoff to try to undermine the case by contending that poker was about wit, not luck.

"The gambling industry is using the line that poker is not gambling, that it's a game of skill and is therefore not gambling," Mr Devlin-Brown said.

Tzvetkoff's lawyer Martin Weinberg said that was an "accurate preview" of the defence case.

"My client pleads not guilty to each count," he said.

Mr Weinberg expects to call witnesses from Australia when Tzvetkoff goes on trial in June 2011.

Tzvetkoff's father Kim, who flew to the US after his son's April 16 arrest, has returned to Australia but Mr Weinberg says Tzvetkoff retains support from his parents and pregnant wife, Nicole Crisp, in Brisbane.

"We do expect his father to return and visit him," Mr Weinberg said.

"He's got a loving and supportive family."

Tzvetkoff is expected to make a second bail application after judge Kaplan last month overturned a Las Vegas judge's decision to release him.

Once worth $A82 million, Tzvetkoff will have to provide a detailed account of his current net worth at any future bail hearing.