Anurag Dikshit is the 37-year-old co-founder of the Gibraltar-based online gambling site PartyGaming. On December 16, 2008, he pleaded guilty to one count of internet gambling.Business Week: PartyGaming’s Billionaire Founder Pleads Guilty... (December 16, 2008)

In 1997, Dikshit met Ruth Parasol, a lawyer and online pornography business owner. Together they launched PartyPoker, a website enabling gamblers from around the world to play each other. They soon realized that the majority of the players lived in the United States, where online gambling is illegal. So Dikshit and Parasol moved their operations to Gibraltar, with bases in India, England and the Caribbean. PartyGaming made Dikshit a billionaire, with total assets estimated at $1.6 billion. In 2004, the company earned $350 million in profits; it was listed on the London Stock Exchange in June 2005Guardian: Anurag Dikshit: High roller who came late to the poker party (December 16, 2008)

On October 13, 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law by George W. Bush. The law targeted e-casinos and financial institutions, criminalizing online betting. Many gaming sites stopped accepting bets from persons in the United States, including PartyGaming, which by then had a clientele of 900,000 American players.Bloomberg: PartyGaming’s Dikshit Pleads Guilty to Web Gambling (December 16, 2008)

In 2008, Dikshit voluntarily flew to the United States and turned himself in, saying that he realized he had broken U.S. law. None of the other three co-founders believe that to be the case.Telegraph: PartyGaming founder admits breaking US law (December 16, 2008)

According to the Times Online, the agreement between Dikshit and the U.S. Department of Justice is seen as a positive step for the online gaming community. Several companies including 888 and Sportingbet had been threatened with lawsuits and are now looking to make settlements themselves.Times Online: A gamble worth taking (December 17, 2008)