Simon Cowell's hit show America's Got Talent is at the centre of a $5million (£2.5million) illegal gambling row.
Furious viewers who were charged about 50p to enter a text message competition on the talent show claim it broke a strict ban on gambling in California, where the programme is produced.
They say the competition – called Lucky X – raked in about £2.5million and have launched a lawsuit against the producers and broadcasters to get their cash back. They allege the competition meets the three essential criteria for gambling – consideration, chance and prize.
Cowell, 48, is executive producer of America's Got Talent but is not named in the lawsuit. It is the second time a show of Cowell's has been hit by a competition scandal.
The X Factor was among a host of top British programmes whose viewers were encouraged to phone premium rate phone lines to enter competitions which they had no chance of winning.
About £900,000 of calls for the December 2005 final of The X Factor and two episodes in late 2006 were found to have been received too late to count. Cowell's company, Syco, pledged to pay back money it made to viewers.
Metro
