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| Cowell's show hit by gambling storm http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=32493 |
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| Author: | JimD [ 14 Dec 07, 0:31 ] |
| Post subject: | Cowell's show hit by gambling storm |
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 |
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