Neteller, the online payment business that has always been popular with online casino players, has announced that it has entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

In a press release issued by the company, Neteller said that the company had “consented to the filing of a criminal information relating to transactions between Internet gambling merchants and persons located in the United States.” The release also said that the US Attorney’s Office has “agreed to defer the prosecution of any federal charges and, as a consequence, the Company will not be convicted of any federal crime, as long as the Company fulfils the set conditions of the DPA during the two year term of the agreement.”

As part of the Agreement, Neteller has committed itself to pay US$136 million to the United States – a sum that includes around US$60 million that the US Attorney’s Office had already seized. Neteller has also agreed to “cooperate fully with US authorities in all matters relating to the ongoing investigations” by the US Attorney’s Office.

Neteller clients in the US have recently been able to sign into their accounts to make withdrawal requests for the funds held therein. Neteller have said that no withdrawal charges will be imposed on these clients.

“Our customers, employees and shareholders have all patiently waited for this resolution,” said Ron Martin, President & CEO. “We anticipate within the next few weeks that we will have fully implemented the plan for the return of funds to our US customers and are hopeful that, by that time, we will have restored the Company’s shares to trading on AIM. We can now begin to refocus our efforts on building and strengthening the NETELLER business in the growing markets of the European and Asia Pacific regions. I look forward to sharing further information about the Company’s progress over the coming months.”