PartyGaming, SportingBet and other online UK-listed gaming companies paid millions of dollars to Washington lobbyists linked to Jack Abramoff, the notorious super-lobbyist, to help them thwart US anti-gambling legislation.

Mr Abramoff’s highly public fall from grace and conviction on criminal corruption charges this year – and the downfall of many of his associates – opened the door for the passage last weekend of a law that he and the companies staunchly opposed.