FARGO (AP) - A bankruptcy appeals court says the former president of a simulcast racing company should be paid rent before other creditors are paid.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William Hill had ruled that Racing Services founder Susan Bala was owed more than $110,000 because the company rented space in an office she owned. The government appealed.

A three-judge panel upheld Hill's decision, saying it would be "untimely and unreasonable" to overturn the verdict.

Bala was convicted in 2005 of illegal gambling and ordered to forfeit more than $99 million. The conviction and forfeiture were later overturned.