Caesars Bans Poker Player for Being Named in Legendz Sports Indictment
A player suing Caesars Casino for allegedly banning him had previously worked for the now-defunct Legendz Sports, a company the US Government forced to close in 2013.
According to a PokerNews article, Caesars banned Robert Lay after learning he was one of the 34 people and 23 companies arrested in April 2013 in connection with Legendz Sports.
Prosecutors initially sought upwards of $1 billion from that massive sports betting business that was believed to have once been the largest credit operation east of the Mississippi River.
Last year, a jury in an Oklahoma City courtroom found King, the father of eight children, guilty of running the long-established sports betting business. He was ultimately acquitted of the most serious RICO charge.
Lay was named in the initial indictment and served a brief stint in prison. At the time he resided in Moore, Oklahoma.
According to Lay’s lawyer, Mac VerStanding, Caesars allowed Lay to compete on their properties in WSOPC events up and down the country, before banning him from the Global Casino Championships so they could save money on travel expenses and the seat.
“We look forward to litigating this matter in the courts,” VerStanding told PokerNews.
Lay is suing Caesars for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
It should be noted that Caesars owns the World Series of Poker and, indeed, some of those who have played in this event also served time in prison.
Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Ted Forrest, Mike Matusow and Greg Raymer are just a few names that come to mind. To the best of our knowledge, none of them have been banned.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
