Caesars Now Refusing to Pay Chicago Area Man as Story Goes Viral

It's more bad press for Caesars sportsbook properties.

Thomas McPeek placed stacks and stacks of bets last year — complicated wagers on football called parlays, where several events all have to happen for the gambler to win. But the casinos with which he placed the best refused to pay them out. Suzanne Le Mignot reports.

The 24-year-old won $800,000 and Caesars reportedly refuses to pay him any of it. 

"This is a calculated attack, I should say, where I thought I had an edge," McPeek told the local Chicago CBS affiliate. 

McPeek, an avid reader of sports betting publications like Elihu D. Feustel's "Beyond the Odds", looks for wagers where he believes the odds are in his favor.

He presented a note book that featured extensive research.

"It's not like I can snap my fingers and make the bets win.  They still have to win."

In fact, most of his betting tickets were not winners.

McPeek claims that Caesars voided the winning tickets when he tried to get the cash in October.

He was referred to the house rules highlighting "repeat wagering policies" and "structuring standards".

Like many professional sports bettors, McPeek goes through great lengths to remain anonymous.  He admits often disguising his appearance.

Regulators in both Iowa and Indiana, where he placed the bets, would not side with McPeek.

Mike Lawton, a retired Nevada gaming regulator believes "there are probably some unique circumstances we are not privy to".

Scott Morrow, a UNLV gaming instructor, noted that McPeek "tried to circumvent the system" and "circumvent the house rules", adding that he "went across state lines" to do the circumventing. 

"Beyond the Odds" author Feustel says he's "never seen anything like this".

He sides with McPeek.

"If Caesars had decided before the first game was played to void all the wagers, that would be fair," Feustel said.  "When they waited to see if he would win before they voided him, that's where the problem was."

Last year' Caesars refused to pay a man, identified as Manny Cortez, who won $500,000 betting on the Celtics’ 2024 NBA title at Harrahs Cherokee Casino.

They claimed Cortez likely used a third party (also known as a beard) to place the bet, violating their rules. This practice, called using a "beard," can void bets to prevent abuse like dodging betting limits. His ticket showed a $143,000 wager to win $357,500, but the third-party issue invalidates it. No updates since August 2024 suggest the case is unresolved. Caesars hasn’t commented officially, fueling debate.

Dude wins $500,000 on a sports bet and casino refuses to pay him out pic.twitter.com/YN2hXsL90s

— Crazy Clips (@crazyclipsonly) August 3, 2024

A video of that incident went viral and has been among the most trafficked stories on the Gambling911.com in its 26 years online.  That story gained new found momentum with the news breaking in regard to McPeek.

Bottom line: A good chunk of the gambling community doesn't like this at all. 

"Why is this becoming a thing for casinos to not pay winners," asked one gambler via YouTube.

Another wrote:

"Now when you hit a bet,slot or whatever, you wonder if your going to get paid.old time mafia are turning in their grave."

And then there was this comment:

"This guy would look crazy if he asked the casino for his money back after losing it all, but the casino is the crazy one for not paying him out NOW and AFTER he won. Shame on Caesars."

But some sided with Caesars. 

"The guy admits to cheating by 'flying under the radar' by placing many small bets and hiding his identity.," one person wrote.