Poker Player Among 3 Tied to Illegal Betting Rings Who Lost Total of $24 Million at One Vegas Casino

Written by :

C Costigan

Published on :

22 May, 2024

A Vegas casino could be facing massive fines as part of a sweeping investigation into money laundering.

Dana Gentry of the Nevada Current reports that three gamblers tied to illegal sports betting rings are said to have lost a total of $24 million at Resorts World Casino, a property that only opened three years ago.

Gentry also points out that Resorts World is under federal investigation but has yet to be charged with any wrongdoing. The company is cooperating with investigators.

High stakes poker player Damien LeForbes, who is being investigated by federal authorities in connection with illegal sports betting, racked up $12.3 million in losses during close to four dozen trips to Resorts World, according to sources.

The Current also reveals that LeForbes had written a bad check to the casino for $2.5 million.

LeForbes reportedly owes $1 million to The Venetian Casino.

The Clark County District Attorney's Office is investigating both incidents involving LeForbes.

"Real Housewives of Orange County" regular Ryan Boyajian lost $3.7 million at Resorts World tables during 21 trips, according to public records.

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Boyajian is an associate of ex-translator of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. That translator, Ippei Mizuhara, reportedly stole $16 million out of Ohtani's bank account to pay gambling debts to bookie Matthew Bowyer, also a regular at the Vegas casinos. Mizuhara is cooperating with authorities. He recently plead not guilty to bank and tax fraud as a formality and is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks.

“There’s an investigation and I don’t want to compromise it,” Boyajian’s attorney Steven Katzman told the Current via phone Monday.

Bowyer’s California home was raided last October by the same federal authorities taked with investigating former MGM Grand and Resorts World president Scott Sibella, who would later plead guilty to money laundering and sentenced to probation. Sibella allowed another illegal bookie, Wayne Nix, to pay a $120,000 gambling debt to the MGM Grand without reporting the transaction to the federal government.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has recently initiated a related probe involving a number of casinos, according to individuals who have been interviewed.

By Chris Costigan

Chris founded Gambling911.com in 1999 and serves as the website's publisher. He brings more than 3 decades of expertise related to the gambling and sports betting sector. Creative talent is in Chris' genes, which he brings to the G911 website. He comes from a showbiz family that includes Yankee Doodle Dandy George M. Cohan. Chris is the grandson of artist John E. Costigan, whose work appears in the Smithsonian. Chris' father was also in the news business and co-founded what is today the Union County Performing Arts Center. Chris is a graduate of Kean University.