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$24 Million in Losses Sustained by Three Gamblers at Las Vegas Casino

Three individuals lost approximately $24 million in total across various Las Vegas casinos, including Resorts World, within several years, prompting investigations into the gambling establishments.

SymClub
May 23, 2024
2 min read
Newscasino
Resorts World Las Vegas, pictured above. Three gamblers lost almost $24M at the gaming property.
Resorts World Las Vegas, pictured above. Three gamblers lost almost $24M at the gaming property.

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$24 Million in Losses Sustained by Three Gamblers at Las Vegas Casino

Three individuals lost a staggering combined total of approximately $24 million over a few years at Resorts World Las Vegas, as reported by the Nevada Current. All three are currently under investigation.

One of the gamblers was identified as Damien LeForbes. During his nearly 50 visits to Resorts World, he managed to lose around $12.3 million, according to the Current. LeForbes is also said to have presented a fake check worth $2.5 million to the casino.

Ryan Boyajian, a guest on the "Real Housewives of Orange County" TV show, lost approximately $3.7 million during his 21 visits to the casino.

The third visitor to lose a considerable amount was Matt Bowyer, a bookmaker hailing from California. He had made a total of 32 trips to Resorts World between 2022 and 2023, where he lost approximately $7.9 million.

Despite their massive losses, none of the three have been charged with committing any crime as of now. An internal casino memo obtained by ESPN indicated that Bowyer had received money stolen by Ippei Mizuhara, a former translator for Shohei Ohtani, a star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Part of this stolen money was used to cash chips at Resorts World. Some of the funds went to Bowyer or his associate.

Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in prison if he's convicted of charges related to bank fraud and submitting a false tax return. He's never been accused of gambling at Resorts World and was relieved of his position with the Dodgers after the theft was exposed.

The scandal has not led to any charges against Resorts World itself. The casino has been cooperating with authorities throughout the investigation.

A spokesperson for Resorts World refused to comment when contacted by The Current.

Recent investigations by multiple regulatory bodies, including the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and federal authorities, have revealed that several gaming properties in Las Vegas are under review for potential money laundering and other illicit activities.

Sibella, former president of Resorts World Las Vegas, was noticed in complaints by the NGCB due to his tenure at MGM Grand. It was alleged that he allowed illegal bookies to gamble at the MGM Grand without questioning the source of their funds. The case centered on Wayne Nix, a gambler who has not yet been sentenced.

Sibella was let go from Resorts World in September for breaching company policies. He pleaded guilty in January for violating the Bank Secrecy Act and was sentenced to one year's probation and $9,500 in fines, in addition to a $100 special assessment. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts has agreed to pay $7.5 million for violations at both MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, as reported by the Current.

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Source: www.casino.org

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