Three Gamblers Lose $24M Total at Las Vegas Casino

Posted on: May 22, 2024, 02:14h. 

Last updated on: May 22, 2024, 02:51h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Three visitors lost a total of almost $24M at Resorts World Las Vegas over just a few years, according to the Nevada Current. Each of the trio is reportedly under investigation.

Resorts World Las Vegas
Resorts World Las Vegas, pictured above. Three gamblers lost almost $24M at the gaming property. (Image: Visit Las Vegas)

One of the gamblers was identified as Damien LeForbes. He lost about $12.3M in close to 50 visits to Resorts World, the Current reported. LeForbes also reportedly presented a bad check for $2.5M to Resorts World, according to the Current.

In addition, Ryan Boyajian, who appears on the “Real Housewives of Orange County” TV show, lost some $3.7M at Resorts World. Boyajian went to the casino 21 times.

The third gambler who visited Resorts World was identified as Matt Bowyer, a California-based bookmaker. He reportedly visited Resorts World 32 times, losing $7.9M between 2022 and 2023, ESPN reported.

None of Three Charged

Bowyer, Boyajian, and LeForbes haven’t been charged with any crime, according to the Current.

Bowyer is also reportedly connected to the theft of money from Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani by Ippei Mizuhara, who formerly worked as a translator for the Japanese star. Some of the money Mizuhara paid to Bowyer made its way to Boyajian. Eventually, the cash was deposited in an account at Resorts World, ESPN reported.

The money was turned into gambling chips, the report said and, after the chips were cashed, the money went to Bowyer or his associate, according to ESPN.

Mizuhara allegedly stole almost $17M from a bank account belonging to Ohtani and is heavily in debt due to gambling losses. In total, Mizuhara racked up debts estimated at $40.7M. He was fired by the Dodgers after the theft was revealed.

He agreed to a plea deal in response to fraud allegations and faces up to 33 years in prison if he’s convicted, according to ESPN. Mizuhara was charged with single counts of bank fraud and submitting a false tax return. It was revealed that he never gambled at Resorts World, according to an internal casino memo obtained by Casino.org.

Ohtani has never been accused of wrongdoing in the scandal and is seen as a victim.

Resorts World hasn’t been charged with any violations, the Current reported.

A spokesperson for the casino declined to comment when reached by Casino.org on Wednesday. The casino previously stated it’s cooperating with investigators.

Vegas Casinos Under Review

Multiple gaming properties in Las Vegas are being investigated for possible money laundering and other potential illicit activity, the report added.

One regulatory body reportedly investigating the casinos is the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Federal investigators are also reviewing activities at the casinos.

In addition, former Resorts World Las Vegas president Scott Sibella was the subject of a complaint by the NGCB from activities dating back to when he was president at MGM Grand.

Sibella let illegal bookies gamble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas without questioning the source of their funds, the complaint claims. The case focused on gambler Wayne Nix, who has yet to be sentenced.

Fired by Resorts World in September for violating company policy, Sibella pleaded guilty in January to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. He recently was sentenced to one year’s probation and must pay a $9,500 fine, plus a $100 special assessment.

MGM Resorts will pay $7.5M for violations at both MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, according to the Current.