Resorts World paid a $10.5m fine over anti-money-laundering failures linked to LeForbes & another bookmaker.
The hit
Prosecutors have joined poker pro Damien LeForbes’ lawyers in recommending probation instead of prison, despite his guilty plea to illegal bookmaking & money laundering. A US judge postponed sentencing after a Santa Ana hearing on 15 October, according to iGaming Business.
Why it matters
The case tests how US courts treat illegal bookies who cooperate with prosecutors, after fellow bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, tied to the Ohtani interpreter scandal, got 12 months. Resorts World has already paid a $10.5m fine over anti-money-laundering failures involving LeForbes & Bowyer, agreed without admitting wrongdoing. A separate Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint alleges LeForbes’ casino host knew he was an illegal bookmaker & failed to alert management.
The record
| LeForbes’ total wagers | $148m at ‘Casino A’, Jan 2022-Dec 2023 (plea agreement) |
|---|---|
| LeForbes’ losses at Resorts World | $10m+ over 16 months to Dec 2023 (Nevada Gaming Control Board) |
| Resorts World regulatory fine | $10.5m, March 2025, over anti-money-laundering failures |
| Bowyer’s sentence | 12 months & 1 day in prison, for a book handling hundreds of millions from 700+ customers |
| Proposed LeForbes sentence | 15-21 months prison, now contested by both sides |
What happens next
Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani asked for more detail on LeForbes’ role & the terms of any probation, which would include 4 months’ home confinement, weekly Gamblers Anonymous meetings & 50 hours of community service.
Sources: Poker Pro Who Wagered $148M Could Avoid Prison in Resorts World Gambling Scandal
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