Vegas Pro Gambler W. Roberts’ Bookmaking Charges Dropped

The professional gambler, William West Roberts, 57, of Las Vegas, who was previously accused by the Nevada Gaming Control Board of running an illegal multi-million dollar bookmaking operation, has recently had all criminal charges against him dismissed.

Roberts Set to Clear His Name

Roberts, eager to clear his reputation, claimed that the investigation against him was a “witch hunt” initiated by the mother of his child amid their ongoing Family Court proceedings. The investigation began with accusations that Roberts believes to be baseless. The FBI, according to Roberts, found no solid evidence against him. However, the Gaming Control Board opted to continue with the case.

Potential Target of Grand Jury Investigation

However, Roberts’ legal troubles are not completely behind him. Following the dismissal of the charges, Clark County prosecutors served him a Marcum notice, indicating that he could be the subject of a grand jury investigation. The county prosecutor, Austin Beaumont, intends to present the case to the grand jury, as confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Denial of Allegations

Chris Rasmussen, Roberts’ attorney, maintained his client’s innocence, describing him as a gambler running a sports information service. He disputed the claim that Roberts was a bookmaker. The investigation into Roberts by the FBI found no evidence of wrongdoing, reinforcing his innocence according to Rasmussen.

Origination of Allegations

The investigation into Roberts began with an email sent by Catrina Andrino, the mother of his child, to the Gaming Control Board in April 2022. Andrino strongly denies that her accusations were intended to influence the Family Court proceedings. The subsequent investigation relied heavily on an informant and undercover investigators posing as gamblers.

Roberts’ Gambling Habits and Operations

Roberts, who openly admits to being a committed gambler, refutes the allegations that he is a bookie. He claims to report his gambling profits and losses in his tax returns as income from professional gambling. His lifestyle is marked by many risks and rewards, regularly placing bets of varying amounts.

Roberts turned his gambling skills into a business, founding Wild Bill Sports Consulting Inc., a service offering sports betting picks to gamblers for a fee. He has an Instagram following of over 1,300 followers, where he regularly posts videos detailing his top picks.

Investigation Findings

The Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI reviewed casino records showing Roberts has wagered approximately $8 million in Nevada sports books. Multiple financial institutions reportedly closed Roberts’ accounts due to suspicious activity. The authorities allege that Roberts’ sports book picks were intended to “hedge” for the alleged bookmaking operation. They claim to have evidence of Roberts taking bets using a website based in Costa Rica, and commingling funds with his businesses, Ace’s Family Fitness and Wild Bill Sports Consulting Inc.

Roberts’ Defence

Roberts maintains his innocence, arguing that the allegations are part of a scheme to undermine his primary custody of his child. He insists that any reference to a Costa Rican website is misleading, as he only uses such sites to monitor fluctuations in sports betting lines. His interactions with the informant were merely transactions for sports picks. The arrest, he says, has had a significant impact on his personal and financial life.