Professional poker player Damien Leforbes pleads guilty to illegal sports betting and money laundering

Damien Leforbes, a professional poker player, has entered a guilty plea in federal court on charges of operating an illegal sports betting operation and money laundering, according to a SportsHandle report. Leforbes faces legal consequences, including the possibility of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000. 

The charges stem from a broader investigation into an illegal gambling ring that has implicated multiple individuals, including Leforbes and Matt Bowyer, who were both central figures in the operation.

Leforbes was allegedly involved in an illegal sportsbook operation that reportedly processed millions of dollars in bets over several years. Court documents reveal that Leforbes wagered more than $148 million at a venue referred to in filings as "Casino A" during an 11-month period ending in December 2023.

The documents also indicate that Leforbes used cryptocurrency wallets to manage proceeds and pay bettors, intentionally avoiding public exchanges to conceal his activities from authorities.

In addition to his involvement in the illegal betting operation, Leforbes accumulated considerable gambling losses at Resorts World Las Vegas, totaling over $12 million. The Nevada Current reported that Resorts World turned over a bad check for $2.5 million from Leforbes to the Clark County District Attorney for prosecution.

The investigation has also drawn attention to Matt Bowyer, who pleaded guilty in California court three weeks ago to operating an illegal sports betting operation. Bowyer's plea agreement detailed his involvement in running an unlicensed bookmaking business that focused on sports betting in violation of California law.

Bowyer allegedly operated this illegal sportsbook for five years until October 2023, with over 700 bettors involved.

Leforbes' and Bowyer's gambling activities were linked during the investigation, as both were found to have racked up significant losses at Resorts World. Additionally, court documents reveal that Leforbes had connections with casino hosts to further his illegal enterprise, referred to as "the LeForbes Gambling Business."

The federal case against Leforbes is part of a larger crackdown on illegal gambling operations that has seen several individuals plead guilty to related charges. One such individual is former minor league baseball player Wayne Nix, whose testimony led to the indictment of former MGM Grand executive Scott Sibella for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

Meanwhile, Resorts World Las Vegas has come under scrutiny from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which filed a disciplinary complaint against the casino earlier this month. The complaint alleges that the casino allowed individuals with ties to illegal bookmaking and histories of federal felony convictions to gamble at its establishment.

The board's 31-page complaint lists multiple incidents where suspected or known felons placed millions of dollars in wagers at Resorts World, raising concerns about the integrity of the Las Vegas casino.

A spokesperson for Resorts World acknowledged the complaint and confirmed that the company is cooperating with authorities. "Resorts World Las Vegas is aware of the Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"We are committed to doing business with the utmost integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and industry guidelines. We have been actively communicating with the GCB to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members."