A Las Vegas man is accused of running an illegal bookmaking operation involving about $8 million in bets at Nevada sportsbooks and an offshore website based in Costa Rica.
William West Roberts, 57, was arrested Tuesday after a multi-year investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI. The investigation relied in part on a “confidential human source” and undercover investigators posing as gamblers, according to an arrest report for Roberts.
The Gaming Control Board arrest report states Roberts was recorded by authorities talking about the bookmaking operation. He is accused of taking bets through a website anchored in Costa Rica and commingling revenues with finances from two businesses identified in the investigative report as Ace’s Family Fitness, 7171 N. Hualapai Way, and a social media gambling tip business called Wild Bill Consulting Inc.
“The financial documentation did not substantiate the volume of funds Roberts used to support his lifestyle and casino wagering,” investigators said. “Multiple financial institutions closed Roberts’ accounts due to suspicious banking activity and casinos likewise identified irregularities associated with his transactions.”
Roberts was booked at the Clark County Detention Center on felony counts of operating a gaming establishment without a license, disseminating racing information without a license and receipt of compensation for bets without a gaming license. Roberts also faces gross misdemeanor counts of accepting an unlawful wager in Nevada, attempting to launder money and one misdemeanor count of accepting an unlawful wager from someone outside Nevada.
Las Vegas Justice Court records do not list an attorney for Roberts. An attempt to contact him Friday morning was not immediately successful. He has posted a surety bond and is scheduled to be back in court on May 12.
A criminal complaint in the case had not been filed as of Friday morning.
Roberts’ arrest report states that between 2022 and 2026, he was listed in 334 cash transaction reports totaling as much as $7.4 million.
“A review of casino records showed that Roberts wagered approximately 8 million dollars in sports books in Nevada,” investigators said. “Illegal bookmakers sometimes place bets on legal wagering platforms for a few practical reasons tied to how their business works. The main reason is the hedging risk. A bookie takes bets from customers and is exposed to losses if those customers win big. To manage that risk, they will often ‘lay off’ bets on a legal sports book.”
The investigation started, investigators said, after Roberts’ ex-girlfriend emailed authorities.
Contact Glenn Puit at gpuit@reviewjournal.com.