$8M Bookmaking Operation Busted in Las Vegas After Ex-Girlfriend Tip
Posted on: April 21, 2026, 04:01h.
Last updated on: April 21, 2026, 04:04h.
- Las Vegas man accused of running $8M illegal betting operation
- Used offshore Costa Rica site and local agents to take bets
- Hedged risk through Nevada sportsbooks before investigation and arrest
A Las Vegas man who allegedly took millions in illegal bets while hedging millions more through the city’s casinos was arrested last week after his ex-girlfriend tipped off authorities.
William West Roberts, 57, is accused of taking bets through a website based in Costa Rica and commingling the proceeds with revenues from two businesses he owns, Ace’s Family Fitness, a gym in northwest Las Vegas, and Wild Bill Consulting Inc., a gambling tip and handicapping business.
Roberts went by the name “Wild Bill” and described himself as a “pro sport handicapper of 35-plus years.” He offered to share his sports betting tips to his website subscribers for $249 per month.
Hell Hath No Fury…
But it was a tip from his ex that kickstarted a yearslong investigation into Roberts’ activities by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Court documents show that Roberts is currently embroiled in a child custody battle with a former partner.
Investigators said casino records showed he laid off roughly $8 million in bets at sportsbooks in Nevada, using the legal operators to hedge against the risk from his illegal betting operation.
Between 2022 and 2026, he was listed in 334 cash transaction reports (CTRs) – mandatory reports filed by financial institutions and casinos for cash transactions exceeding a $10K threshold, according to court documents.
“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.”
Price Per Head
From the description, it’s likely that Roberts was using a “price per head” business model, also known as “pay per head.”
This is a setup in which an unlicensed bookmaker uses an offshore platform provider to offer online betting services to a local clientele. The offshore provider supplies the website, betting lines, and account management tools, typically charging the bookmaker a weekly fee per active customer.
Many of these providers operate out of places such as Costa Rica, where the infrastructure is legal to host, even if it serves bettors elsewhere.
Bets are placed and tracked on the website through individual user accounts, but financial transactions are often handled outside the platform.
Roberts is facing 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. He 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.
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