Published on: April 21, 2026, 04:01h.
Updated on: April 21, 2026, 04:04h.
- Las Vegas individual charged with managing an $8M illicit wagering scheme
- Utilized a Costa Rica-based offshore site along with local agents for betting
- Mitigated financial risks via Nevada sportsbooks prior to probe and subsequent arrest
A Las Vegas individual allegedly accepted millions in illegal bets while also using the city’s casinos to hedge his risks, leading to his arrest last week following a tip from his former girlfriend.
William West Roberts, aged 57, is charged with accepting bets via an offshore website in Costa Rica, mixing the earnings with profits from two businesses he operates: Ace’s Family Fitness, a gym located in northwest Las Vegas, and Wild Bill Consulting Inc., which offers gambling advice and tip services.
Known as “Wild Bill,” he presented himself as a professional sports handicapper with over 35 years of experience. He provided sports betting insights to his subscribers for a monthly fee of $249.
Fury Unleashed…
It was a tip from his ex-partner that ignited a lengthy investigation into Roberts by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI, as reported by The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Legal documents suggest that Roberts is currently involved in a child custody dispute with a previous partner.
Investigators indicated that casino records revealed he hedged roughly $8 million in wagers at Nevada sportsbooks, utilizing these legal channels to balance the risks posed by his unlawful betting activities.
Between 2022 and 2026, he appeared in 334 cash transaction reports (CTRs)—mandatory filings from financial institutions and casinos for cash dealings exceeding the $10K mark, according to court records.
“The financial documentation did not support the level of funds Roberts utilized to maintain his lifestyle and gaming activities,” investigators noted. “Numerous financial institutions terminated Roberts’ accounts due to suspicious banking practices, and casinos also detected anomalies in his transactions.”
Pay Per Head Explained
Based on descriptions, it seems that Roberts operated under a “price per head” model, also referred to as “pay per head.”
This arrangement involves an unlicensed bookmaker partnering with an offshore service provider to deliver online betting solutions to a local customer base. The offshore provider manages the website and betting lines and typically charges the bookmaker a fee for each active user each week.
Many of these service providers are based in regions like Costa Rica, where regulations permit hosting such platforms, even if they serve bettors from different locales.
Bets are recorded and managed through individual user accounts on the website, but financial transactions are typically processed outside this platform.
Roberts now faces felony charges for operating a gaming facility without appropriate licensing, transmitting racing information illegally, and receiving remuneration for bets unlawfully. Additionally, he faces gross misdemeanor charges for accepting illegal wagers in Nevada, attempting to conduct money laundering, and a misdemeanor for accepting unauthorized wagers from individuals outside Nevada.