A Las Vegas handicapper accused of operating an $8 million illegal gambling operation has had charges dropped by the Nevada Gaming Control Board after his ex-girlfriend tipped off authorities.
William West Roberts, also known as “Wild Bill,” was arrested in April and faced charges of operating a gaming establishment without a valid license, receiving compensation for bets without a gaming license, and a gross misdemeanor count of receiving unlawful wagers from a person in Nevada.
He was accused of accepting bets through a website based in Costa Rica and mingling the proceeds with profits from a gym he owns in northwest Las Vegas, as well as his gambling consultancy business, Wild Bill Consulting Inc.
‘Witch Hunt’
The reasons for the Control Board withdrawing the charges are unclear, but it coincides with Clark County prosecutors continuing to pursue the case independently.
An investigation, sparked by a tip from Roberts’ child’s mother, with whom he is in a custody battle, led to the charges. Roberts referred to it as a “witch hunt” this week in court documents.
“The FBI found no substance in this case. There is no basis for the allegations,” Roberts told The Las Vegas Review-Journal on August 24. “The Gaming Control Board has inexplicably kept it active.”
$8M Through Casinos
Despite this, the Review-Journal stated that Clark County prosecutors have issued a Marcum notice to Roberts, indicating their intent to seek a grand jury indictment.
According to the Control Board, casino records revealed that Roberts laid off approximately $8 million in bets at Nevada sportsbooks, supposedly to offset the risks of his alleged illegal gambling operation.
From 2022 to 2026, Roberts was named in 334 currency transaction reports (CTRs) mandating financial institutions and casinos to report cash transactions exceeding $10,000, as per court documents.
The financial evidence did not support the level of funds Roberts used for his lifestyle and casino betting,” investigators concluded.
Moreover, an undercover agent managed to place 23 bets with Roberts through an offshore platform in Costa Rica, as per court filings.
Roberts explained to the Review-Journal that he only uses offshore websites to track betting lines changes, and the money received from the informant was for sports betting tips.