Welcome to iGB's State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we've covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.
Another California illegal bookie pleads
On Monday (26 August) professional poker player Damien LeForbes agreed to plead guilty to running an illegal sportsbook in California. His business is likely tied to Mathew Bowyer’s. Bowyer is the illegal California bookmaker who took wagers from former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. Bowyer last month agreed to plead guilty to multiple federal counts
Both operated illegal sportsbooks in Los Angeles and Orange counties in California and Clark County, Nevada.
LeForbes, according to Legal Sports Report, wagered $148 million at “Casino A”, as it is referred to in court documents. It’s possible that casino is Resorts World. A May Nevada Current story said he owed Resorts World $12.3 million. Resorts World was identified as a casino at which Bowyer laundered illeg..