Gambling Problem Or Casino Greed In Las Vegas High Roller Case?

The common theme for gamblers with a problem is to blame someone else. The first rule of casinos is to keep the high rollers coming back. In the case of Terry Watanabe, it will be up to the court system in the US to decide which of these gambling rules will prevail.

Watanabe has been arrested and accused of theft because of debts at two Harrah's Las Vegas casinos, Caesars Palace and the Rio. This is not an ordinary story of gambling debt, however. Watanabe is said to be one of the biggest gamblers to ever come into Las Vegas.

A Nebraska-based philanthropist, Watanabe has lost millions of dollars at the two casinos in the past couple of years. he claims that the casinos kept him coming back by packing him with prescription pills and alcohol.

The casinos account of the situation is completely different. Parent company to Caesars and the Rio, Harrah's Entertainment, believes that Watanabe lost in the casino much like any other gambler, and rejects the notion that their casinos were involved with luring Watanabe illegally.

"We have a long-standing history of responsible and ethical practices," said a Harrah's spokesman, "We're licensed in more jurisdictions than any other gaming company. We stand by our record."

Watanabe has filed a counter-suit against Harrah's that details his claims that their casinos gave him prescription pills and alcohol to keep him at the casino. Watanabe was considered a "whale" in the Las Vegas casino industry. That term is reserved for people who spend large amounts of money gambling in casinos.

November 21, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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