A Las Vegas gambler who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing is facing a new round of criminal allegations after a Clark County grand jury returned an indictment tied to an alleged illegal sports betting operation.
William West Roberts, 57, appeared before District Judge Carli Kierny on Wednesday after prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with several offenses related to sports wagering activity. The charges include operating a gaming establishment without a license, unlawful receipt of compensation for accepting wagers without the required gaming license, attempting to launder money, and accepting unlawful wagers.
The latest development follows an earlier case that stemmed from an investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI. Authorities arrested Roberts in April, but prosecutors later dismissed that case in August while pursuing the grand jury process.
Roberts has consistently maintained that he did not engage in illegal activity. Following the earlier dismissal, he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “There’s nothing. If you’re looking for water in the desert, you’re not going to find it. There’s no water in the desert. I’m the desert. You’re not gonna find any water with me.”
Prosecutors Detail Alleged Sportsbook Operation
According to prosecutors, Roberts operated a sportsbook linked to EZWIN247.com, a website they say was based in Costa Rica. Authorities allege he accepted wagers without the necessary licensing and mixed funds connected to the betting activity with finances from Wild Bill Consulting Inc., a sports betting tips business, and Ace’s Family Fitness.
The indictment covers alleged conduct between October 11, 2024, and July 31, 2026. Prosecutors claim Roberts moved money through business accounts, conducted transactions using Zelle, and utilized his American Express account while placing sportsbook wagers at Caesars Palace Race and Sportsbook.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Austin Beaumont told the court that investigators gathered evidence showing Roberts discussing the operation and its financial performance.
“What we were able to determine was that Mr. Roberts has been running a gaming website through Costa Rica for the last couple years specifically under ezwin247.com,” Beaumont said. “In 2025 he showed income, unlawful income of $208,888.50 from unlawful sportsbook making. In 2026 he showed income of $239,850 so far this year. More importantly, he was ratcheting up his sportsbook making to the point that he was making just under $50,000 a month this year prior to his arrest.”
Beaumont also said Roberts contacted an undercover agent shortly after his April arrest. According to Beaumont, after the undercover officer denied involvement with the FBI, Roberts continued taking wagers.
Prosecutors further alleged that Roberts accepted more than $69,000 in wagers after his arrest and continued moving funds through his businesses.
“Effectively he has been continuing to engage in the exact same unlawful behavior,” Beaumont said.
During the hearing, Beaumont argued for a $1 million bail amount, electronic monitoring, surrender of Roberts’ passport, restrictions on entering gaming facilities, random financial disclosures, and digital device searches.
Defense Rejects Allegations
Roberts’ legal team challenged the prosecution’s claims and argued that the evidence remains unchanged from the earlier case that was dismissed.
“My client is a licensed sports information service, not a bookmaker,” defense attorney Chris Rasmussen wrote in a statement to investigators. “The facts will clear his name. I don’t think any of the evidence has changed, and we still believe he’s going to be found not guilty.”
Rasmussen described the prosecution’s case as containing “with so many false statements” and highlighted the length and cost of the federal investigation.
“The FBI investigated Roberts for two years,” Rasmussen said, adding “the FBI spent a tremendous, probably a million dollars in manpower to investigate William Roberts.”
He also argued that prosecutors previously abandoned the matter.
“They dumped the case because it just wasn’t this big fraud.”
Addressing the allegations involving the Costa Rica-based website, Rasmussen told the court: “It is just not true your honor. He doesn’t have a website. He doesn’t own a website. The FBI confirmed he doesn’t own a website. There’s no website that he runs from Costa Rica. He doesn’t go to Costa Rica. It’s ridiculous.”
Both Roberts and his attorney have referred to him as a “degenerate gambler,” while rejecting claims that he operated as an illegal bookmaker. Roberts has also characterized the case as a “witch hunt,” alleging it originated from accusations made during an ongoing family court dispute involving the mother of his child.
Court Allows Release Pending Proceedings
Despite prosecutors’ request for a substantial cash bail, Judge Kierny ordered Roberts released on his own recognizance. The court imposed high-level electronic monitoring and required him to surrender his passport.
Kierny also prohibited Roberts from visiting gaming establishments while the criminal case remains active.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board said it remains focused on protecting the integrity of the state‘s regulated gaming sector and will continue pursuing investigations involving activity that could undermine public confidence in legal sports wagering.
Roberts is scheduled to return to court for his initial arraignment on October 5 as the newly filed case moves forward.