Drunk Gambler Who Sued Casino Over $500K Loss Now a Wanted Fugitive

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on

Written by :

Nagesh Rath

Published on :

A man who sued the Downtown Grand Casino in Las Vegas after claiming they allowed him to lose $500,000 despite being noticeably drunk is now on the lam. 

Mark Johnston lost half a million dollars in casino credit in 2014 and has been fighting to get his money back ever since.

But Johnston was later charged with writing bad checks and failed to report to Court this past Thursday.

According to Court documents, Johnston arrived in Vegas ready to party.  He claims to have gotten drunk and blacked out, borrowed the $500,000 from the Grand Casino then proceeded to lose it all at the blackjack table.

"They served me all the drinks; they should have cut me off," Johnston said in past interviews.

Johnston’s attorney told the judge this week he wants to be done with his client.  Attorney Sean Lyttle claims he has not seen or spoken to Johnston in more than eight weeks.  His request to sever ties was denied.

“I'd like to have him have representation because there's an arrest warrant out there for him,” said Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento.

That same judge admitted he was wrong to have let Johnston free from jail on bail after the bad check writing incident.

“Court makes mistakes now and again,” he said.

Lyttle also advised the Court he is attempting to withdraw from Johnston’s civil case against the Downtown Grand.

- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com

Related Content

Prison

Man Sentenced for Robbing Two Men at Reno Casinos as Hunt Continues for Tamarack Casino Bandit

Authorities say one of the victims was led down an alley and abruptly punched and knocked to the ground where he was then robbed of $1,400 in cash.
Ghislaine Maxwell

Top Republican Lawmaker Signals GOP Openness to Pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell ... Prediction Markets Chances Surge

Polymarket traders are giving U.S. President Donald Trump odds of pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell a price of +426 (implied 19% chance).
Hairdryer Paris Airport

Gambler Allegedly Used Hairdryer to Steal $35K From Online Betting Site

Paris police are investigating a complaint over alleged tampering of a weather sensor at its international airport, which led to an unusual spike in temperature readings, helping an unknown person make strong profits on the online betting platform Polymarket.
Arrests

43 Nabbed in Bust Tied to Mexican Mafia, Orange County Gambling Operation, Killing at Anaheim Hotel

68-count indictment alleges gang with ties to Mexican Mafia collected extortionate taxes and provided security, including the use of violence, to protect the illegal gambling businesses.