LAS VEGAS, May 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. philanthropist charged with not paying nearly $15 million in Las Vegas gambling debts says the casinos are at fault for keeping him intoxicated.
Terrance Watanabe of Nebraska, who has been charged with theft and bad-check counts in connection with a December 2007 gambling spree, is accusing Caesars Palace and the Rio, both owned by Harrah's Entertainment, of responsibility for his losses by keeping him in a constant state of drunken incoherence, the Las Vegas Sun reported Monday.
A letter from Watanabe's attorney to prosecutors, obtained by the newspaper, alleges the casinos were responsible for keeping Watanabe in such an incoherent state that he was "incapable of forming the criminal intent" to renege on his gambling debts.
In the letter, attorney David Chesnoff reportedly said he will call casino employees to the witness stand to testify that the resorts purposely kept Watanabe, a prolific gambler, intoxicated in late 2007 in violation of gaming regulations.
The attorney added that Watanabe lost a staggering total of $112 million at Harrah's casinos that year, and with the exception of the $14.7 million in question, has paid it all back.
Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson declined to comment to the Sun on the allegations.
