Drugs, Booze and Vegas

Former high roller Terry Watanabe is accusing Harrah’s of some serious funny business in Las Vegas.

In what may be the nastiest spat since the days when Vegas handled disputes outside of court—if you get my meaning—Watanabe has filed a lawsuit accusing the casino giant of plying him with alcohol and prescription drugs in an attempt to keep him gambling. In the end, he says he lost more than $100 million.

Watanabe made his money with his father in the import/export business, running Oriental Trading Co. in Omaha, Nebraska. He sold the company in 2000 and became known as a philanthropist, with a taste for gambling.

By 2006, Watanabe says he was actually living at the Wynn in Vegas, but moved to Harrah’s properties, including Caesars Palace, after being offered better comps. Those comps included a three bedroom palazzo, 15 percent cash back on monthly table losses of $500,000 or greater, and $12,500 transportation reimbursement, a $3 million line of credit, and even tickets to a Rolling Stones concert. Perhaps most importantly, evidence submitted in court shows the casino company promised to wait 60 days before cashing in markers.


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I thought this would be entertaining to read, since this gambling addict makes Bill Bennett look like a cheapskate.

By the way, the Oriental Trading Company is familiar to elementary school teachers all over the country for selling items teachers use for prize boxes and the company also has craft kits teachers can use for projects with their students. I still get the company's catalogues even though I am not teaching.

to travel to the legal brothels outside of Vegas.