The Nevada Attorney General’s office announced the arrest of 53-year-old Mark Thomas Georgantas at the Hard Rock Casino. Using several aliases, Georgantas ran a scam where he claimed to be able beat the house on games like Baccarat, Blackjack and Roulette and convinced two people to invest a total of $350,000 in the hopes of making money with the conman’s supposed casino talents.
Georgantas communicated via email with the Journal indicating evidence that proved his innocence. He wrote, “Based on the damage this has done to me personally and the severity of the consequences I am being very thorough in preparing a solid response upfront to the AG in advance of this case moving forward.”
During his encounters with the individuals that he scammed, he further bolstered his reputation flaunting George Clooney and Matt Damon as clients but when the victims approached him about their investments, he disappeared.
“My office is committed to ensuring that Nevadans are protected from unscrupulous investment schemes. I encourage Nevadans to be skeptical of investment offers that claim to guarantee profits, and to report any suspicious activity to my office,” Attorney General Adam Laxalt said.
“I have made several bad decisions in my life some of which cost financially some my freedom,” Georgantas said in his email comminucations. “But, mark my word, there is abolutely (sic), positively, ZERO intent to lie, cheat, deceive, or steal from anyone who seeks my assistance in ganing (sic).”
This isn’t Georgantas’ first rodeo as a law un-abiding citizen with previous involvement in credit card fraud. He’s scheduled to appear in court in April to face charges of theft and securities fraud.
For more information check out the LVRJ article, “Alleged casino conman arrested in Las Vegas”.
Nevada Casino Scammer Arrested at Hard Rock Casino
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dewbee57 7 years ago
This is bull I have lived in Vegas since I was 22 I am now 58 and have come home a winner many a time. I have also lost many of times. You take the good with the bad. As for the Hard Rock. Not such a great place to play. If you come to Vegas, go to the Hard Rock for their concerts and memorabilia. If you want to gamble...
This is bull I have lived in Vegas since I was 22 I am now 58 and have come home a winner many a time. I have also lost many of times. You take the good with the bad. As for the Hard Rock. Not such a great place to play. If you come to Vegas, go to the Hard Rock for their concerts and memorabilia. If you want to gamble go downtown.
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jcbossi209 7 years ago
I think this is alleged garbage. It is no crime to draw in investors on a get rich quick option. I am sure if the man would have won with the investment he would have cashed out the investors no problem. It seems to me the author of the article is a lame for hyping up the title to a actual scammer when the man simply lost...
I think this is alleged garbage. It is no crime to draw in investors on a get rich quick option. I am sure if the man would have won with the investment he would have cashed out the investors no problem. It seems to me the author of the article is a lame for hyping up the title to a actual scammer when the man simply lost an investment , pure and simple. If the man was a bond trader and lost the money that way would the title still be scammer? Also to the person who said " nobody ever beats the house" I say sit down loser, just because you can not win in a casino does not mean others can. I ball out from taking casinos money every time I enter a casino, never leaving without taking a couple thousand each and every time. The house is nothing of a opponent as far as I or the people I associate with and to say the casino always wins shows your true ignorance . Sad to hear losers make false claims and it be posted as valid fact.
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Kristen Munoz 7 years ago
my only question is what law was broken? what is the charges he faces ? I'm sure that he is deserving of some punishment under Nevada law and I'm sure the people he stole from themselves would like to punish himbut its a little tricky since he sold them on investing on a game of chance . maybe I'm wrong but I still think...
my only question is what law was broken? what is the charges he faces ? I'm sure that he is deserving of some punishment under Nevada law and I'm sure the people he stole from themselves would like to punish himbut its a little tricky since he sold them on investing on a game of chance . maybe I'm wrong but I still think people need to be smarter and less giving but id like to know more about the scheme itself . thanks lcb for the heads up news
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rferry5 7 years ago
this is nuts who would of thought that george clooney and matt damon would be involved in this they had to be scammed and did not know who they were really playing with.for there name to be ruined and for the guy they still have to prove it
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Magic Flowers 7 years ago
let me guess the prison sentence of US system: 80 years?
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varvero 7 years ago
cant believe that people actually fell for this guy. That claim he can beat the house with some special strategy is pretty lame, i agree they cannot have been gamblers. Claiming to have convinced those celebrities of his strategy makes the scam Even more obvious. But in the end he was naive himself thinking he would get...
cant believe that people actually fell for this guy. That claim he can beat the house with some special strategy is pretty lame, i agree they cannot have been gamblers. Claiming to have convinced those celebrities of his strategy makes the scam Even more obvious. But in the end he was naive himself thinking he would get away with it.
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Feelin froggy 7 years ago
nickles987: "This isn't Georgantas' first rodeo as a law un-abiding citizen" as if he has been declared guilty? No he hasn't been convicted of THIS crime but he was previously involved in credit card fraud, did jail time and even escaped from jail as stated in the LVRJ article. So, I'd still say this isn't his first rodeo...
nickles987: "This isn't Georgantas' first rodeo as a law un-abiding citizen" as if he has been declared guilty? No he hasn't been convicted of THIS crime but he was previously involved in credit card fraud, did jail time and even escaped from jail as stated in the LVRJ article. So, I'd still say this isn't his first rodeo in terms of breaking the law. The fact is he ran off with at least $350k so I suppose we'll see.
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cheetahwind 7 years ago
What amazes me is the fact he actually attracted investors. I mean investors wanting to invest in someone else's gambling habits. Common be real. If i want to invest in some gambling I'd do it on my own terms. That way I know I'm in control of my profits over letting someone else control where my cash goes. I'm surprised...
What amazes me is the fact he actually attracted investors. I mean investors wanting to invest in someone else's gambling habits. Common be real. If i want to invest in some gambling I'd do it on my own terms. That way I know I'm in control of my profits over letting someone else control where my cash goes. I'm surprised the celebrities haven't gone after him either for using there name in slander. The nerve of some people actually thinking they can get away with such silly systems. They will get caught in the end and sure enough he did.
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nickles987 7 years ago
If this guy hasn't been convicted and adamantly claiming his innocence and says he's preparing his defense. Why is the author of this article saying things like "Georgantas ran a scam" "This isn't Georgantas' first rodeo as a law un-abiding citizen" as if he has been declared guilty? Shouldn't the title be "Alleged Nevada...
If this guy hasn't been convicted and adamantly claiming his innocence and says he's preparing his defense. Why is the author of this article saying things like "Georgantas ran a scam" "This isn't Georgantas' first rodeo as a law un-abiding citizen" as if he has been declared guilty? Shouldn't the title be "Alleged Nevada Casino Scammer Arrested at Hard Rock Casino" to avoid committing libel? Isn't he innocent until proven guilty?
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medtrans 7 years ago
This is nuts! The people "investing" surely can't be gamblers as if they were they would know there is no beating the house in gambling. And who would believe that George Clooney and Matt Damon would partner with this guy? That is crazy for so many reasons. Maybe he dropped Damon's name because he was in the gambling film,...
This is nuts! The people "investing" surely can't be gamblers as if they were they would know there is no beating the house in gambling. And who would believe that George Clooney and Matt Damon would partner with this guy? That is crazy for so many reasons. Maybe he dropped Damon's name because he was in the gambling film, Rounders. It is so sad when people fall for scams like this.
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