Las Vegas Sun

May 18, 2024

Trial set for man in Las Vegas casino debt case

Trial has been pushed back to Feb. 1 for a prominent Nebraska philanthropist facing felony criminal charges stemming from almost $15 million in gambling debts at two Las Vegas casinos.

A Nevada judge met Wednesday with lawyers and also set a Nov. 6 date to hear Terrance “Terry” Watanabe’s claim that the case should be thrown out.

Watanabe’s lawyers maintain he had an agreement with Harrah’s Entertainment making him immune from criminal charges over debts like those he ran up at Caesars Palace and the Rio hotel-casino.

Watanabe has pleaded not guilty to theft and bad check charges that could get him probation or up to 16 years in prison.

He’s the former owner of the Omaha, Neb.-based Oriental Trading Co.

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