The player and the book agree to most of the facts. In May of 2006, the player deposited $20,000 and collected $4000 in bonuses. Over the next 18 months, the player beat the book out of $1,680,000. When the player attempted to cash out in November, the book refused, citing wagering fraud.
The book alleged that the player was a mover for the Bananno family, which recently was recently the subject of sealed federal indictments. The book further alleged that the player was directly involved in numerous match fixings. It spent in excess of $60,000 on private investigators and produced compelling evidence that there were multiple occurrences of match fixing benefiting the player. In particular, I am convinced that multiple events from the Little League World Series of Baseball, Men's Tennis and Ita "B league" soccer were fixed before they occurred. The player denies he was involved in match fixing, but agrees that they might have been for the purposes of this mediation.
The player used parlays involving at least 14 different matches that were likely fixed, and won all but one match. One 10-team parlay paid the player $600,000. The player made smaller bets on sides and totals, and was a net loser on events that were not fixed.
In November, 3 persons appeared in Costa Rica claiming to represent the player. After initially presenting an Ukrainian passport for another of the book's players, the group was admitted. Once inside the sportsbook, they demanded payment of the player's balance. When the book refused, the 3 assaulted several clerks. While 4 employees had minor injuries, one clerk that fought back sustained a fracture to his right wrist and a broken nose (and incurred $8000 in medical expenses). The book accuses the "goon squad" of also wrecking their headquarters. The 3 allegedly destroyed 18 computer monitors, 5 computers, 2 72" flat screen plasma TVs, 12 29" LCD TVs, and most of the furniture in the main office. The book estimates the property damage at $47,000. The player denied that he knew anything about the goon squad in Costa Rica.
The book had no rules prohibiting match fixing.
The player wants $1.680m in winnings. The book wants to forfeit his deposit, claiming the player owes $55,000.
How would you rule on this?
The book alleged that the player was a mover for the Bananno family, which recently was recently the subject of sealed federal indictments. The book further alleged that the player was directly involved in numerous match fixings. It spent in excess of $60,000 on private investigators and produced compelling evidence that there were multiple occurrences of match fixing benefiting the player. In particular, I am convinced that multiple events from the Little League World Series of Baseball, Men's Tennis and Ita "B league" soccer were fixed before they occurred. The player denies he was involved in match fixing, but agrees that they might have been for the purposes of this mediation.
The player used parlays involving at least 14 different matches that were likely fixed, and won all but one match. One 10-team parlay paid the player $600,000. The player made smaller bets on sides and totals, and was a net loser on events that were not fixed.
In November, 3 persons appeared in Costa Rica claiming to represent the player. After initially presenting an Ukrainian passport for another of the book's players, the group was admitted. Once inside the sportsbook, they demanded payment of the player's balance. When the book refused, the 3 assaulted several clerks. While 4 employees had minor injuries, one clerk that fought back sustained a fracture to his right wrist and a broken nose (and incurred $8000 in medical expenses). The book accuses the "goon squad" of also wrecking their headquarters. The 3 allegedly destroyed 18 computer monitors, 5 computers, 2 72" flat screen plasma TVs, 12 29" LCD TVs, and most of the furniture in the main office. The book estimates the property damage at $47,000. The player denied that he knew anything about the goon squad in Costa Rica.
The book had no rules prohibiting match fixing.
The player wants $1.680m in winnings. The book wants to forfeit his deposit, claiming the player owes $55,000.
How would you rule on this?