Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Gambler indicted, wanted for owing Downtown Grand $500,000 in losses

Downtown Grand Opening Ceremony

Steve Marcus

A view of the the Downtown Grand in downtown Las Vegas Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013.

A Clark County grand jury has indicted a gambler who claimed he was so drunk he lost $500,000 playing table games at the Downtown Grand in Las Vegas in January 2014.

A warrant for Mark Allen Johnston's arrest was issued Friday after he failed to appear at a preliminary hearing. He was indicted on felony charges of theft and passing bad checks.

The indictment indicates he received casino credit via four personal checks totaling $500,000 to the casino.

Johnston's attorney Sean Lyttle did not respond to a call and email seeking comment.

Johnston claimed the casino plied him with drinks.

Casinos are barred from allowing visibly drunk customers to gamble.

Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett says it closed an investigation into Johnston's claims for lack of evidence.

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