Thomas McPeek didn’t stumble into a lucky streak — he studied for it.
The 24-year-old from Chicago spent last year diving into the world of sports betting, placing dozens of complex, high-risk wagers on football — called parlays — based on odds he believed he could beat.
“It was a calculated attack where I thought I had an edge,” McPeek told CBS News Chicago.
In August, he visited the sportsbook at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, owned by Caesars Entertainment. To ensure his bets wouldn’t be rejected, he remained anonymous, making multiple small bets at kiosks instead of with a clerk at a counter.
He even went so far as to disguise himself with sunglasses or hiding his hair.
Over the course of a single week, McPeek says he bet around $30,000 and won $350,000.
A month later, he traveled across state lines to employ the same strategies at another Caesars property — the Isle Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa. This time, he says his tickets totaled about $450,000 in winnings.
But McPeek says when he tried to cash in, both casinos voided his tickets, citing house rules and anti-money-laundering policies. He says he’s willing to sue to get his winnings.
McPeek maintains that he played by the rules but Caesars says he tried to circumvent them, particularly by crossing state lines — something that can violate betting regulations.
Scott Morrow, a former casino executive who now teaches gaming at the University of Nevada—Las Vegas, says Caesars was justified in voiding his tickets on those grounds.
“I have a tough time finding sympathy for his case,” Morrow said.
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But Eli Feustel, a seasoned betting expert and author, sides with McPeek — not because of how the bets were made, but because of Caesars’ timing in voiding his wins. He argues that the casinos only acted after realizing McPeek might actually win.
“The clear answer is Caesars owes this,” he told CBS News.
The Indiana Gaming Commission says Caesars followed the rules. Now, regulators in Iowa are reviewing McPeek’s complaint.
DJ Kamal Mustafa
I’m DJ Kamal Mustafa, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EMEA Tribune, a digital news platform that focuses on critical stories from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. With a deep passion for investigative journalism, I’ve built a reputation for delivering exclusive, thought-provoking reports that highlight the region’s most pressing issues.
I’ve been a journalist for over 10 years, and I’m currently associated with EMEA Tribune, ARY News, Daily Times, Samaa TV, Minute Mirror, and many other media outlets. Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to uncovering the truth and providing valuable insights that inform and engage the public.
