‘Sports Bettor of the Year’ Sues North Carolina Casino Over Lifetime Ban

Emmanuel Kromah, the self-declared ‘sports bettor of the year,’ has filed a lawsuit against Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina for withholding over $500,000 in winnings and imposing a lifetime ban.

In February 2024, Kromah wagered $143,000 on the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Championship at odds of +250. Following the Celtics’ victory, he was due winnings of $500,505, but when he went to collect, he was escorted from the premises by security. 

In a post on threads, Kromah is seen being escorted out of the casino ranting, “When you lose your money, they okay with that, when you win big, they don’t wanna pay you out.”

Harrah’s, which is operated by Caesars Entertainment, eventually paid out the winnings 10 days later, but Kromah was banned for life from entering any Caesars casinos. 

Sports Bettor of the Year “Traumatized” By Treatment

Kromah’s attorney, Ranchor Harris, called the ban the “tipping point,” and is seeking damages for emotional distress, defamation, interference, and unfair trade for his client.

Kromah, who also goes by the names Fort Manny Bets (FMB) and Manny Cortez on social media, commented:

“These folks called the police on me like I stole! All I did was win my Celtics futures bet for $500,000 that they even posted on their Facebook and Instagram. I’m traumatized by this…If I can drop $143k and wait 4 months for it to cash. I can wait 1-4 years on a lawsuit. Internet really think I’m losing sleep over $500,000 lol I’ll get the last laugh ALWAYS”.

Kromah’s Instagram account, fortmannybets, claims he is “sports bettor of the year” and previously stated that he was banned from four sportsbooks. His Instagram account shows a series of bet slips at Hard Rock Bet, which is seemingly one of the sportsbooks that has not banned the gambler. 

Harrah’s And Caesars Facing More Lawsuits

Harrah’s and Caesars are also facing a lawsuit in Philadelphia over claims that Caesars Palace Online, the online branch for the Harrah’s establishment, has a “dangerous, misleading, and illegal” bonus offer. 

The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) calculated that users would have to gamble up to $375,000 before being able to withdraw any winnings.

The lawsuit states that, “The public is not told that the promotion is designed to snare new customers in a ‘wild chase of action,’ where the bonus is unattainable and therefore impossible to win.”

Caesars Wins Case Against Parlay Bettor

Caesars also faced a lawsuit in Iowa and Indiana after a bettor’s winning parlays were voided. Chicago bettor Thomas McPeek won approximately $800,000 from parlay bets at Caesars properties in Indiana and Iowa.

However, the company voided the bets and returned his $50,000 stake, citing “cross-state coordination” and “structuring” violations. McPeek admitted it was a “calculated attack” and that he had changed his appearance to place multiple small-stake wagers to avoid detection. 

Indiana regulators sided with Caesars, but the case is pending in Iowa. McPeek stated that he is willing to take the case to a civil lawsuit if he does not get a favorable outcome. 

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