Texas Contractor Charged With Diverting $400K to Casinos, Reflecting National Pattern

A Texas contractor whom neighbors hired to rebuild their house is facing felony charges after investigators say he misappropriated over $400,000 and used the money for personal use, including trips to multiple casinos.

The case highlights a troubling national trend in recent news: people in trusted financial positions stealing funds to fuel gambling habits.

Contractor Accused of Misuse

Prosecutors allege that Brian Glass, 51, of Bullard, Texas, took in more than $518,000 from neighbors between April and July 2024. The couple had hired Glass and Limitless Homes and Design, his company, to rebuild their house after a fire.

An affidavit cited in local media reports states that Glass paid only approximately $116,000 to subcontractors and for construction materials. The remaining amount, roughly $402,000, he used for personal expenses. That includes visits to casinos in Bossier City and Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as Livingston, Texas. Investigators also found casino transactions drawn directly from his business account.

Subcontractors eventually abandoned the project, citing nonpayment. The victims ultimately paid them over $236,000 in additional direct costs to ensure the completion of their home.

Authorities arrested Glass and charged him with misapplication of fiduciary property exceeding $300,000, a felony under Texas law.

A Broader Problem

Glass’s case is hardly unique. Across the United States, news continuously appears of embezzlement cases linked to gambling.

• In Ohio, former housing authority director Kaycie Antonik admitted to stealing $2.3 million, much of which she spent on slot machines.
• In Maryland, State Department budget analyst Levita Almuete Ferrer embezzled more than $650,000, using some of the funds at MGM National Harbor on high-limit slots.
• In Washington State, Matthew Randall Ping was sentenced after siphoning $878,000 from a government office. Prosecutors say he used much of the money for gambling trips, including to Las Vegas.
• In Texas, authorities accuse Jason Matthew Babb of taking $683,000 from his employer to cover gambling debts.
• Former Wall Street trader Richard Kim was charged in New York. Prosecutors accuse him of diverting $4.3 million from a crypto-casino startup into his own accounts for trading and gambling.

These are just a few recent examples among many. Each case highlights the same scenario: individuals in positions of financial trust exploiting access to funds and using them to fund gambling losses or addictions.

Addiction & Oversight

In many of these cases, gambling addiction is a driving factor. Defense attorneys frequently raise the issue of compulsive behavior in plea hearings. Still, the courts have shown little sympathy and have been clear that addiction does not erase responsibility for theft.

Casinos, too, have drawn scrutiny. Regulators and prosecutors are increasingly asking whether these venues should have flagged suspiciously large deposits or transfers, especially when they came from business or nonprofit accounts.

Ripple Effects

The impact on victims is often devastating. In Texas, the homeowners who entrusted Glass with their insurance money were left with a half-finished house and unpaid subcontractors. In government and nonprofit cases, taxpayer dollars and community resources went into someone’s pockets.

These consequences show why law enforcement continues to treat gambling-linked embezzlement as a growing public concern — one that blends financial crime with a hidden addiction problem.