Faud Al Zayyat, the Dream Player of Every Casino

Faud Al Zayyat, often referred to as "The Fat Man" in casino circles, gained significant notoriety for his exceptionally lavish gambling habits and the immense sums of money he wagered, and often lost. He was known as a "whale" in the casino industry, a term used for individuals who gamble with extremely large amounts. His fame was cemented by several well-publicized legal disputes over unpaid gambling debts, particularly with high-end London casinos like Aspinall's and the Ritz, which often revealed the staggering scale of his betting. For instance, between 1994 and 2006, he wagered £91.5 million at Aspinall's, losing £23.2 million. These public disputes, along with his extravagant lifestyle and reputation for being a generous tipper, contributed to his legend as a prominent gambler.

Faud Al Zayyat was a Syrian billionaire businessman and investor who built his fortune through various ventures. He founded several companies, including Mortimer Off Shore Services Ltd., which his son and son-in-law now manage. His business interests extended to aviation, as he owned an aviation company called FAZ Aviation, which specialized in supplying commercial aircraft. This background in business and investment provided him with the substantial financial resources that allowed him to participate in the high-stakes gambling that later brought him widespread attention.

Faud Al Zayyat was involved in several prominent legal battles concerning his gambling debts. One notable case involved Aspinall's casino, which sued him for £2 million in unpaid blackjack losses from 2000. Although initially ordered to pay, Al Zayyat successfully appealed the ruling in 2008, arguing that the credit extended to him by the casino was unlawful under the Gaming Act. Another instance saw the Ritz Casino issue a writ against him in 2002 for allegedly bouncing seven cheques worth £2 million, a case that was eventually settled out of court. These legal disputes frequently brought to light the staggering amounts he gambled and lost, further solidifying his public image as a high roller.

Yes, beyond his gambling endeavors, Faud Al Zayyat was linked to other controversies. He was involved in a lobbying controversy in the United States, where he sought assistance from U.S. Congressman Bob Ney and lobbyists to secure a special government permit to sell plane parts to Iran, despite U.S. trade sanctions. It was alleged that during these meetings, Al Zayyat provided Ney with thousands of dollars worth of free casino chips, leading to Ney's conviction for trading political favors for money and gifts. Al Zayyat also faced legal issues in Greece, where he was tried in absentia and sentenced to life for bribery and 17 years for money laundering in connection with an arms kickback scandal. Furthermore, Cyprus issued an arrest warrant against him for an unpaid loan from Laiki Bank and other alleged fraud cases involving forged documents. He lived in Lebanon for a period to avoid arrest related to these charges.