Article: Casino Royale( or how one man nearly broke the bank in London ); Exposed: the high-roller who bounced cheques totalling [pounds sterling]11m at four exclusive gambling clubs - and who might just get away with it.

Byline: DAVID COHEN

IT WAS approaching midnight when, with characteristic insouciance, Ahmed Al-Reyaysa walked over to the cashier at the top of the sweeping staircase of The Clermont Club, the exclusive Mayfair casino, and scribbled out a cheque for [pounds sterling]3.07 million.

The greeting from the cashier was, as always, warm and personal: Al-Reyaysa was a regular whose credit had proved to be excellent on previous losses of several millions, and although the sum cashed was large, to say the least, it was hardly exceptional among the club's superrich Arab clientele.

Within minutes Al-Reyaysa ( pronounced Ari-aser) had rejoined the ...

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