The bank robbery comparison is what I read in some newspaper article. It may be an overstatement of this very seroius situation.
This is what I found on the internet.
Punishment, penalties, sentencing and plea bargains for casino markers charges in Nevada
Nevada judges may order very harsh prison sentences for defaulting on a casino marker. But the district attorney is often very agreeable to negotiating favorable deals and eventually dismissing the charges, especially if it’s your first offense.
Penalties for defaulting on Nevada casino markers
If the amount of the allegedly unpaid marker is $250 or more, then it will be prosecuted in Nevada as a category D felony, which carries these penalties:
a mandatory one to four years in Nevada state prison,
an optional $5,000 fine
mandatory administrative fees (an extra 5% of each marker of $10,000 or less, and an extra 10% of each marker of more than $10,000)
mandatory full restitution of the outstanding casino marker debt21
Furthermore, Nevada judges hand down penalties per individual marker, not per the entire amount. For example:
John is convicted in Las Vegas under Nevada’s bad check statute for defaulting on two casino markers: One is for $5,000 and the other is for $20,000. The judge in Clark County District Court will likely sentence him to:
up to eight years in prison (up to four years for each marker),
up to $10,000 in fines (up to $5,000 for each marker),
$2,250 in administrative fees (5% of the smaller marker plus 10% of the larger), and
$25,000 in restitution (the total value of both markers)