LOS ANGELES (May 30): A Malaysian poker player charged last year with running an illegal World-Cup gambling ring from his luxury suite at Caesars Palace may be allowed to leave the U.S. after two court rulings that hobbled his prosecution.

While Wei Seng Phua offered to leave behind his $48 million private jet to assure his return to Las Vegas if his case goes to trial, prosecutors said he may be unable to re-enter the U.S. for lack of a valid visa.

Justice Department lawyers said Friday it’s up to U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon whether to let Phua, who goes by Paul, go to Malaysia after the judge three days ago threw out evidence collected in July from a $25,000-a-night villa stacked with banks of computers and monitors and televisions tuned into World Cup games. The judge last month faulted the FBI for using a ruse in which agents cut off Internet access to Phua’s own villa and posed as repairmen to look for evidence of wrongdoing.

“The government recognizes that this is a significant change in circumstances,” according to the filing by prosecutors, who said it may be weeks before they decide whether to appeal the judge’s rulings.

Phua, 50, a professional poker player who competes internationally, told the court May 22 he wants to return to Malaysia because his mother is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer. He said he’d return to the U.S. rather than let a trial proceed in his absence because he intends to clear his name.

The gambler also said prosecutors’ claim that his visa status may prevent him from attending his own trial is “disingenuous” because that would be entirely in the government’s control.

“Mr. Phua is not looking to flee; he seeks to prove his innocence and to restore his reputation,” according to his filing. “Indeed, Mr. Phua has litigated this case even though refusing to plead has separated him from his life and his family for an extended period of time.”

Gordon hasn’t ruled on Phua’s request to leave the country.

Natalie Collins, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Las Vegas, declined to comment on the government’s filing.

The case is U.S. v. Phua, 14-cr-00249, U.S. District Court, District of Nevada (Las Vegas).