Francis Ordered to Pay Gambling Debt

Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis has been ordered to pay a $2 million (£1.3 million) gambling debt, just weeks after a federal judge threwout a criminal case over the matter.

The soft porn boss faced charges including theft and fraud in February (11) over the alleged debt owed to Las Vegas casino boss Steve Wynn.

Wynnsued Francis over the debt in 2009, but he reportedly refused to pay up the full amount.

A grand jury had ordered Francis to stand trial, but Los Angeles District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell dismissed the case last month (Sep11) after deciding there was a lack of evidence of wrongdoing on the filmmaker'spart.

It was reported that Francis would not have to pay the money, but on Thursday (06Oct11) a judge at Nevada Supreme Court upheld a civil ruling that ordered him to hand over the cash, according to the Associated Press.

Francis is now considering challenging the ruling, while his lawyer David Houston admits they are "extremely disappointed" with the result of Thursday's hearing.