High-Roller Casino Resorts World Las Vegas Slapped with $10.5 Million Penalty for Accommodating Illegal Gambling Operations
Las Vegas Casino Faces Hefty Fine Over Alleged Illegal Gambling
In a shocking turn of events, Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) has agreed to shell out a whopping $10.5 million fine after being accused of enabling illegal bookmakers with ties to organized crime and money laundering. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) lodged these allegations seven months ago, and the case will come up for discussion by the NGCB next week.
The penalty, which must be paid within two days of the Commission action, stems from RWLV's failure to adhere to its responsibilities as the holder of a Nevada gaming license. The alleged lapses have dealt a blow to Nevada's gaming industry's reputation.
The NGCB's 31-page complaint paints a grim picture of a culture at RWLV that welcomed individuals with suspected or actual ties to illegal bookmaking, some of whom had federal felony convictions related to gambling. These felons were reportedly allowed to place millions of dollars in wagers over several months.
The investigation found that Resorts World executives accepted a culture where information of suspicious or illegal activity was, at a minimum, negligently disregarded, or at worst, willfully ignored for financial gain.
Suspected or known felons who gambled at RWLV include Mathew Bowyer, who pleaded guilty in federal court to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return. Edwin Ting was convicted in federal court of conducting an illegal gambling business and is known to have ties to organized crime. Chad Iwamoto was convicted in federal court of transmission of wagering information and failing to file monthly tax returns.
Earlier this year, Nicole Bowyer, wife of Matthew Bowyer and a registered agent with RWLV, was slapped with punitive measures by the Commission. However, the Commission postponed the action, expressing a preference for imposing fines and a lifetime ban instead of the proposed five-year ban.
RWLV could have chosen to request a hearing before the Gaming Commission or reach a settlement with the Board, but it opted for the latter.
The settlement requires RWLV to review and update its anti-money laundering policy and procedures, maintain employee anti-money laundering records, provide training to its registered agents within 60 days, submit an independent internal-audit review team's report on the casino's compliance with its AML program, report any notice from a governmental agency on a criminal investigation or disciplinary action, and retain its current AML compliance staffing.
RWLV claimed it was striving to instill a culture of compliance and was operating in accordance with industry standards and norms. However, it admitted that enhancements were needed to address compliance issues. RWLV reportedly started an investigation in 2023 to focus on its AML program and made changes it said would lead the industry in policies, procedures, and practices.
Former President and COO Scott Sibella, who had his gaming license revoked by the Commission in December over charges of failing to report an illegal bookmaker, resigned from RWLV in 2023. Sibella was not named in the RWLV complaint.
RWLV appointed Alex Dixon as CEO and Carlos Castro as chief operating and chief financial officer. It also established a new position for a chief compliance officer.
The casino also set up a Board of Directors to oversee its AML program and regulatory compliance in addition to supervising the property. Jim Murren, a former CEO of MGM Resorts International, was named as the chair of the Board. A.G. Burnett, former chair of the Gaming Control Board, was also inducted into the Board of Directors. Kong Han Tan, president, CEO, and executive director of parent company Genting Berhad, was brought on board, along with former Governor Brian Sandoval, a former Nevada Gaming Commission member and federal judge, and industry veteran Michelle DiTondo.
āļĒāļ Insights from Enrichment Data:The settlement agreement follows allegations that the former President and COO of RWLV, Scott Sibella, allowed Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker with connections to organized crime, to conduct business and gamble at RWLV from December 2021 until October 2024. The settlement condition likely includes measures to bolster compliance and oversight, but specific operational conditions are not detailed in the available information[2][5].
In response to Nevada gaming regulations violations, the NGCB has toughened its stance on enforcing compliance, particularly in the detection and prevention of illegal bookmaker operations and money laundering activities[2][5]. The settlement fine is a part of the NGCB's ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of Nevada's legal gambling industry.
The settlement fine imposed on Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) is a consequence of allowing suspected or known felons, such as Matthew Bowyer and Edwin Ting, to engage in sports-betting and other casino-games, despite their connections to organized crime and illegal gambling activities. The penalty also stems from RWLV's failure to address suspicious or illegal activity, as outlined in the Nevada Gaming Control Board's (NGCB) 31-page complaint. In a bid to rectify this, RWLV has agreed to review and update its anti-money laundering policy, provide training to its employees, and establish a Board of Directors to oversee its AML program and regulatory compliance.
