$10.5 Million Fine for Resorts World Las Vegas Casino

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: April 12, 2025

The Nevada Gaming Commission has fined Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) a whopping $10.5 million following an anti-money laundering case that was first brought up in August of last year. According to an investigation by the regulator, RWLV allowed gamblers with ties to illegal bookmaking operations and organized crime to play at its casino.

Allegations Against Resorts World Las Vegas

In August 2024, the Nevada Gaming Commission opened an investigation into Resorts World Las Vegas and Genting Berhad (its parent company). The primary allegations centered around Matthew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker with ties to Ippei Mizhuara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani.

While operating his illegal gambling enterprise, Bowyer took thousands of sports bets from Mizhuara, who was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison earlier this year. Mizhuara was found guilty of fraud after reportedly embezzling $17 million from Ohtani to fund his gambling addiction.

According to the Gaming Control Board in Nevada, Bowyer used the money he generated from his illegal gambling operations to fund his high-stakes gambling sessions at the Resorts World Las Vegas casino. He played for about 80 separate days over a period spanning more than a year and lost between $6 and $8 million.

Resorts World Las Vegas has evidently failed to verify the source of these funds, which is required by law and constitutes a breach of anti-money laundering (AML) policies and regulations. Bowyer is not the only high-stakes gambler with unverified funds who has been allowed to play at the popular gambling establishment on the Strip.

Consequences for Resorts World Las Vegas

Resorts World Las Vegas neither admitted nor denied the accusations but has agreed to the $10.5 million settlement. In addition to the second largest penalty in the gambling history of the state, the operator has also agreed to make significant changes to its executive team and enforce AML protocols more strictly.

Another thing worth mentioning is that during the time of Bowyer’s high-stakes gambling streak at RWLV, Scott Sibella was the president of the property. Interestingly enough, in May 2024, Sibella was sentenced to a year of probation and a $9,500 fine after pleading guilty to similar charges.

According to the allegations against him, during his tenure as a president at MGM Grand, Sibella allowed an illegal bookmarker, Wayne Nyx, to pay off a significant debt without verifying the source of the funds and submitting a suspicious activity report. His gaming license from the Commission in Nevada was revoked, and he was banned from reapplying for another one for 5 years.

Conclusion

This is not the first case in which a gambling establishment is fined for failing to comply with safety and security standards. And while Nevada’s gaming market revenue is steadily increasing, so are concerns regarding commitment to fair and responsible gambling practices. However, we are confident that the state’s Gaming Commission will continue its efforts to minimize any risks for players.