The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) announced on Thursday its intention to impose financial penalties on Resorts World Las Vegas after accusations surfaced that the casino allowed illegal bookmakers to gamble without disclosing the sources of their funds.
Resorts World Las Vegas could be fined millions of dollars for alleged money laundering activities, according to the NGCB. These allegations were outlined in a 12-count, 31-page disciplinary complaint involving Resorts World and its affiliated companies.
The NGCB stated, “Resorts World allowed a culture that welcomed certain individuals with suspected or actual ties to illegal bookmaking, histories of federal felony convictions related to illegal gambling businesses, and ties to organized crime.”
The investigation by the NGCB revealed that Resorts World executives tolerated a culture where information about suspicious or illegal activity was either negligently disregarded or willfully ignored for financial gain.
One individual named in the NGCB filing was California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, 49, who recently pled guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. Bowyer faces a prison sentence ranging from 30 to 37 months next year. He has allegedly transferred or directed the transfer of at least $9.3 million to Resorts World Las Vegas and reportedly lost at least $4 million at the casino. His clientele included professional athletes and Ippei Mizuhara, the translator for MLB star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who stole $17 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts.
Much of the illicit gambling activity occurred while Scott Sibella was president of Resorts World, although he was not named in the filing. In May, Sibella pled guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act during his tenure as head of MGM Grand Las Vegas and was subsequently fired from Resorts World.
Additional individuals named in Thursday’s filing were Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto, both convicted of illegal gambling. The NGCB highlighted that Ting is “known to have ties to organized crime.”
A second NGCB complaint included Nicole Bowyer, Mathew Bowyer’s wife, who allegedly profited from her husband’s gambling activities as an independent agent. The NGCB stated, “Ms. Bowyer received payment from Resorts World despite surely knowing that her husband’s source of funds derived, at least in part, from illegal activity.” She has not cooperated with the NGCB investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, Resorts World expressed its commitment to resolving these issues with the NGCB, emphasizing its focus on serving its guests and nearly 5,000 team members.
