The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) this week filed an official 31-page document alleging money laundering occurred at Resorts World Las Vegas.
The document detailed 12 counts in relation to the wide-ranging investigation against several California illegal bookmakers, some of whom were already publicly known to be involved.
The investigation has already resulted in the firing and criminal conviction of former Resorts World President Scott Sibella. Last week, illegal bookmaker Matt Bowyer filed a guilty plea in a California court over his gambling operation.
The NGCB filing names Bowyer among several other suspected and/or convicted illegal bookmakers who it says were allowed to gamble millions of dollars through Resorts World.
Resorts World can either attempt to defend itself against the charges before the Nevada Gambling Commission, or try to negotiate a settlement. Any offer would have to be substantial, as the casino could be fined up to $3 million or lose its Nevada gaming license if found guilty.
The Filings
“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 NGCB said.
Bowyer was the most frequently mentioned individual in the report. He was a registered agent at Resorts World, and between mid-2022 and late 2023, he allegedly spent $7.9 million gambling there.
The connected cases were brought into the public eye earlier this year after it was revealed Bowyer was the illegal bookmaker in the Ippei Mizuhara case. The former interpreter for Japanese Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani, Mizuhara stole $17 million from his employer. Most of it was spent on sports betting with Bowyer’s illegal operation.
As well as Bowyer, individuals named in the report with links to illicit gambling and other organized criminal enterprises include Edwin Ting, Chad Iwamoto, and Wayne Nix.
Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World during the period in which most of the money laundering took place, was not actually named in the most recent filing. However, the NGCB has also prepared a separate complaint against him, which is currently being processed through the system.
Last year, Sibella was fired by Resorts World and was later convicted of failing to report suspicious financial transactions in a federal court.
This week, the NGCB also filed a separate complaint against Bowyer’s wife, Nicole Bowyer. She also worked as an agent for Resorts World. It says she helped herself and Resorts World to profit off of her husband’s gambling operation, despite knowing it was illegal.
The Implications
Resorts World Las Vegas could lose its gambling license over the allegations. It could also be fined anywhere from $350,000 to $3 million for the infraction.
Alternatively, it could negotiate a final settlement without admitting guilt. This would be a costly process, however, and still leaves them with a damaged reputation.
“Resorts World Las Vegas is aware of the Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint,” the casino said in a statement this week.
“We are committed to doing business with the utmost integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and industry guidelines. We have been actively communicating with the GCB to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members.”
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
