Wife of Ohtani Scandal Bookmaker Loses Nevada Gambling License in Settlement


Nicole Bowyer, the wife of convicted illegal bookmaker Matt Bowyer, has agreed to give up her Nevada Gaming license in a settlement with the state’s Gaming Control Board (NGCB). 

Nicole Bowyer (pictured right) was named in a complaint filed late last year by the gambling regulator. That came alongside a wider set of legal filings against her former employer, Resorts World Las Vegas.

Bowyer was previously an independent agent for Las Vegas Strip-casino Resorts World. The NGCB said that she encouraged her husband to gamble millions through the casino via her introduction, despite knowing illegal bookmaking was the main source of his income.

California-based Matt Bowyer filed a guilty plea late last year in a federal court, admitting to operating an illegal gambling ring and money laundering charges. His sentencing is scheduled for February 7, where he could be facing several years behind bars. 

The scandal caught the public eye after Bowyer was outed as the bookmaker that took millions of bets in money stolen from Japanese Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The Los Angeles Dodgers hitter had $17 million taken from him by his former trusted interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, much of which was spent gambling with Bowyer. 

License Revoked 

Nicole Bowyer’s settlement is not yet final, although both parties have agreed to it. The Nevada Gaming Commission gets a say on the final decision, although it is expected to get the go-ahead later this week from the second regulatory body.

As well as agreeing to forfeit her Nevada gaming license, worth millions in future career earnings, Bowyer has also reportedly agreed to admit all charges and waive her right to a public hearing or an appeal on the decision. 

She has also reportedly said she will fully cooperate with any ongoing investigations into the surrounding matters.

The Final Pieces 

Once Nicole Bowyer’s license is revoked, the only major player awaiting a full judgement in the wide-ranging federal investigation is Resorts World Las Vegas itself. 

It is facing its own 32-page legal filing over money laundering allegations that includes the Bowyers, but also several other known illegal Californian bookmakers. 

The investigations began in late 2022 with the arrest of former minor league baseball player Wayne Nix. His bust led authorities to dozens of other illegal bookies, some of whom, like Bowyer, had connections to Las Vegas. When the details of Ippei Mizuhara’s multi-million theft and gambling spree came to light, federal investigators only upped the speed of their investigation into those involved. 

As well as Nicole Bowyer, the NGCB recently revoked the license of former Resorts World President Scott Sibella. He was convicted as part of the federal investigation, and sentenced to probation. The NGCB faced some criticism for clearing Sibella of money laundering connections just months before the federal investigation came to light. 

In what may or may not be entirely related incidents, two members of the influential three-person NGCB announced this month they were leaving their roles. That included chairman Kirk Hendrick, who had only been in the position for two years.

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