Resorts World Las Vegas and its affiliates have reached a settlement with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, agreeing to pay a $10.5 million fine. This penalty addresses regulatory failures related to the casino’s anti-money-laundering (AML) program, which allowed convicted felons and individuals with links to illegal gambling to wager at the property.
If approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, the fine will be the second-largest in state history. The largest remains Wynn Resorts’ $20 million fine in 2019 over sexual harassment claims.
The initial complaint, filed in August 2023 and later revised, accused Resorts World of welcoming high-risk patrons with criminal backgrounds. Among them was Mathew Bowyer, who pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering. Despite this, Bowyer gambled large sums at Resorts World. His wife, Nicole Bowyer, a registered independent agent of the casino, allegedly received commissions from his gambling losses.
The complaint also revealed that the casino provided comps and luxury benefits to questionable patrons. Regulators criticized the property for fostering an environment where individuals with federal felony convictions were welcomed.
“Resorts World allowed a culture to exist at its gaming establishment where individuals with suspected and actual ties to illegal bookmaking, with histories of federal felony convictions […] were welcomed,” stated the original complaint.
Resort’s Response and Leadership Changes
To prevent further violations, Resorts World agreed to strengthen its compliance measures. The settlement mandates the hiring of additional AML personnel, maintaining training records for five years, and submitting regular compliance reports to regulators. Key employees must also attend AML training seminars.
The casino has already begun reshaping its leadership. Former MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren, ex-Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, and former Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett now serve on the board.
A Resorts World spokesperson stated: “Resorts World Las Vegas has reached a pending settlement with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. We look forward to the Nevada Gaming Commission considering the settlement and ultimately resolving this matter.”
The controversy also implicates former Resorts World President Scott Sibella. Earlier this year, Sibella pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to report suspicious activities. Although not directly named in the current complaint, he pointed out that illegal bookmakers had gambled across multiple Las Vegas properties. “The two bookmakers that put Resorts World in this situation gambled at all the major casinos in Las Vegas for many years,” Sibella told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It will be interesting to see what occurs now between those casinos and the Gaming Control Board and the federal government.”
The Nevada Gaming Commission will deliberate on the settlement during its upcoming meeting in Las Vegas.
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