MGM Resorts International, one of Nevada’s most recognized casino operators, now faces an $8.5 million penalty after serious regulatory failures surfaced. The Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously on the fine, making it the fourth-largest ever handed out by state regulators.
Good to know
- MGM Resorts must pay an $8.5 million fine to the Nevada Gaming Commission
- The case involves illegal bookmakers operating freely inside MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan.`
- Former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella already faced penalties last year.
Between 2017 and 2020, MGM Resorts fell short in enforcing anti-money laundering rules and monitoring illegal activities at its properties. Two known illegal bookmakers, Wayne Nix and Matthew Bowyer, managed to gamble freely at MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan without proper oversight.
Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player, pleaded guilty to illegal gambling offenses back in 2018. Matthew Bowyer followed with his own guilty plea in 2024. Both men used MGM properties to move large sums of cash without raising alarms. Investigators revealed that Nix regularly transported duffle bags, brown paper bags, or leather bags stuffed with cash from California to Las Vegas.
Despite the obvious red flags, casino staff accepted the money and even extended VIP perks like free meals, hotel stays, golf outings, and other gifts to keep Nix returning.
Former MGM President and Casino Staff Under Fire
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) outlined the misconduct in a 10-count complaint. Eight counts tied to Nix, one to Bowyer, and another focused on MGM’s weak anti-money laundering controls. Federal court documents supported the NGCB’s complaint, highlighting joint efforts between state and federal authorities.
The investigation also pointed to former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella and two casino hosts, accusing them of knowingly allowing Nix’s activities to continue. Sibella already faced a separate fallout in December, losing his gaming license and receiving a $10,000 fine. On top of that, Sibella accepted federal charges for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, leading to one year of probation and financial penalties.
After the scandal unfolded, Sibella claimed that the problem extended beyond MGM, suggesting that other Las Vegas casinos had similar failings when it came to suspicious activity reports.
MGM Resorts responded by overhauling its compliance system. According to the company, it cooperated with authorities, brought in outside auditors, improved employee training programs, and invested over $1 million into strengthening its compliance team. A presentation to the Gaming Commission detailed all these reforms, emphasizing new screening and monitoring procedures that started after the internal review launched in 2022.
The issue is not isolated to MGM alone. In March, Resorts World Las Vegas was also fined $10.5 million after it allowed Matthew Bowyer to gamble at its property under similar circumstances.
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