Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) will pay a $10.5 million fine to settle a nearly eight-month-old 12-count disciplinary complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), although it has not admitted to any wrongdoing. The regulator had claimed the casino had been deficient in its anti-money laundering (AML) obligations. However, the agreement only states that RWLV agreed to a settlement in light of the “uncertainty” surrounding a potential hearing.
The original complaint, which authorities amended to 10 counts from 12, alleged RWLV had a history of allowing illegal bookmakers to gamble at the Strip casino. As a result, the NGCB argued that RWLV’s compliance failures caused reputational damage to Nevada’s gaming industry. Nevada regulators found no wrongdoing in one previous investigation against former RWLV President Scott Sibella. However, they began taking a closer look at other accusations against Sibella and the casino after his dismissal from the role and subsequent guilty plea on a federal charge of violating the Bank Secrecy Act.
If the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) accepts the settlement, the fine will become the second-largest in Nevada’s history. The largest is still the $20 million fine against Wynn Resorts imposed in 2019. In that case, authorities accused former chairman Steve Wynn of sexual abuse and misconduct against female employees. Personally, Wynn also agreed to a $10 million fine in July 2023, the most significant individual penalty ever imposed by state regulators.
If the NGC approves the RWLV settlement at its hearing in Las Vegas this week, the operator will have two days to pay the fine in full.
RWLV leadership changes laid deal’s groundwork
In an email to the Nevada Independent, NGCB chairman Kirk Hendrick said that subsequent information showed RWLV’s efforts to address its AML weaknesses.
Specifically, Hendrick noted actions involving two alleged criminals—Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto— NGCB named in the complaint.
Resorts World, he said:
Had conducted sufficient enhanced due diligence and other compliance reviews… As a result, the counts regarding those patrons were removed.
According to a release shared on the NGCB website and X, RWLV’s recent actions, including “wholesale changes” to the resort’s executive team, enabled the settlement. Other improvements include Resorts World’s AML program upgrades, which must continue under the deal.
As the Independent reported, Resorts World acknowledged the settlement in an unsigned PR statement and said it looked “forward to resolving this matter.” However, the casino operator agreed that if any subsequent federal action follows, the NGCB “reserves the right to file a separate disciplinary complaint.”
Sibella was the resort’s top executive when the improprieties allegedly happened. The casino operator eventually fired Sibella in September 2023. Then, in late 2024, regulators stripped Sibella of his gaming license in a settlement related to his apparent lack of oversight.
Since his departure, Genting Berhad, Resorts World’s Malaysia-based owner, has made substantial changes to its leadership structure, including hiring industry veteran Alex Dixon as CEO.
Genting also established a board of directors under longtime gaming executive Jim Murren. Beyond Murren, the board includes former NGCB chairman and gaming attorney A.G. Burnett and former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.
Most recently, in February, former Genting CEO K.T. Lim stepped down after nearly two decades in the role. Tan Kong Han, the company’s former president and COO, replaced Lim as the chief executive.
Initial complaint tied to bookmaker in Ohtani theft case
NGCB’s initial complaint against RWLV centered around admitted illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.
Bowyer is the offside bookmaker who received millions in bets from baseball player Shohei Ohtani‘s former interpreter. Earlier this month, Bowyer pled to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return in federal court. Bowyer’s wife, Nicole, also faces a separate NGCB complaint concerning her time as an independent agent for RWLV.
According to the complaint, in just over two months in 2022, Bowyer lost over $1.2 million while gambling at Resorts World. Despite his substantial losses, the casino allegedly failed to identify Bowyer’s source of funds as required.
RWLV’s failed policy enforcement permitted Bowyer’s continued deception, the Control Board noted in the complaint.
Resorts World knew, or should have known, that Bowyer was likely engaged in illegal bookmaking.
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