https://www.bettorsinsider.com/casino/2025/03/24/resorts-world-las-vegas-agrees-to-105m-fine-for-aml-violations

Resorts World Las Vegas has agreed to pay a $10.5 million fine to settle allegations by Nevada gaming regulators regarding significant anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures and relationships with illegal bookmakers. The proposed settlement, filed on March 20 with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), awaits final approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission at its March 27 meeting.

Historic Penalty

If approved, the $10.5 million penalty would become the second-largest fine in Nevada gaming history, surpassed only by the $20 million penalty imposed on Wynn Resorts in 2019 for failing to investigate sexual misconduct allegations against founder Steve Wynn.

The settlement follows a comprehensive investigation that began with a complaint filed by the NGCB in August 2023, which was subsequently revised, detailing "unsuitable methods of operation" over a multi-year period.

Bookmaker Connections

At the center of the investigation are two illegal bookmakers who were permitted to gamble at the property:

Mathew Bowyer, who pleaded guilty in California to operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering

Damien Leforbes, a professional poker player awaiting sentencing on federal money laundering charges

Bowyer, who operated a gambling ring with approximately 700 clients, lost approximately $7.9 million at Resorts World during at least 80 visits over a 14-month period. His illegal operation also handled approximately $325 million in sports wagers from Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, who was recently sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.

Meanwhile, Leforbes, who appeared on the show "Poker After Dark," reportedly lost $10 million at Resorts World in just over a year.

Leadership Failures

The NGCB complaint highlighted how Resorts World executives created or tolerated a culture where suspicious activities were ignored. According to regulators, "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."

This scandal overlaps with the tenure of Scott Sibella, former President and COO of Resorts World, who pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this year to failing to report suspicious activities. Sibella was terminated in September 2023 for unspecified company violations.

In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sibella deflected blame, saying: "The two bookmakers that put Resorts World in this situation gambled at all the major casinos in Las Vegas for many years, before, during and after Resorts World opened."

Settlement Terms

Beyond the monetary penalty, the settlement requires Resorts World to implement several corrective measures:

Mandatory attendance by key employees at anti-money-laundering seminars

Hiring additional compliance staff

Maintaining AML training records for at least five years

Submitting regular AML compliance reports to the Control Board

Conducting annual reviews of its AML program

Resorts World has already begun restructuring its leadership, appointing high-profile figures including former MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren and ex-Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to its board of directors.

"Resorts World Las Vegas has reached a pending settlement with the Nevada Gaming Control Board," a company spokesperson said. "We look forward to the Nevada Gaming Commission considering the settlement and ultimately resolving this matter."