Resorts World casino in Las Vegas fined $10.5M in money-laundering case

Nevada gaming regulators have imposed a $10.5 million fine on the Resorts World casino located on the Las Vegas Strip due to allegations of illegal gambling activities. The investigation primarily focused on connections to Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker linked to the former interpreter of baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The complaint filed by the state Gaming Control Board last year accused the casino of accepting individuals with ties to illegal bookmaking and those with past gambling-related felony convictions.

The $10.5 million penalty marks one of the largest fines issued by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which oversees disciplinary actions in the gaming industry. As part of the settlement, Resorts World and its parent company neither admit nor deny the allegations but have agreed to implement changes in leadership and tighten their protocols on preventing money laundering activities.

Central to the complaint against Resorts World is Mathew Bowyer, who pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business. Despite losing more than $6.6 million over a span of 15 months, he was allowed to gamble at the casino for approximately 80 days, during which Resorts World allegedly failed to confirm the legitimacy of his funding sources. Furthermore, the casino provided him with gifts, discounts, and private jet flights.

The initial complaint outlined 12 counts against the casino, including six directly related to Bowyer. Specific allegations included failing to distance itself from suspected illegal bookmakers, the negligence of casino hosts in reporting suspicious betting activities, and directing potential clients to known illegal bookmaking operations.

Additional counts highlighted the casino’s practice of granting substantial credit to individuals with histories of illegal gambling and organized crime, further complicating Resorts World’s legal and regulatory standing. The fine serves not only as a punitive measure but also as a signal of the strict oversight that Nevada gaming regulators maintain over the industry.