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

Nevada gaming regulators have imposed a hefty $10.5 million fine on Resorts World casino, located on the Las Vegas Strip, for alleged illegal gambling activities. Central to the allegations is Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker linked to the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The complaints against the casino included welcoming individuals connected to illegal bookmaking and those with criminal gambling histories.

The fine, announced on Thursday, is notable as it represents the second-largest penalty ever issued by the Nevada Gaming Commission. While Resorts World and its parent company did not admit to the allegations in the settlement agreement, they have committed to making leadership changes and implementing stricter measures to prevent money laundering.

Specifically, the complaint highlighted that Resorts World allowed Bowyer to engage in gambling activities for around 80 days over a span of 15 months, during which the casino failed to verify his funding sources. Bowyer ultimately incurred losses exceeding $6.6 million while receiving various perks from the casino, including gifts and private jet flights.

The allegations included multiple counts against Resorts World, with six counts directly related to Bowyer's activities. These counts encompassed failures to distance from suspected illegal bookmakers and the casino hosts' inaction in reporting suspicious betting activities. Additionally, there were concerns regarding substantial credit extended to individuals with shown affiliations to illegal gambling and organized crime.

As of yet, Resorts World has not publicly commented on the situation following the fine. The outcome of this case raises further scrutiny on regulatory practices and compliance within the gaming industry in Nevada.