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

Nevada gaming regulators have imposed a $10.5 million fine on Resorts World casino in Las Vegas due to allegations of illegal gambling activities. The complaint, filed by the state Gaming Control Board, accused the casino of allowing individuals with connections to illegal bookmaking and those with past gambling-related felony convictions to operate within its premises.

This fine, announced on Thursday, is the second-largest penalty ever levied by the Nevada Gaming Commission. As part of the settlement, Resorts World and its parent company did not admit to the allegations, but they committed to implementing significant changes in leadership and enhancing protocols to prevent money laundering.

Central to the case is Mathew Bowyer, a bookmaker from Southern California, who has been accused of taking substantial sports bets from the casino and is awaiting sentencing for operating an illegal gambling business. The Nevada Gaming Control Board's allegations indicate that Resorts World permitted Bowyer to gamble on 80 separate occasions over a span of 15 months while neglecting to verify the sources of his funds.

During this period, Bowyer reportedly lost more than $6.6 million, all while receiving various benefits from the casino, including gifts and flights on its private jet. The original complaint listed multiple counts against the casino, including failure to dissociate from suspected illegal bookmakers and not reporting potentially illegal betting activities.

In addition to Bowyer's case, the complaint highlighted Resorts World's questionable practices in extending credit to individuals with histories of illegal gambling and organized crime, raising concerns about the casino's ability to uphold regulatory standards in the gaming industry.