Nevada Fines Resorts World $10.5 Million for Illegal Gambling Activities

Nevada gaming regulators have imposed a $10.5 million fine on the Resorts World casino located on the Las Vegas Strip. The penalty stems from allegations of illegal gambling activities, with a significant portion of the complaints focusing on a bookmaker linked to the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The fine resolves a complaint filed by the state Gaming Control Board last year, which accused the casino of associating with individuals involved in illegal bookmaking and those with a history of gambling-related felony convictions.

The fine, issued on Thursday, is the second-largest ever handed down by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which oversees disciplinary actions in the state. As part of the settlement agreement, Resorts World and its parent company neither admitted to nor denied the allegations. However, the casino has agreed to implement changes in its leadership and adopt stricter protocols to prevent money laundering.

The allegations primarily revolve around Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker who accepted thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer has pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Ana, California, to operating an illegal gambling business and is awaiting sentencing. The Nevada Gaming Control Board alleged that Resorts World allowed Bowyer to play on 80 separate days over approximately 15 months, repeatedly failing to verify his source of funding. During this period, Bowyer lost over $6.6 million, while the casino extended various gifts, discounts, and flights on its private jet to him.

The original complaint listed 12 counts against Resorts World, with six specifically related to Bowyer. These counts included failing to distance from suspected illegal bookmakers, failure of casino hosts to report suspected illegal bookings, and hosts referring prospective customers to suspected illegal bookmakers. Additional counts involved extending hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit to individuals with histories of illegal gambling convictions or organized crime, including one person convicted of running an illegal gambling business and another involved in a large-scale internet gambling operation.

The settlement highlights the stringent regulatory environment in Nevada, where casinos are held to high standards of compliance and transparency. The actions taken by Resorts World, including the extension of gifts and discounts to a known bookmaker, underscore the importance of robust internal controls and due diligence in the gaming industry. The casino's agreement to implement stricter protocols and leadership changes demonstrates a commitment to rectifying past mistakes and ensuring future compliance with regulatory standards.