Nevada Regulators Accuse Resorts World of Allowing Illegal Bookmakers to Gamble at Casino

Mathew Boyer (inset) pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal bookmaking charges that Nevada gaming regulators allege were assisted by Resorts World in Las Vegas. (Images: Barry King/Alamy, Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) filed a 31-page complaint on Thursday that accuses Resorts World Las Vegas and its affiliated companies of allowing illegal bookmakers and others with federal felony convictions to play at the casino.

According to the complaint, these gamblers were allowed to bet millions of dollars over the course of several months, creating the impression that Resorts World was a place where money could be laundered.

Bowyer Among Bettors Named in Complaint

Among the suspected or known felons who wagered at Resorts World was Mathew Bowyer, the bookmaker who infamously took millions in bets from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer recently pleaded guilty in federal court to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return. 

Media reports said that money stolen from Ohtani by Mizuhara was then forwarded to gambling accounts at brick-and-mortar casinos, including at Resorts World Las Vegas. 

Others mentioned in the complaint include Edwin Ting, who was convicted in federal court of conducting an illegal gambling business, Chad Iwamoto, who was convicted of transmission of wagering information, and at least one other individual suspected of being an illegal bookmaker. 

A separate NGCB complaint was filed against Nicole Bowyer, Mathew Bowyer’s wife. She was an independent agent under contract with Resorts World, and received payments that included her profiting from wagering done by her husband and his friends at the casino. The complaint alleges that she would have known that her husband’s funds came, at least in part, from illegal activities while being paid by the casino. The NCGB says she has failed to cooperate with its investigation.

“There exists an overall lack of control within Resorts World and acceptance among executives of a culture where information of suspicious or illegal activity is, at a minimum, negligently disregarded, or, at worst, willfully ignored for financial gain,” the complaint reads. 

Resorts World ‘Aware’ of NGCB Complaint 

The NCGB seeks undisclosed fines from Resorts World that would total millions of dollars. It also asks for action against the gaming licenses for the ownership and property operators of the casino.

Resorts World says that it knew of the complaint on Thursday.

“Resorts World Las Vegas is aware of the Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint,” the company said in an email to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We are committed to doing business with the utmost integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and industry guidelines. We have been actively communicating with the GCB to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members.”

Much of the alleged illegal gambling took place while Scott Sibella was still serving as president of Resorts World Las Vegas. Sibella was fired from that position in September 2023, and was sentenced to a year of probation in May on charges that he violated the Bank Secrecy Act while earlier employed at MGM Grand Las Vegas.