LAS VEGAS — Resorts World Las Vegas has been hit with a record-shaking $10.5 million fine, the second-largest gaming penalty in Nevada history, after state regulators concluded the Strip property allowed gamblers tied to illegal bookmaking, federal felony convictions, and suspicious financial activity to wager millions without being properly vetted.
The fine, approved in a unanimous vote by the Nevada Gaming Commission on March 27, marks the culmination of a 10-count disciplinary complaint accusing Resorts World of failing to enforce basic anti-money-laundering controls, overlooking red flags about a suspected illegal bookmaker, and enabling casino hosts to develop improper relationships with questionable patrons.
It comes as Nevada regulators launch their most aggressive compliance crackdown in more than a decade — a campaign that has now ensnared Resorts World, Caesars Entertainment, and, earlier, MGM Resorts International, in cases all linked to the same central figure: illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.
Regulators: Resorts World Ignored Red Flags for More Than a Year
According to the amended complaint, Resorts World allowed Bowyer — identified in federal proceedings as an illegal bookmaker — to gamble freely at the property for approximately 15 months, wagering and losing millions of dollars on about 80 different days. Regulators say the casino failed to verify his source of funds, even as internal staff observed behavior consistent with large-scale bookmaking.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board alleged that:
- Casino hosts failed to escalate or document multiple red flags tied to Bowyer’s activity.
- At least one host referred other gamblers to suspected bookmakers.
- Resorts World repeatedly failed to perform source-of-funds reviews required under Nevada gaming law.
- The casino operated with “unsuitable methods” in violation of state regulations intended to prevent money laundering and organized criminal activity.
Although Resorts World did not admit wrongdoing, the property agreed to pay the full $10.5 million and submit to enhanced compliance oversight, calling the settlement “an opportunity to reset internal controls and move forward.”
One commissioner called the decision a “clarion call” to the entire Strip, emphasizing that large-volume gamblers cannot bypass verification simply because they generate significant play.
Caesars Slapped With $7.8M Fine Following Seven-Year Lapse
Just days before Nevada finalized the settlement with Resorts World, state regulators also approved a $7.8 million fine against Caesars Entertainment — another case centered on Bowyer’s years of wagering.
According to regulatory filings, Bowyer gambled at multiple Caesars properties between 2017 and 2024, betting millions through VIP departments despite repeated warnings, including:
- An anonymous tip alerting compliance officials that Bowyer was allegedly an illegal bookmaker.
- Internal reports documenting unusual betting patterns and large cash transactions.
- Multiple instances in which Bowyer’s level of gambling appeared to exceed his documented income.
Caesars CEO Tom Reeg appeared before regulators and apologized, saying, “We didn’t catch Bowyer, and we should have. There is no customer that’s worth illegitimate profits.”
One commissioner expressed frustration that it took the company seven years to identify and address the problem.
The commission approved the Caesars settlement in a 4–1 vote, with one member arguing the fine should have been higher.
How MGM Fits Into the Expanding Crackdown
Before the penalties against Resorts World and Caesars, MGM Resorts International faced its own multimillion-dollar enforcement action related to weak anti-money-laundering controls and alleged illegal bookmaking activity. While the MGM case did not specifically name Bowyer, regulators and industry analysts now place all three actions within a single pattern of VIP-driven compliance failures across major casino operators.
Regulators have made clear that the state’s expectation is now much higher:
- More aggressive source-of-funds verification
- Stronger VIP host oversight
- Mandatory documentation of suspicious activity
- Increased compliance training
- Immediate escalation of suspected illegal bookmaking
In the wake of the Resorts World case, one commissioner warned that “there are no high rollers big enough to justify cutting corners.”
Who Is Mathew Bowyer?
Bowyer became widely known after federal authorities linked him to the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Court documents describe Bowyer as a long-running illegal bookmaker who handled millions in offshore wagers.
His connections to high-profile bettors, celebrities, and Strip casinos led regulators to reevaluate the entire industry’s approach to VIP gamblers, sports betting intermediaries, and unlicensed bookmaking operations.
Bowyer has not been charged in connection with the Ohtani case, but federal investigations and state disciplinary actions have placed him at the center of one of the most far-reaching compliance scandals in modern Nevada gaming history.
Why These Fines Matter for the Entire Casino Industry
With the two largest operators on the Strip — Caesars and MGM — already under scrutiny, the record-setting action against Resorts World signals a broad shift in Nevada’s regulatory posture.
Experts say the message is clear:
- Casinos must treat VIPs like every other customer when it comes to AML rules.
- Hosts and marketing teams cannot operate independently from compliance departments.
- Multi-million-dollar losses alone do not exempt a gambler from verification.
- Source-of-funds checks must be documented, repeatable, and independently reviewed.
- Suspected illegal bookmakers must be immediately barred, not courted.
The enforcement wave comes as the Strip continues to navigate record tourism levels, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and skyrocketing high-roller traffic — all factors that increase compliance risk.
A Pivotal Moment for Las Vegas Gaming
The three cases together amount to one of the most significant gaming-compliance crackdowns in Nevada in more than 20 years. Regulators say additional investigations are ongoing and that more disciplinary actions could follow.
For now, Resorts World bears the biggest hit — a $10.5 million fine, public scrutiny, and a mandate to rebuild its internal controls from the ground up.
But the true impact may be much larger: a permanent shift in how Las Vegas casinos handle VIP gamblers, illegal bookmaking threats, and the integrity of gaming operations across the Strip.
