The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has filed a disciplinary complaint against Resorts World Las Vegas, LLC and its parent and subsidiary companies, namely Malaysian Genting Bhd. It accuses the company of failing to fulfill its obligations as the holder of a privileged gaming license from the State of Nevada by allowing persons with suspected or proven connections to illegal activities to gamble on the property.

In a statement dated August 15, 2024, the NGCB provided details of the 31-page complaint detailing how agents uncovered a lack of compliance at Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV). RWLV is alleged to have enabled a culture that welcomed “certain individuals with suspected or actual ties to the illegal bookmaking business, a history of convictions for federal offenses related to illegal gambling enterprises, and ties to organized crime.”

These individuals were allowed to place millions of dollars in bets at RWLV for many months because the company on the North Strip did not adhere to its anti-money laundering program.

“The culture within Resorts World has created the perception, or in some cases the reality, that Resorts World is a conduit for laundering funds from illegal activities,” the NGCB said. “The NGCB’s investigation found that there is an accepted culture among RWLV’s senior management of at least negligently ignoring information about suspicious or illegal activities, or at worst, willfully ignoring it for financial gain.”

The regulator added that RWLV’s actions or inactions had damaged the reputation of the State of Nevada and the Nevada gaming industry.

Additionally, several suspected or known felons who had wagered at RWLV were named. These include Mathew Bowyer, who pleaded guilty in federal court to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and signing a false tax return; Edwin Ting, who was found guilty in federal court of operating an illegal gambling business and is known to have ties to organized crime; and Chad Iwamoto, who was found guilty in federal court of leaking betting information and failing to file a monthly tax return for his wages.

A separate disciplinary complaint was also filed against Nicole Bowyer, the wife of Mathew Bowyer, who is contracted as an independent agent with RWLV. According to the NGCB, as an independent agent with RWLV, Ms. Bowyer was allowed to profit directly from her husband and his friends’ casino wagers on the premises and received payments from RWLV even though she “certainly knew that her husband’s source of funds came at least in part from illegal activities.”

It was also said that Ms Bowyer had not cooperated with the NGCB’s investigation.

“The Nevada Gaming Control Board is committed to protecting the State of Nevada, its citizens and visitors, and Nevada’s vital gaming industry,” said NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick.

“All suspected violations of Nevada gaming laws and regulations will be fully investigated and disciplinary action will be taken if necessary.”

The regulator said RWLV and related parties have rights under the Nevada Gaming Control Act, including time to respond to the allegations, request a hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission or reach an agreed settlement with the NGCB.

Former RWLV President and COO Scott Sibella was fired from the company in September 2023 for violating company policy. At the time, there was speculation that his departure may have been related to an NGCB investigation into the company’s relationship with convicted bookmaker David Stroj. RWLV had turned itself in when it learned that Stroj may have owned a stake in a restaurant on property run by Stroj’s father.

The restaurant was closed in 2022, while Sibella was cleared of any wrongdoing by the NGCB in February 2023.