Nevada strips former MGM, Resorts World executive of gaming license

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday revoked the gaming license of Scott Sibella, a former top executive at MGM Grand and Resorts World Las Vegas, following federal and state investigations into violations of anti-money-laundering (AML) laws.  

The unanimous 3-0 vote prohibits Sibella, 62, from reapplying for a license until 2028 and includes a $10,000 fine. License revocations are uncommon, with only 15 cases recorded between 1989 and 2021, according to regulatory records, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.   

Sibella pleaded guilty in January 2024 to failing to file suspicious activity reports during his time at MGM Grand, a violation of federal laws designed to combat illegal bookmaking and money laundering. He was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $9,500, in addition to a $100 special assessment.  

During Thursday's commission hearing, Sibella shifted the blame to others, noting that to his knowledge there aren’t any resort presidents who file suspicious activity reports. Instead, Sibella said, they’re traditionally done by compliance officers. 

According to Sibella, federal authorities investigated him to make an example of him and “wanted to send a message, loud and clear,” that the failure of casinos and their executives to comply with anti-money-laundering laws would not be tolerated.

Commissioner George Markantonis emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, especially at the executive level. “Nevada’s compliance standards are not negotiable,” he said, adding that compliance officers at MGM had "let (Sibella) down.”  

Fellow Commissioner Brian Krolicki echoed the sentiment, noting that the case serves as a warning to the gaming industry. He said he felt the best way forward was to approve the settlement as presented.
 
The revocation comes as Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Berhad, face a 12-count complaint from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The complaint alleges that Resorts World allowed individuals with ties to illegal bookmaking and felony convictions to gamble on its premises. Potential penalties include a $3 million fine or license revocation.  

This follows penalties imposed on MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, which paid $7.45 million in fines earlier this year under a non-prosecution agreement for similar money-laundering violations.  
 
Sibella, who began his career in hospitality and rose to prominence in the Las Vegas gaming industry, described the past two years as devastating. “Where I was once celebrated, I am now a pariah,” he said. “I have caused my family to suffer, and I am pained by the knowledge that I have to leave the industry that I love.”