Resorts World Las Vegas fined $10.5 million for compliance failures and ties to illegal bookmakers

Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Berhad, have agreed to pay a $10.5 million fine following a Nevada Gaming Commission ruling over compliance failures tied to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The financial penalty is the second-largest ever imposed by state gaming regulators, trailing only the $20 million fine levied against Wynn Resorts in 2019.

The fine was issued Thursday following a months-long investigation stemming from a 2024 complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). The complaint originally cited 12 counts of regulatory violations, later amended to 10, centered on Resorts World’s failure to enforce AML protocols and its tolerance of high-stakes gambling by individuals with criminal backgrounds.

Among the key figures named in the complaint were Southern California illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and Damien Leforbes. Bowyer, who pleaded guilty to federal charges last year, reportedly gambled nearly $8 million at Resorts World over a 20-month period without proper source-of-funds checks.

Bowyer’s wife, Nicole, worked at the casino as a registered independent agent, profiting directly from his wagering activity, a violation still under separate regulatory scrutiny.

Resorts World has not admitted or denied the allegations, as stipulated in the settlement agreement. However, the company is required to implement sweeping reforms, including retaining AML documents for five years, providing mandatory training for all independent agents within 60 days, and maintaining or increasing current staffing levels dedicated to AML compliance.

Additionally, the company must report any notices of criminal investigations to Nevada regulators and submit to future audits. Speaking on behalf of the state, Chief Deputy Attorney General Darlene Caruso described the allegations as “particularly egregious.”

The commission approved the settlement with conditions tied to Resorts World’s license. If internal audits in the next two years are deemed insufficient, an external audit will be mandated.

The NGCB investigation spotlighted the tenure of former Resorts World President Scott Sibella, who led the property from 2019 until his departure in September 2023. Sibella pleaded guilty earlier this year to failing to report suspicious transactions during his previous role at MGM Grand.

Nevada regulators revoked his gaming license in December and fined him $10,000, barring him from re-entering the state’s gaming industry for five years. While the complaint against Sibella focused on his MGM tenure, the settlement also resolved any accountability for his time at Resorts World.

In the lead-up to Thursday’s hearing, Resorts World confirmed the layoff of fewer than 50 full-time employees as part of what it called efforts to “optimize efficiency.” The company emphasized that its AML team was not affected and outlined plans to become "an industry leader" in compliance practices.

The regulatory action has also triggered a leadership overhaul. Genting formed a new board of directors in December 2024 to oversee the Las Vegas operation, including former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren; former Nevada Governor and Gaming Commission Chair Brian Sandoval; former Gaming Control Board chairman A.G. Burnett; former MGM and Caesars executive Michelle DiTondo; and Genting’s president and CEO Kong Han Tan. Moreover, a new CEO, Alex Dixon, was appointed in January 2025 to steer the resort into a new phase of accountability.

During the public meeting, high-stakes gambler and social media figure Robert “R.J.” Cipriani, also known as Robin Hood 702, testified about his role in drawing federal attention to the resort’s activities. Cipriani’s lawsuit against Resorts World and Sibella, alleging harassment and retaliation for whistleblowing, was dismissed in 2024. He is currently appealing the decision.

Despite Cipriani’s plea for a stiffer penalty, the $10.5 million fine was finalized and must be paid within two days. Commissioner Abbi Silver recused herself due to a longstanding friendship with Sibella, while other commissioners voiced concern that the penalty may have been too lenient given the scope of violations.

Commissioner Brian Krolicki emphasized the broader implications of the decision. “This is a clarion call up and down that street,” he said, referencing the Las Vegas Strip. “AML, compliance, audit, all of these things we talk about all the time, we really mean it.”