Resorts World Las Vegas facing millions in fines for violating anti-money laundering laws

Nevada’s gaming industry has been rocked by a 12-count disciplinary complaint against Resorts World Las Vegas, with regulators alleging serious violations of federal anti-money laundering laws.

The complaint, filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, accuses the resort and its Malaysian parent company, Genting Berhad, of permitting illegal bookmakers to gamble millions of dollars at the property, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of the state’s gaming industry.

The complaint centers on the activities of Mathew Bowyer, a known illegal bookmaker who frequented Resorts World between July 2022 and October 2023. Bowyer–who recently pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return–allegedly lost over $6.6 million at the casino during 80 separate visits. Despite his suspicious activities, Resorts World failed to take action, raising concerns about possible money laundering.

The regulatory filing also implicates other individuals with ties to illegal gambling, including Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto, both of whom have prior convictions related to illegal betting activities. Investigators assert that the resort’s executives either negligently disregarded or willfully ignored suspicious activities, fostering a culture that facilitated illegal gambling and money laundering.

Regulators allege that the resort’s executives were under pressure to generate revenue, with their bonuses tied to the casino’s financial performance, which may have led them to turn a blind eye to illicit activities.

“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, worst, wilfully ignored for financial gain,” the complaint states.

The disciplinary action also touches on the broader impact of these alleged failures, stating that Resorts World’s negligence has damaged the reputation of Nevada’s gaming industry. The Nevada Gaming Control Board is seeking multi-million dollar fines and potential action against the gaming licenses of both the resort and its operators.

In response, a spokesperson for Resorts World sent a statement to News 3 which disclosed: “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 Gaming Control Board to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members.”

The case has also drawn attention to the involvement of Bowyer’s wife, Nicole, a registered independent agent with Resorts World. Regulators allege that she directly profited from her husband’s gambling activities and refused to cooperate with the investigation. The Board is seeking fines against Nicole Bowyer and potential action against her registration.

As the case unfolds, the Nevada Gaming Commission will decide on the penalties, which could include substantial fines and further sanctions against Resorts World’s gaming license.

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