Nevada regulators join Las Vegas money laundering probe as network expands
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has become involved in a sweeping investigation into the possible laundering of illegal gambling proceeds at Las Vegas casinos, Nevada Now reports.
Gambling regulators are a little late to the party. Last year, the board dropped charges that former Resorts World president Scott Sibella had ties to convicted illegal bookmaker Dave "Fat" Stroj.
Stroy became interested in a taco restaurant at Resorts World and gambled at casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere, violating the terms of the supervised opt-out.
Eggs on the face
Six months later, the board was alarmed when federal authorities subpoenaed Resorts World and demanded records of cash and wire transactions. Resorts World fired Sibela soon after, citing violations of company policy.
In January, Sibella pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. That's because he failed to report another bookmaker, Wayne Nix, paid $120,000 in cash at the MGM Grand in 2018, when Sibella was the casino's president.
Sibella admitted that he knew about Knicks' profession and deliberately did not ask about the source of the funds, which would have prevented him from gambling.
Sibela is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Nix, a former minor league baseball pitcher who offered illegal bets to professional players in a variety of sports, has pleaded guilty to illegal gambling and is awaiting sentencing.
MGM and Mets reached an agreement with federal agents not to prosecute Knicks for gambling and paid a $7.45 million settlement. Resorts World has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Otani Translation Scandal
Now, the investigation has expanded to include other illegal bookmakers and whether money was laundered at Las Vegas casinos. Multiple gaming industry sources told The Current that the NGCB has contacted them as part of the investigation and is apparently assisting federal agents in the investigation.
The investigation focuses on Matt Bowyer, an alleged Las Vegas gambler and gambler who received $16 million from the bank account of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
The money was allegedly transferred by Datani's translator, Suwon Ippei, who faced huge gambling debts and was charged with bank fraud.
Suwon began gambling with Bowyer in September 2021 and placed approximately 19,000 bets between December 2021 and January 2024, according to prosecutors.
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Source: www.casino.org
