Report Suggests Vegas Casino Employees Paid Away Gaming Debts, Misused Customer Information
Authorities are keeping quiet about a newly released report stating that federal agents are examining possible misconduct among workers at several Las Vegas hotels.
Workers are said to have used casino resources to pay off gambling debts, as well as inappropriately shared player data, reports the Nevada Current.
The report names Resorts World Las Vegas President Scott Sibella, MGM Resorts, and gambler Wayne Nix as individuals under investigation.
Contact with NGCB
The Current alleges that federal investigators questioning the accusations spoke to former Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) employees regarding Sibella, who previously held the position of president at MGM Grand.
A Nevada state worker told the Current that MGM Resorts employees used complimentary offers and promotional gaming chips (usually given to high-stakes players) to cover personal debts owed to Nix and an illegal sports betting operation where he was a co-owner.
Additionally, the federal investigation is investigating whether hotel staff provided client information to the operation.
The report also mentions unlawful practices where casino employees pressured customers to make wagers through an illicit ring linked to professional athletes, resulting in kickbacks.
These illegal practices have reportedly been happening for many years, a confidential source told the Current.
The agents conducting the investigation are part of Homeland Security and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
No charges have been filed yet, and the Current could not verify the allegations.
Spokespeople for Resorts World and MGM Resorts did not respond when asked about the claims.
One US Justice Department spokesman, Thom Mrozek, based in Los Angeles, stated, “I have no comment on the piece."
Notable Convictions
In 2022, Nix admitted guilt to conspiring to operate a betting operation without a license and filing false tax returns. He awaits sentencing in March of next year.
Nix allegedly failed to declare $1.5 million in income, according to authorities.
Also in 2022, William Eric Fulton, age 59 from Agoura Hills, California, pleaded guilty to making false claims. He provided accounting services to Nix.
Fulton is additionally accused of laundering Nix's prohibited gambling funds. The sentencing for this offense is scheduled for November 29th.
Previous Clearance of Sibella
Earlier, the NGCB deemed Sibella not guilty of misconduct based on accusations from Brandon Sattler. Sattler asserted that Sibella knew about a convicted gambler possessing a restaurant stake at Resorts World.
The convict, David Stroj, claimed his father owned Tacos El Cabron, a small restaurant on the Resorts World grounds.
Under Nevada gaming laws, restricted individuals cannot hold more than a 5% share in establishments with non-restricted gaming permits like Resorts World.
Specifically, David Stroj stated his father, Peter, owned the whole restaurant. However, Stroj was found guilty in 2018 for involvement in an illegal sports betting network. The network generated around $10 million in proceeds and funneled funds through Las Vegas casinos (including the Wynn and Bellagio) to launder their profits.
After serving a plea deal and being sentenced to three years of supervised release, Stroj was barred from most Las Vegas Strip casinos.
Sattler also asserted that he and Sibella partied, used drugs, and may have had group sex with multiple women at once.
However, these accusations of misconduct were deemed unfounded.
NGCB member George Assad publicly declared in February that, "after a comprehensive investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the allegations by Brandon Sattler against Resorts World and its president, Scott Sibella, were deemed unsubstantiated."
Prior to this, in a 2022 statement, Resorts World described Sattler's allegations as "maliciously false and unfounded."
In May of 2022, Taco Joint El Cabron closed shop. Resorts World opened its doors for business in 2021.
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Source: www.casino.org
