Scott Sibella, President of Resorts World Las Vegas, Is Removed from Position
In a major upheaval, Scott Sibella has been let go as president and COO of Resorts World following claims of going against the firm's rules, according to a statement released by the Las Vegas Strip casino complex on September 15.
Former senior vice president and CFO of Resorts World, Peter LaVoie, is taking over as the new CEO. However, it's uncertain whether this is a temporary or long-term position for him.
The statement comes following The Nevada Current's exposure six weeks ago that law enforcement authorities were investigating an underground gambling cartel.staff and former employees of Las Vegas hotel resorts allegedly provided confidential data and used these resorts to pay off their personal debts.
A nameless state official told the Current that investigators are probing Sibella's involvement in this cartel when he was MGM Grand's president and COO from 2010 to 2019.
A one-time minor league baseball player, Wayne Nix, spearheaded the cartel. In April 2022, Nix admitted to running it and to not declaring $1.4 million in earnings from it in 2017 and 2018. He consented to repaying $1.25 million in overdue taxes and interest plus forfeiting $1.3 million seized from his bank account. Nix also faces a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.
Court documents reveal that Nix's cartel ran for almost two decades, with former professional athletes working as bookies and a clientele including active NFL and MLB players.
The Unannounced News
"Resorts World Las Vegas has announced today that Scott Sibella has parted ways with the company, effective immediately," Resorts World's statement to the public revealed. "This decision was made due to Mr. Sibella violating company policies and the terms of his employment."
Announcements about personnel departures are extremely rare in the hospitality business, where press releases usually pertain to new hires, promotions, or other positive news that is likely to be perceived favorably by investors.
Final Straw
In a separate inquiry this year, the Nevada Gaming Control Board exonerated Sibella of any misconduct, examining whether a convicted illegal bookmaker held an interest in the Resorts World eatery Tacos El Cabron.
Gaming laws in Nevada bar casinos from engaging in any transactions with individuals convicted of gambling-related crimes.
The Board deemed the allegations unsupported. But the Genting Group, the Malaysian conglomerate that owns Resorts World, must not have been too pleased by these accusations given that they surfaced in the first place.
Genting had hired Sibella as Resorts World president in 2019. Highly respected in the sector, he helped steer the incomplete $4.3 billion venture to completion within two years.
Before overseeing the MGM Grand, Sibella was also the president of The Mirage. Prior to that, he was an administrator at Treasure Island, Tropicana, and the Golden Nugget.
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