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As Nevada regulators prepare tweaks to the state's gaming statutes, Genting has less than a week to officially respond to a multi-count complaint alleging the company and its Resorts World Las Vegas resort failed to comply with federal anti-money laundering laws.
Malaysia-based Genting Berhad noted in its third-quarter earnings report last week that the company had been granted until Monday (December 9) to file a formal response to the allegations, an extension which was confirmed Tuesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).
鈥淩esorts World Las Vegas requested, and the board agreed to, an extension of time in which it must file a response to the board鈥檚 complaint up to and including December 9, 2024,鈥 the NGCB said in a statement.
The NGCB鈥檚 12-count complaint, filed August 15, accused Resorts World Las Vegas of an 鈥渙verall lack of control鈥 when it came to money laundering. Regulators identified cases in which individuals with suspected or known ties to illegal gambling operations criminal records were allowed at the casino.
The complaint accused executives of a 鈥渃ulture where information of suspicious or illegal activity is, at a minimum, negligently disregarded, or, at the worst willfully ignored for financial gain given the overall pressure for Resorts World to generate revenue and that the bonuses 鈥 are directly tied to the financial success of Resorts World鈥.
The complaint centered on the activities of illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who was allowed to gamble millions of dollars at Resorts World even though the resort had not adequately established his source of funds.
Bowyer, who lost $7.9m gambling at Resorts World Las Vegas, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7 and faces up to ten years in prison for money laundering, up to five for illegal bookmaking and up to three years for filing a false tax return.
The NGCB issued a separate complaint against Nicole Bowyer, the wife of Mathew Bowyer. In April 2022, she entered into an 鈥渋ndependent agent鈥 or junket agreement with Resorts World and in June registered with the control board.
Also named in the NGCB complaint were Edwin Ting, who was convicted in federal court of conducting an illegal gambling operation and is known to have ties to organized crime, and Chad Iwamoto, a convicted felon and another suspected illegal bookmaker.
Most of the illegal activity involving Bowyer and others occurred while Scott Sibella was president of Resorts World. He was fired in September 2023 and pleaded guilty in May to one federal count of failing to file a suspicious activity report while he was president of MGM Grand.
Sibella was given probation and a $9,500 fine. The MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas were fined a combined $7.45m by the U.S. Department of Justice because of Sibella鈥檚 actions and the failures of its AML compliance programs.
The control board notes the complaint against Resorts World Las Vegas could result in sanctions, fines, and other consequences for the $4.3bn Las Vegas Strip resort that opened on June 24, 2021.
The NGCB requested the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) consider appointing a supervisor in case regulators revoke or suspend Resorts World鈥檚 nonrestricted gaming license. It is unclear when a settlement will be submitted for approval by gaming regulators.
Nevada Regulator鈥檚 Wish List For 2025 Session
With about two months before the Nevada legislature reconvenes in Carson City for the 2025 biennial session, two bills seeking to revise statutes governing gaming in the state have been filed by state gaming regulators.
Senate Bill 46聽(SB 46), which was introduced on behalf of the control board by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, seeks to revise certain statutory provisions governing investigative hearings and judicial review related to gaming licensing.
The bill would also amend state gaming regulations to make it illegal for anyone to lend, lease or otherwise deliver any 鈥済ambling game, including any slot machine鈥 for any percentage or share of money played without first being licensed in Nevada.
Also, any independent agent who conducts gaming tournaments or contests on behalf of or in conjunction with gaming licensee would first need to be found suitable by the five-member commission. SB 46 would further revise provisions that oversee the voluntary surrender of a gaming license and fines for certain violations relating to licensing.
Existing law () states that a voluntary surrender of a gaming license does not become effective until accepted under the regulations adopted by the commission. The bill instead would give the NGCB final say on when a voluntary surrender of a license is effective under regulations determined by the board chair.
In addition, Assembly Bill 58聽proposes to remove dice, playing cards and devices for weighing or counting money from the definition of 鈥渁ssociated equipment鈥 under Nevada law. The gaming reform bill also would revise how regulators grant administrative approval of casino games and repeal the term 鈥渃ash access and wagering instrument service provider鈥 from gaming regulations.
Currently, if a licensee in Nevada wants to offer a new game they must receive approval from the NGCB and the NGC under regulations that have been established by the commission. The bill instead would enable the chair of the control board to administratively approve the new game under regulations adopted by the commission governing the approvals.聽
The Nevada Legislature is scheduled to convene for its 120-day session on February 3.
