UPDATE: The Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) on Thursday voted 4-0 to accept the $8.5 million proposed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and accepted by MGM Resorts for its role in permitting illegal bookmakers to gamble at the MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan. Last Friday, it addressed the matter by issuing the following statement: “MGM Resorts takes its compliance responsibilities seriously and cooperated fully with the Nevada Gaming Control Board to resolve this matter. The company has made substantial investments to build one of the industry’s strongest anti-money laundering programs — driven by executive leadership and supported by rigorous training and internal controls. We’ve taken additional steps to strengthen safeguards, increase accountability, and reaffirm our commitment to doing what’s right for regulators, guests, and stakeholders.” EARLIER: MGM Resorts International agreed Thursday to pay Nevada regulators a fine of $8.5 million to settle the latest money-laundering complaint involving former MGM Grand president and COO Scott Sibella.
The 10-count complaint, submitted on Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), claimed that Sibella permitted illegal bookmakers to wager millions and settle debts in unreported cash at the MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan, breaching the Bank Secrecy Act in 2018.
As reported by the Nevada Independent, which first revealed the story on Friday morning, nine out of the 10 charges in the NGCB's most recent complaint pertained to gambling activities involving convicted illegal bookmaker and ex-minor-league baseball player Wayne Nix. The 10th discussed gambling involving another convicted illegal bookmaker, Matthew Boyer.
“The complaint’s allegations center on the actions and failures of [MGM Resorts’] employees in relation to Mr. Nix and Mr. Boyer, as well as deficiencies within [MGM Resorts’] anti-money laundering program,” NGCB chair Kirk Hendrick wrote in a press release posted to X on Friday morning. “The proposed settlement also details numerous remedial measures implemented at [MGM Resorts] and its subsidiary gaming properties.
“The majority of the conditions and recommendations focus on enhancements to [MGM Resorts’s anti-money laundering program] as well as additional training and awareness of [anti-money laundering] requirements.”
Distinct Activities
In a different arrangement with federal prosecutors last year, MGM Resorts consented to pay a total of $7.45 million in penalties for those identical violations.
Last month, Resorts World consented to a $10.5 million penalty — the second highest in Nevada's history — to resolve money-laundering allegations initiated by the NGCB related to comparable gambling activities by Boyer and another unlawful bookmaker, Damien LeForbes, while Sibella was president there in 2022 and 2023.
Sibella was terminated by Resorts World in September 2023 and had his gaming license revoked for five years last December. Last year, he admitted guilt in federal court for breaching the Bank Secrecy Act. He evaded incarceration but was given a year of probation and a $9,500 penalty.
Even if the Nevada Gaming Commission approves the agreement during its meeting next week, this might not conclude the significant blemish that this scandal has cast on Las Vegas’ reputation over the last two years.
This is due to the NGCB stating that it retains the authority to seek additional disciplinary measures if federal agencies take action against Resorts World as they did with MGM Resorts.