Illegal Bookmaker Mathew Bowyer Nominated to Nevada’s Black Book
Nevada regulators have moved to add a convicted illegal bookmaker to the state’s List of Excluded Persons.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday voted to nominate Mathew Bowyer for placement on the state’s List of Excluded Persons, commonly called the "black book", which bars listed individuals from entering Nevada casinos. The board’s action follows Bowyer’s federal convictions for operating an illegal gambling enterprise, money laundering and filing a false tax return. The list currently includes 37 people.
Bowyer is serving a sentence at the federal prison in Lompoc, California, after receiving a 12-month-and-one-day term imposed by U.S. District Judge John Holcomb. A deputy attorney general told the board Bowyer is scheduled for release on Aug. 16. Under Nevada regulations, nominated individuals may request a hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission, which has final authority to accept or reject the Control Board’s nomination.
Prosecutors say Bowyer ran a substantial sports-betting operation that accepted wagers from roughly 700 gamblers, including Ippei Mizuhara, the former translator and de facto manager for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara earlier pleaded guilty to separate federal charges and was sentenced to four years in prison in a case that involved the alleged theft of approximately $17 million from Ohtani.
Bowyer pleaded guilty in 2023. He received what federal authorities called a reduced sentence in part because he had no prior criminal record, paid more than $1.6 million in restitution and cooperated with investigators, providing evidence that led to further prosecutions of others involved in illegal wagering networks.
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The nomination comes as Nevada continues an intensified campaign against illegal gambling and associated money-laundering risks in its casinos. Bowyer’s name surfaced in three high-profile disciplinary actions in 2025 that resulted in combined fines of $26.8 million: a $10.5 million penalty assessed to Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent Genting Berhad, an $8.5 million fine against MGM Resorts International, and a $7.8 million sanction levied on Caesars Entertainment. Regulators cited failures in anti-money-laundering controls and patron screening in those actions, and Bowyer’s activities were referenced during the proceedings.
This is the second exclusion nomination in as many months by the Control Board; in December it nominated Wayne Nix, a former minor-league baseball player who pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return. The last person the Nevada Gaming Commission formally added to the list was Neal Ahmad Hearne in April 2024.
Industry observers say the board’s move signals a continued willingness by Nevada officials to tie criminal enforcement outcomes to casino licensing and discipline.
"Adding individuals who have been convicted of running illegal wagering rings to Nevada’s exclusion list serves both a symbolic and practical purpose", said a former federal prosecutor who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "Symbolically, it underscores Nevada’s intolerance for schemes that try to hide criminal proceeds in legitimate gaming venues. Practically, it reduces the chance that those operators can reinsert themselves into Nevada’s regulated market and exploit casino infrastructure to launder money."
Another compliance specialist, an industry consultant with two decades of experience in casino risk management, added: "Casinos are on notice – regulators are scrutinizing not only the bettors and the operators themselves but also the systems that allow illicit funds to flow through gaming properties. Operators should expect ongoing audits and potential enforcement if their anti-money-laundering safeguards are deemed inadequate."
What Happens Next in Nevada’s Process
After the Control Board’s nomination, the Nevada Gaming Commission must schedule a vote to determine whether Bowyer will be formally excluded. Regulatory rules permit Bowyer to request a hearing in which he can contest the grounds for exclusion. If the commission approves the nomination, Bowyer would join the state’s List of Excluded Persons and be barred from Nevada gaming floors even after his federal sentence ends.
The case underscores the overlap between federal criminal prosecutions and state gaming regulation in Nevada. Regulators and industry officials say they will continue coordinated enforcement targeting the intersection of illegal sports betting and money laundering, while casinos work to shore up compliance programs.
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