Venetian Agrees to $7.2M Settlement over Bowyer Case

LAS VEGAS: The Venetian has agreed to a proposed $7.2 million settlement with Nevada gaming regulators over failures tied to illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.

The case adds another major Strip operator to the regulatory fallout from Bowyer’s gambling activity and alleged anti-money laundering failures.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a four-count complaint against Venetian Las Vegas Gaming, LLC, doing business as The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. A stipulated settlement posted by regulators would require the resort operator to pay $7.2 million if approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Regulators Cite Source-of-Funds Failures

The complaint says Bowyer was a Venetian patron from about May 1999 until March 2024, when he was banned from the property. Regulators focused their review on activity from 2019 through 2024.

According to the complaint, Bowyer submitted a guest information form in 2019 stating that he was chief executive of Green Forever, a synthetic turf and grass business. He also reported annual income of $500,000 to $1 million, a net worth above $5 million and real estate valued at $3.2 million.

Regulators said The Venetian’s review found inconsistencies between Bowyer’s claims and information from other sources. The complaint said the resort’s review indicated Green Forever had annual sales of no more than about $94,000.

Despite those issues, Venetian officials concluded that Bowyer’s business and real estate holdings supported his upcoming trip, while noting that an updated source-of-wealth review would be conducted. Regulators said staff later continued to note concerns that Bowyer’s source of funds did not support his level of play.

Host Allegedly Knew Bowyer Was Bookmaker

The complaint says Venetian staff regularly documented suspicions involving Bowyer between 2019 and 2024. Regulators said those concerns included a lack of source-of-funds information and questions about whether his declared wealth supported his gambling activity.

On Oct. 13, 2023, Venetian officials noted that Bowyer was a person of interest in a Resorts World investigation and had been approached by law enforcement. The resort decided to stop booking Bowyer and his associates before formally banning him in March 2024.

Regulators also alleged that a Venetian casino host had actual knowledge that Bowyer was an illegal bookmaker and failed to comply with the resort’s anti-money laundering program.

Bowyer made about 30 trips to The Venetian from 2019 to 2021, according to the complaint. During that period, he made front-money deposits totaling about $22.3 million, wagered millions of dollars and lost at least $3.6 million to the resort.

Settlement Adds AML Conditions

The proposed settlement would require The Venetian to maintain its anti-money laundering policy, keep or increase AML compliance staffing levels for at least two years and review the policy at least annually. The resort’s vice president of compliance would also have to meet quarterly with at least one Gaming Control Board member to discuss compliance operations.

The Nevada Gaming Commission is expected to consider the settlement at a future hearing. If approved, the fine would add to a widening series of penalties tied to Bowyer’s activity at Las Vegas casinos.

With The Venetian settlement, Nevada casino fines linked to Bowyer would reach a combined $34 million. MGM Resorts International previously agreed to pay $8.5 million, Caesars Entertainment agreed to pay $7.8 million and Resorts World Las Vegas agreed to pay $10.5 million.

The Bowyer case had already reached Nevada’s exclusion process. In April, Nevada regulators added Mathew Bowyer to the Black Book, barring him from licensed gaming establishments in the state.

Bowyer pleaded guilty in federal court in 2024 to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return. His case drew international attention after federal authorities linked his illegal bookmaking operation to bets placed by Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani.

The Venetian complaint also highlights how the Bowyer case has become a wider compliance issue for Nevada gaming. Regulators have used the matter to emphasize source-of-funds reviews, internal reporting, host conduct and the need to put compliance obligations ahead of high-roller revenue.

For The Venetian, the settlement would close the disciplinary complaint if approved by the Commission. For Nevada regulators, it would mark another major penalty in a case that has reshaped scrutiny of casino anti-money laundering controls on the Las Vegas Strip.

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