The current operators of The Venetian hotel-casino will pay a $7.2 million fine to Nevada gaming regulators over illegal gambling activities tied to convicted bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, bringing total penalties tied to the felon to $34 million against four Strip operators.
According to a four-count complaint and pending stipulated settlement released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the alleged violations largely occurred between 2019 and 2021. Bowyer made approximately 30 trips to The Venetian during the three-year span and deposited more than $22.3 million, “wagered millions of dollars” and lost “at least $3.6 million” to the casino, according to the June 11 complaint posted on the regulators’ website on June 25.
State investigators found that a casino host at the property had knowledge that Bowyer was an illegal bookie as early as “sometime in 2019 or early 2020,” yet did not report that information as required under the casino licensee’s anti-money laundering program. During that time period, the casino also failed to properly verify Bowyer’s source of funds or how it supported his level of play.
Bowyer was banned from The Venetian in March 2024, not long after an October 2023 federal raid on his Orange County, Calif., home, which led to media reports of his involvement with an illegal bookmaking operation and his ties to multiple Las Vegas casinos.
“The Venetian’s failure to timely ban Bowyer violated and/or undermined the Venetian’s AML program, resulting in the Venetian’s failure to prevent the possible laundering of money derived from an illegal bookmaking business,” the complaint stated.
The Control Board counts against The Venetian are failure to establish Bowyer’s source of funds, failure to ban Bowyer, failure of casino host to report illegal bookmaker and failure to conduct an investigation.
Bowyer’s $34M mark on Strip casinos
Should the settlement be approved, Bowyer’s activity at Las Vegas Strip casinos would have a collective $34 million impact. Bowyer has been connected to three previous disciplinary actions against Las Vegas casinos resulting in state fines of $10.5 million assessed to Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Berhad, an $8.5 million fine against MGM Resorts International and a $7.8 million fine against Caesars Entertainment Inc.
In August 2024, Bowyer pleaded guilty to federal charges of running an illegal gambling business, filing false tax returns and money laundering. In August 2025, he was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and surrendered to federal authorities two months later. He was released in March.
Among Bowyer’s many clients was Ippei Mizuhara, the former Japanese translator for MLB player Shohei Ohtani who was sentenced to four years in prison in February for stealing an estimated $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar.
In April, Bowyer was added to the List of Excluded Persons, or, as it’s more commonly known, Nevada’s “Black Book,” barring him from ever again entering a casino in the state.
Ownership changes
Apollo Global Management and Vici Properties acquired The Venetian, Palazzo and the Venetian Expo from Las Vegas Sands Corp. in a $6.25 billion deal that closed in 2022. Apollo operates the resort, while Vici owns the real estate.
The complaint states that “the current owners of the Venetian … assumed all liabilities relevant to this matter relating to the business” when it purchased the resort and its operations from Las Vegas Sands. Successor liability is common in regulated industries, including casino gaming. Venetian CEO and President Patrick Nichols signed the stipulation of settlement.
An attorney representing the casino resort did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Las Vegas Sands Corp. declined to comment.
The Nevada Gaming Commission will consider approving the settlement at an upcoming meeting. The Gaming Commission next meets on July 23 in Carson City and Aug. 20 in Las Vegas.
The Review-Journal is owned by the Adelson family, including Dr. Miriam Adelson, majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Patrick Dumont.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
Convicted bookmaker Mathew Bowyer’s illegal gambling activities at Strip casinos has led to three other fines levied against operators:
Resorts World Las Vegas and parent company Genting Berhad – $10.5 million
MGM Resorts International – $8.5 million
Caesars Entertainment Inc. – $7.8 million
