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Is there something in the water in Las Vegas? We are now on casino number three that’s been fined for turning a blind eye to illegal gambling.
It’s a little puzzling that this is all going on. Either it’s always been a thing and it’s just now being disciplined… or casinos are getting desperate in Las Vegas and taking money from sketchy forces.
The latter case would line up with recent trends. Las Vegas betting numbers are down — in revenue and profits, but also in traffic. It’s being said that international travelers, in particular, are souring on the United States and visiting much less. We don’t know for sure that’s the reason, but something has to explain why this is becoming such a problem inside the Nevada betting industry. Here’s the latest shoe to drop:
Wynn Fined A Whopping $5.5 Million
If you’ve been on the Las Vegas Strip, then you’re surely familiar with the Wynn. It’s one of the most luxurious properties on Las Vegas Boulevard, and just screams elegance. But after this news story, there’s a stain on the name.
Earlier this month, the Nevada Gaming Commission hit Wynn with a $5.5 million fine to settle a complaint tied to the company’s use of unlicensed money transmitters. According to regulators, the improper activity was part of a scheme to recruit high-stakes gamblers and bypass compliance procedures.
Regulators made clear the violation was not technically money laundering, but warned that the conduct carried all the hallmarks of it. “It has serious money laundering implications,” said Commissioner George Markantonis.
Several employees involved in the scene were let go. However, that doesn’t mean they’re cut off from the industry forever. In fact, that remained Markantonis’ biggest worry going forward: “they’re like invasive fish species,” he said. “They’ll pop up at other casinos and resorts going forward.”
The penalty follows a separate $130 million forfeiture Wynn agreed to last year in a federal nonprosecution agreement — a resolution tied to the same underlying misconduct. It’s been a year-long problem, not a one-off incident. But of course, Wynn had to put a PR spin on the whole fiasco in their own statement:
“The improper actions that are the subject of the settlement… were undertaken by individuals with whom we severed ties years ago,” the company said. “We accept responsibility for those actions and are now glad the matter will soon be fully resolved.”
Was It Actually Money Laundering?
You’re probably wondering, well, what exactly did the Wynn do wrong? Let’s return to the September settlement since there are more details out for it, and it ended up as one of the mostly costly fines levied by federal prosecutors against a casino.
At a high level, Wynn was using a shadowy network of third-party agents to move money across international borders. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, these unlicensed middlemen helped foreign high rollers funnel cash into Wynn Las Vegas without triggering financial reporting laws.
Here’s how it worked: independent agents, operating outside of licensed financial channels, moved client funds through a cobweb of companies and accounts in Latin America before landing the money in a Wynn-controlled bank account in California. From there, it was deposited into the casino’s cage and ultimately credited to each gambler’s personal account at Wynn. Obviously, the setup allowed international gamblers to completely sidestep both U.S. and foreign money transfer regulations.
Third Times A Charm?
As mentioned, Wynn isn’t the first casino to end up in hot water with regulators. This now marks the third time in as many months that a major Las Vegas Strip casino has been hit with millions in penalties by the state.
In March, Resorts World Las Vegas was fined $10.5 million over money laundering concerns. We’ve written about that case extensively, but it tied back to the Shohei Ohtani story, where his translator was illegally betting in California with stolen money. The illegal bookie that was being used was essentially washing his money using Resorts World. The month after that fine came down, it was MGM Resorts’ turn, as they got slapped with an $8.5 million fine for similar violations.
It’s becoming clear: state (and federal) regulators are saying no more. While the Nevada Gaming Control Board won’t confirm or deny any active investigations, it’s no secret that more Strip properties may soon be caught in the crosshairs.
Going back to the Resorts World case, which made international headlines because of the Ohtani tie-in. The issue isn’t resolved, but it’s playing out in public. Earlier this year, the Gaming Commission sent the case of Nicole Bowyer — the wife of an illegal bookmaker and a former independent agent who earned commissions for recruiting high-roller play at the resort — back to the Control Board, arguing that a five-year suspension of her agent license wasn’t enough. They openly discussed a steeper penalty — including a possible fine and even a lifetime ban from Nevada’s gaming industry.
Bowyer could end up as an example for others — a warning of what happens when you cross the line. If the punishment is severe enough, it will send a clear message to anyone else thinking about doing the same: this kind of behavior comes with serious consequences now.
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