The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, in a 4-1 vote, ordered a $7.8 million fine to Caesars Entertainment Inc. for allowing an illegal bookie to gamble on its properties.
Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey opposed the motion and wanted a higher fine assessed, saying it shouldn’t have taken seven years for Caesars to discover the error.
It was the third disciplinary action taken this year involving convicted illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer with a $10.5 million fine imposed on Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Berhad, in March and an $8.5 million fine against MGM Resorts International in April.
The $7.8 million fine was the fifth-highest against a Nevada licensee in history.
Payment of the fine resolves a five-count complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Nov. 13.
Caesars also agreed to strengthen its anti-money laundering controls at its eight Strip hotels as well as at its Reno properties and operated flagship casinos in California.
“We cooperated fully with the Nevada Gaming Control Board throughout its investigation and are committed to maintaining a strong anti-money laundering and ‘know your customer’ program,” Caesars said in a statement issued Nov. 14. “We take our responsibility for compliance seriously and are dedicated to continuously strengthening our practices to meet and exceed the highest standards.”
As part of the settlement, Caesars did not admit or deny any of the allegations in the state’s complaint.
According to the complaint, Bowyer, who began serving a one-year prison sentence in October, “bet and lost millions of dollars at Caesars affiliate properties” in Las Vegas, northern Nevada and California over the course of 100 separate days between 2017 and 2024.
As of June 2019, Bowyer was categorized as “high risk” by Caesars, but the casino operator “failed to substantiate Bowyer’s source of funds and/or that his source of funds was consistent with his level of play.”
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
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Top 10 gambling fines
These are the top 10 fines issued by the Nevada Gaming Commission
1. Wynn Resorts Ltd., $20 million, 2019.
2. Resorts World Las Vegas, $10.5 million, 2025.
3. Steve Wynn, $10 million, 2023.
4. MGM Resorts International, $8.5 million, 2025.
5. Caesars Entertainment, $7.8 million, 2025.
T6. CG Technology (then known as Cantor G&W Holdings), $5.5 million, 2014.
T6. Wynn Resorts Ltd., $5.5 million, 2025.
8. The Mirage, $5 million ($3 million fine, $2 million restitution payment), 2003.
9. Stardust, $3 million, 1985.
10. Santa Fe Station, $2.2 million ($1.5 million fine, $700,000 restitution payment), 2005.
