The Nevada Gaming Commission fined Venetian Las Vegas $7.2 million over three years of play by convicted illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, whose activity at the property ran largely from 2019 to 2021. He put more than $22.3 million through the cage and lost at least $3.6 million. The penalty is the sixth-largest in the history of Nevada gaming regulation.
Commissioners approved the settlement against Venetian Las Vegas Gaming LLC, doing business as The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, by a 3-0 vote. The casino's host knew Bowyer was taking illegal bets — Bowyer told him so — and never passed that on to compliance. By 2019 the property already had questions about where his money came from, and the anti-money-laundering programme did not catch it. Bowyer had been a patron since 1999. The permanent ban came only on 11 March 2024.
Brian Krolicki, a veteran of the commission, called the case shameful for Nevada's industry and warned that a repeat would draw harsher consequences.
Most of Bowyer's play came before Apollo Global Management bought the Venetian from Las Vegas Sands in February 2022 for $6.25 billion. After the change of owner he lost just $88,000 of the $3.6 million, but under the terms of the deal Apollo took on all liabilities.
The settlement requires the Venetian to hold or raise AML staffing for two years, review its policy every year and run in-person training for staff within 60 days. Las Vegas casinos have now paid $34 million in fines tied to Bowyer: Resorts World $10.5 million, MGM Resorts $8.5 million, Caesars Entertainment $7.8 million.
