The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has agreed to pay a $7.2 million penalty to Nevada gaming regulators over compliance failures connected to convicted illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and his gambling activity at the Strip property.
The settlement, which still requires approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission, follows a four-count complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). The alleged violations occurred between 2019 and 2021, when Bowyer visited The Venetian while the resort was still operated under previous ownership.
According to regulators, Bowyer made around 30 visits to the casino during that period, depositing more than $22.3 million, wagering millions of dollars, and losing at least $3.6 million.
The case is part of a broader regulatory response involving several Las Vegas casino operators that had business relationships with Bowyer. If approved, The Venetian settlement will bring the total penalties linked to Bowyer-related compliance issues across four Strip operators to $34 million.
Regulators cite failures in anti-money laundering controls
The complaint states that a casino host at The Venetian knew by 2019 or early 2020 that Bowyer was operating as an illegal bookmaker. Despite that knowledge, regulators alleged the information was not reported as required under the casino’s anti-money laundering procedures.
Investigators also found that the property did not adequately verify the source of Bowyer’s funds or determine whether his gambling activity was supported by legitimate financial resources.
The NGCB identified four violations involving The Venetian: failing to establish Bowyer’s source of funds, failing to remove him from the property earlier, the casino host’s failure to report knowledge of illegal activity, and failing to conduct an appropriate internal investigation.
“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, according to The Nevada Independent.
Bowyer remained able to gamble at the property until March 2024, when The Venetian banned him after information about his illegal bookmaking operation became public following a federal investigation.
Bowyer later pleaded guilty in August 2024 to operating an illegal gambling business, filing false tax returns, and money laundering. He received a federal prison sentence of 12 months and one day in August 2025 and was released in March 2026.
His case gained additional attention after authorities revealed that one of his gambling clients was Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to stealing approximately $17 million from Ohtani.
Ownership transfer leaves Apollo responsible for settlement
The compliance issues occurred before Apollo Global Management and Vici Properties acquired The Venetian, Palazzo, and Venetian Expo from Las Vegas Sands Corp. in a $6.25 billion transaction completed in 2022.
Apollo operates the resort, while Vici owns the property’s real estate. Regulators stated that the current owners assumed relevant liabilities connected to the matter as part of the acquisition agreement.
Successor liability is common in heavily regulated industries, including casino gaming. Venetian CEO and President Patrick Nichols signed the settlement agreement on behalf of the company.
The current operators said they would not comment before the Nevada Gaming Commission reviews the agreement.
The commission is expected to consider the settlement at an upcoming meeting, with scheduled sessions taking place on July 23 in Carson City and August 20 in Las Vegas.
Bowyer-related penalties reach $34 million across Nevada casinos
The Venetian penalty follows previous enforcement actions involving other major casino companies connected to Bowyer’s gambling activity.
Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company Genting Berhad received a combined $10.5 million penalty. MGM Resorts International agreed to an $8.5 million settlement, while Caesars Entertainment Inc. paid $7.8 million.
Together with the proposed Venetian settlement, the regulatory actions represent $34 million in penalties connected to casino compliance failures involving Bowyer.
Nevada regulators said the investigations led to additional attention on anti-money laundering practices across the gaming industry. NGCB Chairman Mike Dreitzer said the cases contributed to stronger AML requirements and reflected a shift toward placing “compliance over commerce.”
Bowyer was added to Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons, commonly known as the state’s “Black Book,” in April 2026. The designation prevents him from entering casinos in Nevada.