The impressive Renaissance-Venice-themed luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the US, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, will pay a hefty $7.2 million fine to gaming regulators in the state to settle allegations tied to convicted bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and his gambling activities.
While most of the conduct occurred prior to the property’s current owners took control, someone still needs to pay.
30 Casino Visits: $3.6 Gambling Loss
The settlement was filed alongside a four-count complaint by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) on June 25, 2026, and is currently waiting for the green light from the Nevada Gaming Commission next month.
The complaint says Bowyer made no less than 30 visits to The Venetian between 2019 and 2021, when the resort was still under the ownership of the Las Vegas Sands Corp.
During those visits, Bowyer allegedly deposited roughly $22.3 million into the casino, wagered millions, and lost a minimum of $3.6 million.
Investigators also claimed that, dispute a Venetian casino host knowing as early as 2019 that Bowyer was operating as an illegal bookmaker, the resort did not carry out sufficient due diligence.
Accusations rose regarding the venue’s inability to properly check the source of Bowyer’s funds, despite the standard “Know Your Customer” requirements that all gambling venues must comply with, therefore failing to assess whether his gambling activity was backed by legitimate money.
This, say regulators, undermined The venetian’s anti-money laundering (AML) compliance program.
Apollo to Pay the Fine
Although the alleged violations happened under the watch of former owner Las Vegas Sands, Apollo Global Management, which acquired The Venetian and Palazzo operations at the start of 2022, inherited the property’s legal liabilities. In other words, Apollo will be responsible for paying the settlement.
The current operators banned Bowyer from the resort in March 2024 after they received information regarding his illegal bookmaking activities.
Venetian attorney Greg Brower said company representatives would not comment until the Gaming Commission considers the settlement in August, as per the Nevada Independent. The agreement has already been signed by Venetian chief executive officer Patrick Nichols.
The Venetian settlement brings the total fines paid by Nevada casino operators over Bowyer-related compliance failures to $34 million.
In the past, MGM Resorts International agreed to an $8.5 million settlement, while Caesars Entertainment paid $7.8 million, and Resorts World Las Vegas agreed to $10.5 million.
NGCB Chairman Mike Dreitzer said the Bowyer investigations prompted Nevada to strengthen its AML regulations earlier this year, emphasizing that the industry has shifted toward placing “compliance over commerce.”
Bowyer pleaded guilty in 2024 to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. He was sentenced in August 2025 to 12 months and one day in federal prison and was released on parole in March 2026.
His case attracted international attention after authorities revealed he had accepted illegal sports bets from the former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.