Published on: April 23, 2026, at 06:23 AM.

Updated on: April 24, 2026, at 04:45 AM.

• Illegal sports gambler Mathew Bowyer has been added to Nevada’s notorious “Black Book” of individuals banned from all casinos.
• Prominent Las Vegas casinos incurred over $30 million in fines for money laundering last year due to his illegal betting operations.
• Nevada gaming authorities also denied the request of 80-year-old Frankie Citro for removal from the Black Book.

Mathew Bowyer, the illicit bookmaker implicated in the Shohei Ohtani betting controversy, has been officially listed in Nevada’s “Black Book” as of Thursday, permanently restricting him from all casinos within the state.

In a unanimous decision, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) voted to add Bowyer to the blacklist and also turned down an appeal from Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr., an 80-year-old Las Vegas performer, seeking a hearing to lift his ban from the Black Book.

The Unfortunate Bettor

Bowyer’s illegal operation lasted for a decade, cementing his reputation as a gambling outcast after it resulted in $30 million in money laundering fines across Las Vegas.

Currently under house arrest in California, Bowyer did not attend the NGC meeting nor make any appeal for a hearing. The commissioners noted that his absence did not diminish the severity of his actions.

Nevada Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence elaborated on the details of the case.

Between 2014 and 2023, Bowyer collected tens of millions in illegal sports wagers from over 700 clients, frequently visiting Las Vegas casinos where he gambled the illegal earnings and cultivated new clientele.

Lawrence informed the commissioners that Bowyer even sought referrals from casino staff, offering incentives for introductions to potential customers.

Ohtani’s Betrayal

Bowyer’s dealings came to the forefront in 2024 when federal investigators revealed that he was the bookmaker engaged by the interpreter who swindled $16 million from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

This scandal sparked increased regulatory scrutiny in Nevada, leading to fines exceeding $30 million against major corporations like MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Resorts World for failing anti-money laundering practices.

With this recent vote, Bowyer becomes the 39th individual listed in Nevada’s Black Book—a list reserved for those deemed as continual threats to the integrity of the state’s gaming sector.

This case is viewed as a pivotal moment in the history of Nevada gaming, signaling that corporate Las Vegas may mirror the broader criminal influences that once dominated the city.

Citro’s Hearing Request Denied

The commissioners also turned down Citro’s appeal to have his name removed from the Black Book. His legal representation argued that his previous associates with organized crime are deceased and that Citro now works as a lounge singer.

The panel was not persuaded. Commissioner Abbi Silver, who has judicial experience, stated that Citro’s historical actions still meet the necessary criteria for exclusion, adding that being in the Black Book does not preclude him from performing at numerous licensed venues across Nevada.