On Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Commission sanctioned Caesars Entertainment with a $7.8 million fine for permitting convicted illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to engage in gambling at its venues over several years without appropriate verification of his funds, making this the fifth-largest penalty ever levied on a state licensee.

The commission reached a 4-1 decision to endorse a settlement where Caesars neither acknowledged nor contested the claims. Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey was opposed to the agreement, asserting that a heftier penalty was warranted and criticized the enterprise for taking an excessive seven years to uncover Bowyer’s actions.

This disciplinary measure marks the third this year connected to Bowyer. In March, Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Berhad, were fined $10.5 million, and MGM Resorts International incurred an $8.5 million fine in April due to different violations associated with other illegal betting operations.

Mike Dreitzer, Chairman of the Gaming Control Board, indicated that the fine was roughly three times what Caesars earned from Bowyer. “They are incurring a penalty threefold of their winnings during this period,” he stated.

Bowyer, who is currently serving a one-year prison term for bookmaking and money laundering, placed and lost millions of dollars over 100 gambling sessions at Caesars establishments from 2017 to 2024, according to regulators. In 2019, Caesars identified him as “high risk” but did not confirm the origin of his funds nor correlate his gambling activities with legitimate income.

During the commission meeting, top executives from Caesars extended public apologies. “The functioning of our anti-money-laundering systems in this case was unacceptable… I deeply apologize for our part in the Bowyer situation and the ramifications it has had on the gaming sector,” stated Chairman Gary Carano.

CEO Tom Reeg emphasized: “My instructions to our team are explicit; we will never compromise compliance for profitability. No customer justifies illegitimate earnings. We should have detected Bowyer, plain and simple.” He further characterized the incident as “a blemish on the state.”

Commissioner George Markantonis remarked that Bowyer had inflicted significant damage on the industry; however, he expressed confidence that Caesars has since fortified its anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer protocols. The company committed to enhancing controls across its Nevada locations and tribal casino operations in California.

During the hearing, some commissioners mistakenly conflated Bowyer with bookmaker Wayne Nix, whose unrelated case resulted in MGM receiving an $8.5 million fine and the revocation of then–MGM Grand president Scott Sibella’s gaming license.

Regulators also pointed out that other casinos benefitted from Bowyer’s gambling, despite incurring penalties. Resorts World Las Vegas reported nearly $14 million in net profit after Bowyer and his associate Damien LeForbes lost close to $24 million, even after settling for a $10.5 million fine. LeForbes is awaiting sentencing on charges of bookmaking and money laundering.

In a statement released on November 14, Caesars remarked: “We take our compliance obligations earnestly and are committed to continually enhancing our practices to meet and exceed the highest standards.”