The Venetian has joined a growing roster of Las Vegas casinos incurring hefty fines to settle allegations of negligence in monitoring and curbing the gambling activities of illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. The resort is set to pay $7.2 million to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), with the resolution expected to be finalized at the Nevada Gaming Commission’s meeting in August.

This case revolves around Bowyer’s significant gambling activities at the Venetian from 2019 to 2021, during which investigators report he visited the property around 30 times. Throughout these visits, Bowyer deposited nearly $22.3 million into front-money accounts and wagered substantial amounts, ultimately recording losses totaling at least $3.6 million.

At that time, the Venetian was under the ownership of Las Vegas Sands Corp., established by Sheldon Adelson. Following Adelson’s passing in early 2021, the Venetian along with the Palazzo was sold to Apollo Global Management in February 2022.

Delayed Banning

Bowyer’s gambling reduced after the change in ownership, and he was finally banned from the resort on March 11, 2024, after the establishment received information suggesting he was involved in illegal bookmaking activities. Bowyer later admitted to charges related to running an illegal gambling operation, money laundering, and submitting a false tax return, leading to his sentencing in federal court in 2025.

The NGCB complaint, filed on June 25, details various failures on the part of the Venetian, including its inability to verify Bowyer’s legitimate sources of income, neglecting to prohibit him from gambling despite known concerns, and a casino host’s failure to report information suggesting Bowyer’s illegal activities.

Investigators also revealed that the resort’s internal audits consistently failed to substantiate Bowyer’s claimed earnings, which included declarations of a net worth exceeding $5 million and annual incomes ranging between $500,000 and $1 million. Public records indicated that his synthetic turf business generated only around $94,000 in yearly sales, and many of his asset claims could not be verified.

In 2019, Bowyer arrived at the casino with a $1 million cashier’s check, which the Venetian accepted prior to allowing him to gamble. After winning, Bowyer left with the check returned to him. Over the following years, the resort continued attempts to confirm Bowyer’s financial background but faced challenges in validating his income sources.

The complaint also highlights that the Venetian had previously faced scrutiny regarding money laundering. In 2016, the property paid a $2 million settlement following an NGCB investigation, and in 2013, Las Vegas Sands Corp. agreed to return $47.4 million to the U.S. Treasury due to a federal investigation.

Fines Accumulate

The Venetian’s recent settlement contributes to an expanding list of Strip establishments penalized in connection with money-laundering investigations related to Bowyer and other high-risk gamblers, all of which were resolved without admissions of guilt. With the Venetian’s settlement, the total amount tied to Bowyer-related inquiries has reached $34 million:

• Resorts World: $10.5 million (settled March 2025)
• MGM Resorts: $8.5 million (settled April 2025)
• Caesars Entertainment: $7.8 million (settled November 2025)
• Venetian: $7.2 million (anticipated August 2026)

Bowyer gained nationwide notoriety after Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for L.A. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, was accused of embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani’s account to clear gambling debts owed to Bowyer.

On August 29, 2025, Bowyer was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, along with two years of supervised release. He began serving his sentence after voluntarily surrendering on October 10, 2025. Bowyer was released early from federal custody on June 17, 2026, but was subsequently added to the Nevada Gaming Commission’s infamous List of Excluded Persons, known as the “Black Book,” permanently prohibiting him from all casinos in Nevada.