Nevada Gaming Commission Approves $10.5 Million Fine for Resorts World Las Vegas Over AML Breaches
The fine was unanimously approved in a 4-0 vote, with commissioner Abbi Silver recusing herself due to a long-standing personal connection with Scott Sibella, the former president of RWLV.
In a meeting lasting less than an hour, the Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, 27 March, finalised a $10.5 million (£8.1 million/€9.7 million) fine against Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) for historic breaches of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
The fine was unanimously approved in a 4-0 vote, with commissioner Abbi Silver recusing herself due to a long-standing personal connection with Scott Sibella, the former president of RWLV. Sibella was sentenced to one year of probation last May and later had his Nevada gaming licence revoked for AML violations during his time at the MGM Grand.
RWLV’s fine is the second-largest penalty ever imposed on a Nevada gaming company since the state legalised casino gaming in 1931. The record remains with Wynn Resorts, which was fined $20 million in 2019 for failing to address sexual assault allegations made against its founder, Steve Wynn. Wynn himself later paid a $10 million settlement in relation to the same matter.
Although RWLV’s AML failures were directly tied to its gaming operations—leading some to speculate the fine could rival or surpass that of Wynn—the commission opted for the $10.5 million settlement without extensive debate or questioning.
In addition to the financial penalty, RWLV will be subject to several new licensing conditions, including enhanced reporting obligations and additional AML audits.
Krolicki: Complaints Were “Breathtaking”
Commissioner Brian Krolicki was the only member to speak in detail about the case, calling it “a profound teachable moment for the industry” and highlighting the seriousness of the violations.
“Oh my goodness, the reading of the complaints, it’s breathtaking,” he said.
Despite the gravity of the issue, Krolicki expressed support for the resolution:
“I believe this is a wonderful fix and a new pivot for Resorts World. I also believe this is a clarion call up and down [the Las Vegas Strip] that these rules are to be adhered to perfectly.”
He concluded by commending the efforts of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), which operates under a unique two-tier regulatory structure, reporting directly to the commission:
“I’ll yield to the wisdom of the people who negotiated this.”
