Resorts World Las Vegas has reworked its leadership and governance hierarchy ahead of its anticipated response to regulators regarding accusations of illegal gambling and anti-money laundering failures.
The Vegas strip casino has appointed former Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association CEO Alex Dixon as its new chief executive offer. Dixon will begin work on Jan. 16.
Starting sooner is Jim Murren, who took up his new position as chairman of a newly established board this week. Murren is the former CEO and chairman of MGM Resorts International, among other past leadership roles.
The company said the appointments, as well as the formation of board, are “a key part” of its plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership, improve governance and accelerate its growth strategy.
The appointments come days after the casino’s parent company Genting Berhard reported that Q3 2024 was Resorts World’s worst financial quarter in two years, which it attributed to “an abnormally hot summer in Las Vegas and economic uncertainty in an election year.”
Resorts World due to respond to allegations
The leadership overhaul also comes days before the company is due to respond to Nevada regulators over the accusations.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) filed a disciplinary complaint in August following an investigation by its enforcement team into alleged violations of the Nevada Gaming Control Act and the Nevada Gaming Commission’s regulations.
The NGCB alleges Resorts World harbored suspected or direct ties to illegal gambling businesses and did not meet the standards of its anti-money laundering (AML) program due to a lack of oversight which allowed individuals to wager with money siphoned through illegal gambling operations.
The probe largely focused on the conduct of bookie Matthew Bowyer, who made headlines earlier this year when his alleged illegal sports betting ring in California was connected with Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
The NCGB alleges a complete disregard of regulations by Resorts World relating to Bowyer and some associates. Bowyer was allegedly allowed to wager at Resorts World in 2022 despite the casino not verifying the source of funds including a $1 million front-money deposit. The NGCB’s probe found that Bowyer was allowed to wager millions at Resorts World over 20 months using funds deriving from an unverified source.
Some Resorts World executives, including disgraced former president Scott Sibella, had the authority to stop Bowyer gambling at the casino but allegedly turned a blind eye.
All in all, the complaint against Resorts World encompasses 12 counts. The board is expecting a response from the casino operator by or before Dec. 9.
