The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) unanimously voted to nominate illegal bookmaker Wayne Nix for inclusion in the state’s so-called “Black Book,” thereby excluding him from in-state casinos.
Nix is a convicted felon who ran a multi-million-dollar illegal sportsbook in California, and used the proceeds of his criminal business to gamble in Las Vegas casinos. He pled guilty to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return and is awaiting a sentencing that is currently set for March 2026.
After the NGCB’s nomination on Wednesday, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) will have the final vote on whether to blacklist Nix.
From California to Nevada in a paper bag
Nevada’s “Black Book” list may include any person whose presence in a gaming establishment is determined to pose a threat to the interests of Nevada or to licensed gaming, or both.
At a board meeting on Nov. 3, Deputy Attorney General Mike Somps said that Nix satisfies not one but four criteria for being blacklisted in the state. He has been convicted of felonies under federal law, convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, convicted of a crime that violates California’s gaming laws of California and he has “a notorious or unsavory reputation that would adversely affect public confidence and trust that the gaming industry is free from criminal or corruptive elements,” said Somps.
Somps detailed how Nix took millions of dollars in illegal wagers from 2014 to 2020 and also associated with Scott Sibella, the former MGM Grand president who allowed Nix to gamble using illicit proceeds. Sibella was fired by Resorts World in 2023, pled guilty to federal charges and had his Nevada gaming license revoked this time last year.
MGM was fined $8.5 million by the NGC in April for knowingly dealing with Nix, who gambled more than $4 million of the illegal money at the MGM Grand. Referring to Nix’s plea agreement, Somps noted that Nix traveled frequently from his home in California to gamble in Vegas, often carrying it the illicent cash in duffels or paper bags. He also solicited new customers for his illegal book on-site in Vegas, said Somps, and sometimes offered commissions for those new customers.
A danger to Nevada’s reputation
“He has no place being in a casino at any time in Nevada,” said Chair Mike Dreitzer of Nix, noting that he was widely known at Vegas casinos as an illegal bookmaker. “His presence in Nevada gaming establishments poses a threat to the interests of the state and licensed gaming generally.”
Board member George Assad told the room he hoped the NGC would swiftly agree with the NGCB’s recommendation.
“We take it very seriously, and I hope that the Commission will move forward appropriately and send a strong message to the federal government to anybody else thinking about doing these kinds of illegal activities that we’re not going to tolerate it here in Nevada,” Assad said. “This is one way that we can change the culture up and down the strip.
“Bookmakers have been operating in Nevada for decades, but long as they stay out of the casinos, I don’t have a problem with it. Once they start operating within the casino structure, it just brings such negative publicity that it really hurts the entire state and the gaming industry.”
Nix was invited to attend the non-evidential hearing but was not present. He will have an opportunity to request a hearing before the NGC.
Mathew Bowyer up next?
After the nomination was approved, Dreitzer added that the board will discuss whether to also nominate another illegal California bookie, Mathew Bowyer, at its January meeting.
Bowyer placed bets with Caesars Entertainment and Resorts World Las Vegas, both of which were fined millions of dollars this year for their roles in allowing him to gamble. Bowyer is also known as the bookie who took bets from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani who used the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s money to gamble.
“These two individuals certainly qualify for entry into the list of excluded persons,” added Assad.
