Operators of Resorts World Las Vegas brought out the heavy artillery Thursday ahead of the Nevada Gaming Commission hearing on its multimillion-dollar stipulated settlement with state gaming regulators for violating federal anti-money laundering laws.
But the row of officials — including the property’s newly appointed CEO, oversight board and the top executive from owner Genting Berhad — all sat silent for the 45-minute hearing.
Commissioner Brian Krolicki delivered a message about the charges against the resort that he hoped would resonate with other Strip operators.
“I believe this is a clarion call up and down that street that [anti-money laundering] compliance audits [and] all of these things we talk about, we really mean it,” Krolicki said ahead of the commission’s 4-0 vote to accept Resorts World’s agreement to pay a $10.5 million fine to settle a 10-count complaint.
“The lesson being learned today is not the size of the penalty, [but] the reputational risk that has happened,” Krolicki said, adding that violating rules will result in “severe ramifications.”
Resorts World, which opened in July 2021, agreed to the financial penalty — the second-largest fine in Nevada gaming history — for allowing known illegal bookmakers to gamble millions of dollars at the Strip casino for more than a year.
Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey suggested the $10.5 million penalty was “on the low side,” but said that in the interest of moving forward and considering the “tremendous expenses” the company has undertaken to correct the matter, she supported the settlement.
Commissioner George Markantonis said that even with the settlement, Resorts World “will still carry the wound to its brand for a while.”
Four months after the Gaming Control Board’s complaint was filed, Resorts World’s Malaysia-based owner shook up the operations, hiring gaming industry veteran and Las Vegas native Alex Dixon as CEO.
An advisory board was also created and is led by former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren, former Control Board chairman and attorney A.G. Burnett, longtime gaming industry human resources executive Michelle DiTondo and Genting Berhad CEO Tan Kong Han. Former Gov. Brian Sandoval was added to the board in January.
Sitting in the front row of the hearing room at the state’s legislative building in Las Vegas, they were recognized by the property’s outside counsel Erica Okerberg, but were never called upon to speak.
“The company has worked tirelessly and devoted significant time and resources, including millions of dollars, to address the issues,” Okerberg said. “We believe that the team and the company before you today is a different company than it was before.”
Commissioner Abbi Silver recused herself from taking part in the vote because of her long-standing friendship with former Resorts World President Scott Sibella.
Much of the illegal activity occurred during the stewardship of Sibella, who was fired in September 2023.
