Nevada gaming officials have moved to block California bookmaker Wayne Nix from all state casinos, nominating him for Nevada’s notorious list of banned individuals. This action follows years of looking into illegal betting rings connected to some of the biggest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
State Panel Sets March Decision on Nix Amid Fallout from Casino Cash Violations
The Nevada Gaming Control Board pushed Nix’s case forward at a meeting this week, setting up a final call by the Nevada Gaming Commission later this month. His possible ban comes after long investigations showed that several casinos took large amounts of cash from him, even though they knew about his past in unlicensed bookmaking.
Regulators highlighted ongoing problems with MGM Resorts International. The company faced an $8.5 million fine after investigators discovered that both the MGM Grand and, earlier, the Cosmopolitan had accepted millions in cash and bets from Nix. These transactions became key to a wider anti-money-laundering investigation that ended the career of former MGM Grand president Scott Sibella. In federal court, Sibella admitted he did not report Nix’s activities and later lost his state license.
Nix, who admitted guilt in 2022 to running an illegal gambling operation and submitting a false tax return, did not show up at the hearing. His punishment, pushed back several times, is scheduled for early March. State lawyers presented evidence that he carried large sums of cash to Las Vegas in various bags and used the money to gamble and pay off outstanding markers. The investigation revealed he reached out to casino hosts to gain access and get referrals, even promising commissions for bringing in new players.
State Board Cites Threat to Gaming Integrity in Call to Bar Nix Permanently
Board members indicated Nix’s actions went beyond casual betting. One member claimed Nix had an impact on Nevada casinos by using them to clean money from his bookmaking business. This member emphasized the state’s need to show it will not allow such activities in regulated places. Another official pointed out that casino staff knew Nix as an illegal bookmaker, which risked harming the gaming environment’s integrity.
The Board also pointed to his criminal past and his breaking of California gaming laws as reasons to exclude him. His case is the first of two moving ahead. Officials plan to consider a separate proposal in January about another illegal bookmaker, Matthew Bowyer.
Bowyer’s dealings with Caesars Entertainment and Resorts World Las Vegas have already resulted in millions in fines. If given the green light, Nix would join a small group of people who cannot ever set foot in any Nevada casino, a tough punishment that state officials claim helps keep the public’s faith in the gambling business.