Rare Decision: Nevada Bans Illegal Bookmaker in Black Book Vote

Earlier this week, we announced that the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) was considering a series of important changes to the Black Book, formally known as the state’s List of Excluded Persons.

While new additions are rarely made, the commission decided to take firm action on Thursday, April 23, 2026, voting unanimously to add Mathew Bowyer to the Black Book. 

This means the 50-year-old will be permanently barred from entering all and any casinos in the Silver State.

At the same meeting, commissioners rejected a request from Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr., who had sought a hearing to remove his name from the same list. Removal requests are even rarer. 

Strong Case Against Bowyer

At the moment, Bowyer is placed under house arrest at his property in California, serving a one-year federal sentence.

He did not appear before the commission and he also did not request a hearing, which, officials argued, did not in any way lessen the seriousness of the case against him.

Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence said that Bowyer ran a large illegal sports betting operation between 2014 and 2023, during which he accepted tens of millions of dollars in wagers from more than 700 bettors. 

He also allegedly frequently visited casinos in Las Vegas, where he used the money to engage in gambling, settle debts, or build new connections.

Lawrence told commissioners that Bowyer, who pleaded guilty to several charges, approached casino employees, including hosts and valets, asking to be introduced to high-value clients. In some of these cases, he apparently offered kickbacks in return.

The Ripple Effect

The case gained national attention in 2024 after federal prosecutors linked Bowyer to a major scandal involving Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Authorities said Bowyer handled bets for an interpreter who stole $16 million from the player.

The fallout led to increased scrutiny across Nevada’s gaming industry, with big operators like MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Resorts World being hit with more than $30 million in fines tied to anti-money laundering failures. With this decision, Bowyer becomes the 39th individual ever placed in the Black Book, a list reserved for those considered a serious threat to the integrity of the gaming industry.