Illegal Bookmaker Nominated for Nevada Black Book After Triggering $26.8 Million in Casino Fines

The move follows a series of enforcement actions against major casino operators, which regulators say have exposed deep failures in anti-money laundering controls and high-roller oversight.

While the majority of nominees don’t look for a hearing to object to their name being added to the list, NGCB member George Assad said one could take place by March if necessary.

Bowyer could appear remotely or in person, pending approval from California prison officials. He’s currently serving a total sentence of 12 months and a day.

Bowyer’s case meets four criteria for his addition to the list. These include felony convictions, convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude, willfully evading taxes, and having a negative reputation that would hurt the public’s trust in the gambling industry.

Hefty Fines for Casino Companies

Bowyer’s ability to go about his business for so many years in Las Vegas without any consequences prompted a lot of headlines. It raised questions about who casinos are willing to accept business from and how often they disregard potential red flags.

Talking about Bowyer’s case, NGCB chairman Mike Dreitzer said that this case “goes to the very core and the heart of Nevada’s gaming regulatory mission” of protecting public confidence, Nevada’s reputation for trustworthiness, and gambling integrity.

Regulators reprimanded several major casino companies for their inaction related to Bowyer. They fined Resorts World Las Vegas $10.5 million in March for anti-money laundering (AML) violations after allowing illegal bookies to gamble millions without providing documented legitimate sources.

The AML probe implicated then-President Scott Sibella, who ultimately lost his gaming license.

Regulators also imposed an $8.5 million AML penalty on MGM Resorts International in April. It didn’t verify the bookie’s source of funds between 2017 and 2024 despite his gambling of seven-figure sums. The company also didn’t investigate an anonymous tip it received about his bookmaking activities.

Finally, Caesars Entertainment received a $7.8 million fine in November. Bowyer gambled about $2.6 million in illicit funds at its properties without verifying the source of funds.

A Wide-Ranging Bookmaking Business

Bowyer headed up the wide-ranging, illegal California-based sports betting network, which involved him taking action against about 700 people. He frequented Las Vegas casinos, often striking up relationships with high rollers. To help do so, he attempted to bribe casino hosts to secure referrals.

Bowyer said that he accepted wagers from current and former professional athletes. However, there has been no public disclosure of these names.

That network only came fully into view after one of Bowyer’s clients triggered a federal investigation.

The Ohtani–Mizuhara Scandal

Bowyer played a central role in one of the biggest gambling scandals to rock major league sports in the U.S. He was the person who took bets from MLB star Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, which led to the translator stealing about $17 million from his former employer.

His total debts were more than $40.6 million after placing at least 19,000 wagers between September 2021 and January 2024. Mizuhara directed about $9.3 million in payments straight to casinos for markers tied to Bowyer and his associates.

The theft eventually came to light in the spring of 2024. Mizuhara began a 57-month prison sentence in June after pleading guilty to federal bank fraud and submitting a false tax return.

Bringing Bowyer to Justice

Bowyer pleaded guilty in August 2024 to federal charges of money laundering, running an illegal gambling operation, and filing a false tax return.

U.S. District Judge John Holcomb sentenced him in August 2025. He began serving his 12-month-and-one-day prison term in October. He paid over $1.6 million in restitution and provided information to investigators that led to the convictions of others.

Prosecutors said that Bowyer exploited people who he clearly saw were “addicted and extending themselves beyond their means.” The judge handed Bowyer a lighter-than-expected sentence, citing the restitution he paid, his lack of a prior criminal record, and his cooperation with investigators.

A letter to the court from Bowyer expressed his remorse for his actions. He said that he was “very sorry and embarrassed” for facilitating “dangerous risk-taking” by his clients.

Bowyer’s Black Book nomination now formalizes Nevada regulators’ effort to permanently bar him from casino floors after a scandal that cost licensed operators tens of millions of dollars.