Casinos are chasing profits, and some are paying the price — literally. A high-stakes combination of executive pressure and lax oversight has led to multi-million dollar fines, money laundering concerns, and the resurfacing of criminal networks inside some of the world’s most prestigious resorts.
This week, all eyes are on Resorts World Las Vegas. Regulators are set to review a $10.5 million fine — the second-largest in Nevada’s history — after the casino allegedly let illegal bookmakers move millions through its floors. The fine didn’t come out of nowhere. And according to a respected gaming attorney, it likely won’t be the last.
Behind the Velvet Rope: What the Fine Really Means
Anthony Cabot, a longtime gaming lawyer and former UNLV professor, isn’t shocked by the number. Not even a little. He sees the fine as a direct consequence of pressure placed on casino executives to produce results — fast and big.
“When you tie bonuses and job security to revenue, corners get cut,” Cabot said bluntly. “It’s not unique to one property. This is systemic.”
Resorts World’s $10.5 million fine is huge, sure. But it’s not record-breaking. That title still belongs to Wynn Resorts, hit with a $20 million penalty back in 2019 for its handling (or rather mishandling) of sexual misconduct allegations involving its former CEO, Steve Wynn.
One sentence for this paragraph.
Cabot pointed out that both cases highlight how casinos often delay action until regulators come knocking. It’s not about ignorance, he said — it’s about deliberate indifference.
How Did Resorts World Let This Happen?
Regulators found that Resorts World allowed illegal bookmakers to gamble large sums of money on-site. According to enforcement records, this wasn’t a one-time mistake — this was ongoing, and internal controls failed to detect or stop it.
Three things stand out in the reports:
-
Bookmakers moved millions through the casino without triggering meaningful compliance alerts.
-
Casino staff allegedly knew these gamblers were flagged but let them play anyway.
-
Internal audit systems failed to connect the dots — or chose not to.
Cabot argued this kind of behavior stems directly from corporate culture. “You reward performance and look the other way until someone shines a light on it.”
The Nevada Gaming Control Board didn’t mince words either. They described the casino’s conduct as “egregious” and “dangerous” in filings released ahead of the Thursday review.
One paragraph here. Resorts World hasn’t commented on the fine publicly.
A Growing List of Expensive Mistakes
Resorts World isn’t the only one. Nevada has seen a steady uptick in compliance-related penalties over the last decade. And they’re not small.
Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest fines in state history:
| Casino | Year | Fine Amount | Violation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wynn Resorts | 2019 | $20 million | Failure to act on sexual misconduct |
| Resorts World LV | 2024 | $10.5 million | Anti-money laundering failures |
| CG Technology | 2016 | $1.5 million | Illegal sports betting, software flaws |
| Las Vegas Sands | 2013 | $47 million (DOJ) | Money laundering case (Paul Phua ties) |
Some of these fines came after federal investigations. Others stemmed from internal whistleblower reports. But the trend is clear: regulators are no longer playing nice.
Cabot says it’s only going to get worse — not because laws are changing, but because enforcement is getting teeth.
The Compliance Gap No One Talks About
Part of the problem is the speed of business in casinos. You’ve got floor managers, hosts, cage workers, VIP handlers — all pushing guests through high-limit rooms and bottle-service suites. Compliance? It’s often a step behind.
“You can have the best rules in the world,” said Cabot, “but if they’re not followed, or worse, ignored, then what’s the point?”
He also mentioned that training programs are often inadequate. Casinos will spend tens of millions on marketing but treat compliance as a box-checking exercise.
In one sentence: That’s how things slip through the cracks.
And that gap — the one between written policy and everyday practice — is where most of these violations begin.
The Real Pressure Comes From the Top
Cabot’s main point isn’t that frontline workers are ignoring the rules. It’s that the people above them are often incentivized to do so. Or at least to keep quiet.
“When your bonus depends on how many whales you bring in, or how much your pit generates, there’s little motivation to report anything,” he said.
This kind of system invites problems:
-
Risk departments that feel like window dressing
-
Executives more concerned with VIP retention than red flags
-
A culture that punishes whistleblowers instead of rewarding them
And once that culture is set, changing it becomes nearly impossible — at least until regulators step in and slap on a fine with lots of zeroes.
What Happens Next?
On Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Commission will review the proposed settlement with Resorts World. No one expects them to overturn it. The deal was already negotiated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and agreed to by the casino.
One sentence paragraph: It’s more of a formality than a fight.
Still, the optics matter. And so does the precedent. A fine this big sends a message to every other casino executive in the state — and probably beyond it.
Will that message land? Cabot isn’t so sure. “It’s a start,” he said. “But you can’t regulate away culture.”
And with billions flowing through these floors every year, that culture — the pressure to perform, to deliver, to impress — isn’t going anywhere fast.
