Gaming Commission revokes license from ex-Resorts World Las Vegas president

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Nevada Gaming Commission officially revoked the license that belonged to former Resorts World Las Vegas president Scott Sibella.

Commissioners voted Thursday to approve the stipulated settlement that Sibella reached with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The Gaming Commission serves as the final authority on licensing matters, while the Control Board is the state’s law enforcement arm for regulatory matters.

According to the settlement, Sibella admitted to the allegations that he allowed Wayne Nix, a known illegal bookmaker, inside MGM Grand and provided him with complimentary benefits while Sibella was president of the resort.

Appearing virtually, Sibella gave a brief statement before the vote, saying he got to know Nix during golf outings and did not realize he was a bookmaker. He said he believed Nix would have been vetted already because he regularly gambled at other MGM properties.

Sibella said he did not place any bets with Nix outside of “gentlemanly wagers” or refer anyone to Nix. He also said all comps were earned via Nix’s gambling within MGM guidelines.

Federal prosecutors targeted him to send a message to other casino operators about non-compliance laws, he told commissioners, but he accepted responsibility for not filing a suspicious activity report.

Though the complaint only covered his time at MGM Grand, the Gaming Control Board agreed the settlement would include any potential violations committed at Resorts World as well.

Sibella was ousted from Resorts World last year amid a federal investigation into his ties to Nix. He ultimately pleaded guilty in federal court to failure to report suspicious transactions required of casinos and was sentenced to probation and a nearly $10,000 fine.

Resorts World faces a separate complaint from the Control Board charging the casino-hotel with allowing inside the casino people with ties to bookmaking or convictions related to illegal gambling.