It didn’t take the Nevada Gaming Commission long to exclude California bookmaker Wayne Nix from the state’s Black Book, excluding him from casinos.
Surprisingly without any discussion, the Commission unanimously approved a recommendation from the Nevada Gaming Control Board to include the convicted felon. Nix didn’t attend the hearing, nor did he contest the exclusion when served with the notice by certified mail.
The case involved ties to MGM Resorts International, which in 2025 was fined $8.5 million for knowingly dealing with an illegal bookmaker as part of an anti-money-laundering case.
The MGM Grand took $4 million in cash from Nix, while the Cosmopolitan, which MGM Resorts didn’t own at the time, took more than $900,000 in wagers. The MGM Grand case involved former Chief Operating Officer and President Scott Sibella, who in December 2023 pleaded guilty to federal charges of failing to report Nix. He had his license revoked by the Commission in December 2024.
Nix pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. His long-delayed sentencing hearing is expected in March.
Deputy Attorney General Mike Somps outlined the case to the Commission. Nix is eligible for exclusion, because he’s a felon convicted of crimes of moral turpitude and violating California gaming laws and has an unsavory reputation that would affect public confidence and trust that the gaming industry is free from corrupted elements.
Nix is accused of accepting bets in California and elsewhere and would travel to Las Vegas with cash proceeds. The cash he carried to Las Vegas was high-demonstration bills, which he transported in duffle bags, paper bags and leather purses. He used that cash for his own gambling and for paying off markers.
“Over the course of six years from 2014 to 2020, Nix took millions of dollars in illegal wagers and frequented Las Vegas casinos and used those illicit proceeds from his illegal bookmaking business to gamble millions of dollars and pay off casino markers,” Somps told the Commission. “He also solicited new customers from casino marketing hosts at the casinos that he frequented, including offering a commission or gratuity for customer referrals. Mr. Nix also associated with Scott Sibella, the former president of the MGM Grand who is not a revoked licensee, associated with MGM casino hosts and with Cosmopolitan casino hosts. All knew Mr. Nix was the illegal bookmaker and continued to allow Mr. Nix to use illicit proceeds.”
