The Nevada Gaming Commission rejected a settlement agreement reached with a former Resorts World agent as part of an illegal-bookmaking case involving her husband.
The proposal called for Nicole Bowyer’s registration to be revoked for five years; in addition, she wouldn’t have faced any penalties in return for her cooperation with ongoing investigations by the Board or local, state, or federal law-enforcement.
Bowyer served as the Resorts World host for her husband Matthew, who is awaiting sentencing in federal court for bookmaking and money laundering. She was given immunity by federal prosecutors for her cooperation.
In August, her husband pleaded guilty in federal court to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return. He will be sentenced in April.
Matthew Bowyer’s client list included Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers who confessed to funding his gambling activities by stealing from the star player. His home was raided by federal authorities in October 2023.
Nicole Bowyer was required by her state registration to follow federal anti-money laundering laws.
Nona Lawrence, the Nevada deputy attorney general who outlined the case, told the Commission that Bowyer outlined to Board investigators that she wasn’t aware of her requirements dealing with reporting money laundering. She said she became an agent only because her husband said that by making her his host, he might recoup some of the millions of dollars he was losing at Resorts World.
Lawrence said Bowyer didn’t respond to Board agents when they first sought to question her in July, which contributed to the filing. She has since been cooperating with investigators.
That didn’t sit well with Commission members. After Lawrence completed her presentation, they asked her to return to a future meeting with more information on the case.
Commissioner George Markantonis said there’s no doubt these events have delivered “a major bruising” to the reputation of Nevada’s regulatory process. He found it hard to believe that Bowyer didn’t know about anti-money-laundering requirements.
“I would like to send a message that [professed ignorance] won’t allow people to get away with breaking our rules and processes,” Markantonis said. “Whether Ms. Bowyer is back in the industry or not is beside the point. This case should serve as an example to everyone in the industry. Even though losing the license is the worst that she receives, it’s really not because she also gained financially. She was paid commissions based on her husband’s losses. We haven’t penalized her. That would be the worst.”
Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey said she doesn’t believe it’s an adequate settlement, since Bowyer benefited in excess of $500,000 in 2023.
Bowyer’s legal counsel told the Commission that the couple’s California home was raided and they forfeited “substantial amounts of money” and other assets.
Lawrence said federal prosecutors took $4 million in cash, including $400,000 from the house and $15,000 in casino chips.
“I’m not comfortable going forward with the settlement that doesn’t allow us to retain jurisdiction over her should she breach this agreement (in terms of cooperation),” said Solis-Rainey, adding the settlement isn’t adequate and that there needs to be a provision to impose additional penalties if she fails to cooperate.
Commission Chair Jennifer Togliatti, who also sought a delay, said Bowyer’s lack of cooperation in July shouldn’t be held against her. By not having federal immunity at the time, it wouldn’t have made sense for her to talk to Board investigators in a pending criminal case. Bowyer spoke after receivng immunity.
Commissioner Brian Krolicki said he backs his colleagues, saying the husband’s behavior was “profoundly egregious” and the wife’s actions were “just as egregious,” compounded by a lack of cooperation.
Lawerence, who said there are no prohibitions on Bowyer getting a lifetime ban, told investigators she has no plans to become an agent again.
Krolicki questioned why there wasn’t a monetary penalty sought against Bowyer.
Lawrence said the Board discussed it, but decided against it, since she was cooperating and came across as a “pawn in her husband’s desire” to obtain credit lines and continue to gamble. It appears she didn’t profit from her efforts. Generally in cases, there is either a fine or a revocation, but not both, Lawrence said.
“The Board’s primary goal was to protect the state and the gaming industry,” Lawrence said. “By getting her out of the industry completely, they believe they achieved that.”
