Resorts World is under federal scrutiny after revelations that three gamblers, currently under investigation for their involvement in illegal sports betting rings, lost nearly $24 million at the casino since its opening less than three years ago. The venue reportedly failed to detect this suspicious activity, which could result in substantial fines if proven true.

A Black Market Operation Allegedly Operated Undisturbed

The investigation, led by federal authorities from California, aims to determine the extent of the alleged money laundering activities and could result in a significant fine for Resorts World. A recent report by local news outlet The Nevada Current revealed that the Nevada Gaming Control Board has also launched a related inquiry into multiple casinos.

This suspected money laundering operation connects to the legal case against Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, who reportedly stole $4.5 million and gambled them away with a black market betting ring. Illegal bookmakers are known to launder money by wiring illicit funds to casinos, later withdrawing most of these funds.

Matt Bowyer, who has admitted to taking bets from Mizuhara, made 32 trips to Resorts World, losing $7.9 million between 2022 and 2023. Some of Mizuhara’s weekly payments to Bowyer, up to $500,000 each, were reportedly deposited into another suspect’s gambling account at Resorts World to obfuscate the source of the funds.

Resorts World Faces Pressure over Sibella’s Actions

Damien LeForbes, another high-roller who reportedly lost $12.3 million over nearly four dozen trips to Resorts World, and Real Housewives of Orange County star Ryan Boyajian are the other two individuals suspected of aiding Bowyer. The three men have not faced charges, but the situation may change as the authorities collect more evidence of their alleged illegal activities.

The ongoing investigation follows the court case against ex-Resorts World executive Scott Sibella, who received a sentence for his earlier anti-money laundering (AML) violations. Sibella turned a blind eye to suspicious activities, not unlike Bowyer’s alleged gambling ring. By opting not to report such transactions, Sibella effectively violated the federal Bank Secrecy Act and was sentenced to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

As the investigation continues, Resorts World could face significant penalties if found complicit in the alleged money laundering operations, underscoring the complexities and risks of maintaining compliance in the high-stakes world of casino gambling. Recent revelations highlight how such black market schemes may be more common than expected, necessitating increased vigilance by casinos.

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Several days ago, live casino specialist OnAir Entertainment was accused of corporate espionage. The company is now seeking to combat these allegations and prove them wrong.

For reference, the allegations stem from Ivans Ivanovs, the company’s former senior product owner. Ivanovs accused OnAir’s game portfolio lead, Igors Veliks, of maintaining user access to Playtech’s internal systems for a whopping two years.

Veliks was a former Playtech Euro Live Technologies employee who failed to relinquish access to the company’s internal systems following his exit.

In his post, Ivanovs accused the company of a severe lack of professionalism, saying that unethical practices are commonplace. According to him, the OnAir leadership was fully aware of what was happening but did nothing to stop it.

However, OnAir Entertainment is bullish on tackling these allegations head-on and clearing its name. In a statement initially provided to NEXT.io, the company pledged to investigate the claims and do something.

The OnAir Entertainment Group is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

OnAir Entertainment statement

OnAir Hired an Independent Investigator

The company explained that it has hired the services of an independent investigator who will conduct a comprehensive investigation of the company’s business and see if the allegations are correct.

OnAir Entertainment promised its clients and stakeholders that it is taking this matter very seriously, which is why “immediate and decisive action” will be taken. The live casino specialist also promised to provide regular updates on the findings as the investigation progresses.

As the investigation progresses, we will provide updates as appropriate, while respecting the confidentiality and privacy of all parties involved.

OnAir Entertainment statement

NEXT.io also spoke on the matter with Playtech. OnAir’s competitors told the news outlet that it would also conduct its own investigation to see if it can identify any potential instances of IP infringement.

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Las Vegas sportsbooks are under scrutiny following reports of suspicious betting on the UNLV football game against New Mexico last month. The Rebels opened as 9-point favorites, and the line quickly soared to as high as 16½ before UNLV secured a decisive 56-14 victory over the Lobos on November 4.

US Integrity Launches Investigation into Unusual Betting Patterns

The unusual betting patterns triggered alerts received by various sportsbooks, with the Westgate SuperBook vice president, Jay Kornegay, acknowledging that they were notified by US Integrity, an independent sports wagering monitor based in Henderson, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Caesars Sportsbook also confirmed receiving the alert, emphasizing that it was a matter that concerned the entire industry.

While Kornegay expressed that they did not observe any suspicious activity at their sportsbook, he noted that the absence of new accounts specifically targeting the UNLV game would have been a red flag for them. 

US Integrity, monitoring betting activity for over 150 clients in 36 states, including the Mountain West Conference, is currently involved in investigating the matter. However, US Integrity’s co-founder and CEO, Matthew Holt, declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Nevada Gaming Control Board Maintains Silence on Investigation

The Nevada Gaming Control Board, as part of its standard regulatory practice, neither confirmed nor denied any ongoing investigation into the suspicious betting activity.

One notable wager on the game drew attention, as a bettor at the BetMGM sportsbook at the Bellagio placed a substantial $200,000 bet on the Rebels with a spread of -13, aiming to win $181,000. The Mirage sportsbook manager, Scott Shelton, described it as the largest UNLV bet he had ever seen.

Despite the suspicions raised by the betting activity, UNLV football remained adamant that it did not involve the university. 

Rebels coach Barry Odom told the Action Network that during the game, he did not observe anything unusual, emphasizing their focus on taking control early and securing the win.

New Mexico’s athletic director, Eddie Nunez, confirmed being notified about the suspicious betting activity a week after the game by US Integrity. Nunez stated that the coaching staff had no knowledge of any wrongdoing, attributing the significant loss to a lackluster performance rather than any external factors. While the investigation is ongoing, the sportsbooks are reviewing the unusual line movement and large bets, trying to determine whether it was a result of informed betting strategies or potentially illicit activities.

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Borislav Mihaylov, the controversial president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) is being investigated for participation in match-fixing and ties to illegal lottery operators. This is not the first time Mihaylov has been accused of similar dealings.  

The investigation comes soon after a mass protest in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital and will see the Prosecutor’s Office probe into Mihaylov to see if the allegations are founded in reality. According to the office, multiple recent media reports have claimed that ties exist between the soccer president and foreign black market lottery operators (simply referred to as black lottery).

As mentioned, this is not the first time Mihaylov has made headlines with his alleged relationship with foreign black lottery companies. BIRD.bg, an investigation and data journalism project previously reported that in 2011, Mihaylov celebrated New Year in the company of Tan Seet Eng, a match-fixing specialist from Singapore.  

For reference, Tan Seet Eng, also known as Dan Tan, is a controversial figure who has been involved in multiple match-fixing scandals.

Bulgarian Soccer Fans Are Unhappy with Mihaylov’s Reign

As mentioned, the current investigation comes in the wake of a huge protest on the streets of Sofia that saw many soccer fans express their disgruntlement with Mihaylov. According to multiple fervent fans, Mihaylov’s almost two-decade-long reign as president of the union has led to a steady decline within the Bulgarian soccer sector.

The president’s opponents accused him of turning Bulgaria into a “soccer dwarf” and making a string of bad decisions. The protests exploded around the BFU’s decision to not allow audiences at the European Qualifiers match between Bulgaria and Hungary.

Some claim that Mihaylov’s goal has always been to “hide” the game to avoid on-stadium protests. According to the allegations, this may be further attested by the BFU’s earlier plans to move the game to Plovdiv, another big Bulgarian city.

In a recent speech at The National Assembly, however, Mihaylov claimed that the protests had been caused by paid actors. While the BFU president was unable to back up these claims with facts, he further suggested that the protests may have been sparked by Dimitar Berbatov, his main competitor for the position.

Mihaylov even added that he is proud of the BFU’s recent work, claiming that its recent decisions have managed to “save lives.” He said that he refuses to be turned into a “scapegoat” by his opponents and refused to take responsibility for the damages caused by the recent protests against him.

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Earlier this year, the internet regulator in China, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), announced an unexpected probe into one of the local operations of DouYu, the Tencent Holdings-backed leading live streaming platform. At the time, local media reports confirmed that the watchdog sought to address issues with the platform related to pornography, among other content that is prohibited in the country.

Now, a Monday report released by China state-owned media outlet, Cover News, reveals that contact with Chen Shaojie, DouYu’s chairman, has been lost recently. While the report did not confirm that the chairman has been arrested, some local media outlets suggested that this may be the case. Allegedly, Shaojie’s disappearance may relate to content on the streaming platform involving gambling and pornography.

Details on the topic remain scarce but according to the recently released report, Shaojie was “taken away” by authorities in China. He is allegedly assisting with an ongoing investigation. The last time DouYu’s boss was seen was approximately three weeks ago. It remains unclear what the target of the investigation is and whether or not it is related to the probe of the CAC dating to earlier this year.

Not the First Time High-Ranking Executive Goes Missing

Although the latest announcement comes as a surprise, it is not the first time a high-ranking official in China has gone missing. Recently, Bao Fan, the founder and CEO of China Renaissance, and Jack Ma, the CEO of the globally recognized eCommerce business, Alibaba, also temporarily went out of public view.

This week, the South China Morning Post obtained a statement from DouYu in light of the news about Shaojie’s “disappearance.” The leading live-streaming company explained that its operations continue as normal. However, DouYu did not disclose information about its chairman’s whereabouts and neither confirmed nor rejected reports about his involvement in an ongoing investigation in China.

The last time Shaojie appeared publicly was this summer. Back in August, DouYu’s chairman participated in a conference call, to discuss the company’s second quarter results.

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This revelation has sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation by Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns.

Alleged Tipping-off of Clubs Sparks Doubts Over Regulatory Credibility

Documents presented in the NSW parliament last Friday have uncovered the troubling practice, leading to concerns about the credibility of the regulatory body, reported ABC. These documents, brought to light after inquiries from Independent MP Alex Greenwich, indicated that the industry’s peak body, ClubsNSW, had sent out emails to club owners warning them about upcoming “gambling harm-minimization compliance inspections.” The purpose of these checks was to ensure the proper positioning of signage and gaming machines across Sydney.

Liquor and Gambling NSW defended its actions by stating that it regularly issues industry-wide communications to inform venues of upcoming random inspections, which may be overt or covert. However, the public’s confidence in the regulator’s impartiality and effectiveness has been significantly shaken.

Premier Chris Minns wasted no time expressing his concern over the matter. Speaking on August 6, he emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive investigation to address the allegations. He stated that the allegation was of great concern and required a comprehensive investigation. He emphasized the importance of preserving community confidence in the implementation of current laws.

Doubts Intensify Over Regulator’s Integrity Amidst Email Exchange Revelations

Further intrigue emerged from internal documents, including an email exchange between two public servants in February 2022. In this correspondence, one employee raised concerns about partnering with a club suspected of being the largest money-laundering club in NSW for an anti-gambling initiative. Although the regulator downplayed the significance of the email and attributed it to a former employee, the matter only intensified doubts about the regulator’s integrity.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich expressed his alarm at the situation, revealing that his confidence in the regulatory body had dwindled as a result of reviewing the documents. He questioned the regulator’s conduct and pointed out several instances where potential conflicts of interest arose.

The timing of these revelations coincides with ongoing debates surrounding gaming-related issues in NSW. Premier Minns’ government had previously faced criticism for not committing to a cashless gaming card proposed by the Coalition.

Instead, the government has continued to trial the cashless card scheme while focusing on implementing additional measures to combat money laundering and gambling-related harm in clubs and pubs.

In other news, as the September 1 ban on outward signage and advertisements for gambling products approaches, the NSW government has lauded gambling establishments’ proactive response. Nearly 50% of venues have already voluntarily removed signage, aligning with the government’s proposal to eliminate promotions for dedicated gambling spaces.

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Entain, a global gaming and betting giant, unveiled that it is in deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) negotiations with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This company seeks to resolve the ongoing HM Revenue & Customs investigation (HMRC) hurdles related to a former Turkish subsidiary.

Back in November 2019, an Entain subsidiary received a production order from the HMRC, asking it to provide information about its former iGaming and betting business in Turkey. The business in question was held by the company from 2011 to 2017, after which the group sold it.

The investigation, Entain said, was at first directed at several former third-party suppliers that processed iGaming payments in Turkey. On July 11, 2020, the scope of the investigation was expanded to include potential corporate offenses by entities within the Entain group.

Entain noted that the offenses under investigation include, but are not limited to, section seven of the Bribery Act 2010.

The Company May Receive a Fine

Entain continued that it understood that the ongoing investigation includes a review of the former Turkish-facing business. It admitted that it is possible for misconduct involving former third-party suppliers to have occurred in the past. Because of that, Entain emphasized that it is committed to cooperating with the HMRC and the CPS.

Entain noted that, at this point, it is still impossible to say what the investigation will yield. It is possible that an entity within the group may defend its action successfully or be convicted. In any case, Entain is now seeking to conclude DPA negotiations with the CPS. The resolution, the gambling giant said, would be subject to judicial approval.

Entain warned that the case might result in a fine of undetermined size.

In the meantime, Entain has started a comprehensive review of its anti-bribery protocols and policies. The company said that it has taken necessary action to reinforce its compliance program and related controls.

Entain said that its board of directors is satisfied with the compliance progress the group is making and is also happy with the progress regarding the ongoing investigation. The company’s board will seek an orderly conclusion to the matter.

This is not the only trouble Entain has faced in recent times. Around a week ago, the company was accused of allegedly funding an organization that incentivizes gamblers to protest against the United Kingdom’s ongoing gambling reforms. Some UK officials were not very happy with these lobbying efforts and called Entain’s methods “underhanded.”

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Monarch Casino Spa – Black Hawk in Colorado became the scene of the largest casino heist in the state on March 12 after a cage cashier drove off with $500,000.

Cashier Believed She Was Following Orders

An inside job or a casino personnel becoming a victim of a well-executed con job – that is for investigators to find out but what happened at Monarch Casino on that morning is unprecedented and hard to explain.

Investigating the missing money, a Division of Gaming inspector wrote in an affidavit that casino cashier Sabrina Eddy appeared in the video footage at 12:45 in the morning, grabbing bricks of $50,000 each from the casino vault, carefully placing the stacks of money in a box and then taping the box shut, reported 9News.

Around 12:55, Eddy walked out of the casino cage carrying the box, went to the parking garage, got into a gold minivan and drove off. An hour later, she returned to the cage and grabbed four more bricks of bills, rounding the total amount of money taken to half a million, and drove off again.

According to the affidavit, 44-year-old Eddy believed she was doing nothing wrong as she believed she was following orders from casino personnel, Monarch’s head of operations and a cage manager.

Eddy told investigators that there was a phone call on the casino’s phone from a man claiming to be the Monarch’s head of operations who told her the money was needed to solve an ongoing issue with a UPS order and if the problem was not solved, the casino would “be in breach of contract.”

At the same time, she was exchanging texts with another man who she believed was a cage manager and that man confirmed the story about the problematic UPS order, playing a part in convincing her that the money is needed for the business.

Well Executed Con Job?

Both men told her that the money should be delivered to a lawyer and acting on their instructions, Eddy drove the box to St. Anthony’s Hospital where around 4:36 in the morning, she gave it to a man who came to her door, the affidavit further revealed.

Officials from Monarch Casino confirmed a theft occurred but did not provide any further details due to the ongoing investigation. Spokesperson Erica Ferris commented that businesses sometimes experience “unfortunate things” and until this moment, Monarch Casino was fortunate to avoid such things.

Division of Gaming’s spokesperson Suzi Karrer refused to comment on the story and did not provide answers to any follow-up questions.

Ron Kammerzell, a former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming and now a regulatory consultant for the gaming industry, commented that he had never heard of a casino theft of such magnitude since 1991 when casino gaming in the state became legal.

“For something like that to happen, it would have had to defeat a number of different levels of casino controls within the property,” he said.

Eddy, who was apprehended on a theft charge, remains in arrest as she has not made bail.

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