Resorts World Las Vegas has overhauled its management and governance hierarchy ahead of an expected response to regulators over allegations of illegal gambling and money laundering failures.
The Vegas Strip casino has named former Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association CEO Alex Dixon as CEO. He will take up the role on January 16.
Jim Murren, the former CEO and chairman of MGM Resorts International, will take up the role earlier this month.
The company said the appointments, as well as the formation of the board, are a “key part” of its plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership, improve governance and accelerate its growth strategy.
The appointments come days after the casino’s parent company Genting Berhard reported that Resorts World’s third quarter of 2024 was its worst in two years. The move was attributed to “an abnormally hot summer in Las Vegas and the economic uncertainty of an election year.”
The management shakeup also comes days before the company is scheduled to respond to Nevada regulators.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) filed a disciplinary complaint in August following an investigation by the Enforcement Team into alleged violations of the Nevada Gaming Control Act and Nevada Gaming Commission rules.
The NGCB alleges that Resorts World had perceived or direct ties to illegal gambling and failed to meet the standards of its anti-money laundering (AML) program due to a lack of oversight. This allowed people to bet with money siphoned off through illegal gambling operations.
The investigation largely focused on the conduct of bookmaker Matthew Boyer, who made headlines earlier this year. Then his alleged illegal betting operation in California was suspected of being linked to Shohei Ohtani’s former translator Ippei Mizuhara.
The NCGB alleges that Resorts World ignored rules regarding Boyer and some of his associates. Boyer was allegedly allowed to place bets at Resorts World in 2022 despite the casino failing to verify the source of the funds, including a $1 million upfront deposit.
The investigation found that Boyer was allowed to place millions in bets at Resorts World over 20 months using funds obtained from an unverified source.
Some Resorts World executives, including former president Scott Sibella, had the authority to ban Boyer from gambling at the casino but allegedly turned a blind eye.
The complaint against Resorts World covers 12 counts.
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