Nevada Gaming Regulators File Complaint Against Sibella
Nevada Gaming Control Board Wants Fines, License Action
The Nevada Gaming Control Board is upset with former casino executive Scott Sibella. It was asked the Nevada Gaming Commission to fine him and also seeks to see his license suspended, if not revoked. Sibella pled guilty to federal charges for violating the Bank Secrecy Act in January.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday. Sibella could receive a $250,000 fine and five years in prison. The criminal case stems from Sibella’s time at MGM Grand between 2010 to 2019.
It also comes shortly after Nevada gaming regulators from the Nevada Gaming Control Board cleared Sibella of wrongdoing during his time at Resorts World Las Vegas.
The investigation into Sibella and Resorts World had to do with a restaurant partially owned by a convicted felon.
Even though Sibella was found to have done nothing wrong by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, he parted ways with Resorts World Las Vegas three months later. No reason was given other than “unspecified violations of company policy.”
The most recent complaint from Nevada gaming regulators against Sibella is his lack of adherence to money-laundering laws in 2018. Sibella reportedly allowed Wayne Nix, believed to be an illegal bookmaker, to gamble millions of dollars and pay his debts to MGM in cash.
Nix made his bets in person, not using MGM’s best betting app.
The complaint from the Gaming Control Board to the Nevada Gaming Commission states, “Sibella failed to comply with MGM Resorts International’s anti-money laundering policy and failed to comply with MGM Grand’s internal controls that required Sibella to report suspicious activities regarding Nix.”
Other Legal Problems For Sibella
Sibella itted to working to attract Nix as a customer back in 2010. He was aware Nix was suspected to be an illegal bookie, but purposely avoided looking into funding sources for Nix.
Nix was basically allowed to partake in sports betting sites and bets made over the phone lines. He was bought out of his contract by MGM in February 2019.
Two months later he was hired by Resorts World Las Vegas. His title was president and chief operating officer.
Sibella itted to federal law enforcement sometime during their investigation he intentionally didn’t look at the source of a 2018 payment from Nix.
That occurred in 2022, but wasn’t known until his guilty plea in January. While he could receive five years in prison, it’s unlikely that will happen. It’s believed he is likely receive a fine and probation.
After Sibella parted ways with Resorts World Las Vegas, he was still named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit. Robert J. Cipriani filed a lawsuit against Resorts World and Sibella in October 2023 seeking monetary damages.
Cipriana, a self-proclaimed “high roller,” sued the casino and Sibella for “negligent failure to prevent foreseeable harm and for the infliction of emotional distress.”
Cipriana said his complaints about about convicted felons at his gaming tables were not dealt with.
The latest complaint from Nevada gaming regulators could affect Sibella’s plans for the future. A license suspension would prevent him from getting back into the industry. That’s if somebody was willing to take a chance on him.
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