If approved, this would mark the third major financial penalty imposed on a Strip casino operator by the state’s gaming regulator in less than three months.
The NGCB settlement comes in the wake of previous enforcement actions against Resorts World Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International.
In March, Resorts World accepted a $10.5m fine related to the facilitation of transactions for illegal bookmakers.
The following month, MGM Resorts was fined $8.5m after the regulator found it accepted nearly $5m in bets from unlawful betting operations.
Penalty background
Wynn’s penalty stems from its involvement in a broader international scheme that has also been the subject of a federal investigation.
In September last year, Wynn agreed to forfeit $130m to the US government to resolve criminal allegations that it conspired with unlicensed money-transmitting businesses worldwide.
That case focused on illegal transfers of funds to benefit gamblers at the company’s Las Vegas property.
The federal case resulted in a non-prosecution agreement between Wynn Resorts and the US Department of Justice, effectively concluding a 10-year investigation.
Under the of the federal agreement, the company avoided criminal charges by acknowledging its role in allowing unlicensed international financial transactions and committing to a series of corrective measures.A series of violations
The NGCB’s complaint outlines how former Wynn employees facilitated the movement of money across borders in violation of US financial laws and Nevada gaming regulations.
The employees allegedly enabled international customers to obtain funds for gambling at Wynn Las Vegas through uned money transmitters.
The report also noted that the property allowed proxy betting — the practice of placing wagers on behalf of others — which is strictly prohibited under Nevada law and contravenes standard anti-money-laundering (AML) protocols.
According to the NGCB, these practices violated the of Wynn’s gaming licence and fell short of the state’s rigorous AML compliance standards.
It emphasised that the company’s failure to detect or prevent these activities signalled lapses in oversight and internal controls.
Despite these findings, the NGCB noted that Wynn Resorts cooperated fully with both federal and state authorities.
During the federal investigation, the company kept the NGCB informed of developments. Once the US Department of Justice concluded its case, the Control Board proceeded with its own regulatory probe, which also received full cooperation from Wynn.
Representatives from the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and legal counsel for Wynn are scheduled to present the of the agreement at the NGCB meeting.
If the settlement is approved, it will serve as the final regulatory consequence for Wynn’s participation in international money transmission activities outside the scope of US licensing requirements.
The rapid succession of multi-million-dollar fines issued to top-tier Strip properties in 2024 highlights Nevada’s renewed focus on enforcing AML rules and safeguarding the integrity of its gaming industry.
