Who Is Mathew Bowyer? Venetian Money Laundering Scandal Explained

Mathew Bowyer is a California illegal bookmaker whose gambling operation became internationally notorious through the Shohei Ohtani–Ippei Mizuhara betting scandal. Bowyer pleaded guilty to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return and was sentenced in 2025 to 12 months and one day in federal prison. His activities also triggered major regulatory investigations of Las Vegas casinos that accepted millions of dollars from him despite questions about his source of funds. In August 2026, the Venetian Resort Las Vegas agreed to pay Nevada a $7.2 million fine after regulators concluded the casino repeatedly failed to establish where Bowyer’s money came from, allowed him to wager millions despite warning signs and employed a casino host who knew Bowyer was an illegal bookmaker but failed to report it.

The Venetian $7.2 Million Settlement

The Venetian Agreed To Pay Nevada $7.2 Million. The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the settlement on August 20, 2026. The amount represented twice the approximately $3.6 million Bowyer lost at the Venetian during the period examined by regulators. [Nevada Gaming Commission] [Nevada Current]

The Venetian Formally Admitted The Allegations In The State Complaint. The settlement states that Venetian Las Vegas Gaming LLC admitted “each and every allegation” contained in the Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint. The casino waived its right to contest the accusations at a public disciplinary hearing. [Settlement Order]

The Fine Included New Compliance Requirements. The Venetian agreed to maintain or increase staffing in its anti-money-laundering compliance operation for at least two years, regularly update its AML policies, provide additional training to casino hosts and other employees, strengthen internal information sharing concerning suspicious customers and encourage employees to report questionable sources of money. [Settlement Order]

Bowyer Gambled Millions At The Venetian

Bowyer Had A Relationship With The Venetian Dating Back To 1999. Nevada regulators said Bowyer had been a Venetian customer from approximately May 1999 until he was formally banned in March 2024, except for a two-year hiatus during 2017 and 2018. The regulatory investigation focused primarily on the period from 2019 through 2024. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Made Approximately 30 Trips To The Venetian Between 2019 And 2021. During those trips, regulators said he deposited approximately $22.3 million in front money, wagered millions of dollars and lost at least $3.6 million. His gambling activity decreased substantially beginning in 2022. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Brought A $1 Million Cashier’s Check To The Venetian In June 2019. The casino permitted him to use the check as front money. Bowyer won during that trip, so the check was never negotiated and was eventually returned to him. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Questions About Bowyer’s Source Of Wealth

The Venetian Had Questions About Bowyer’s Money Before Allowing Him To Resume Gambling. When Bowyer sought to return to the Venetian in 2019 after his hiatus, a casino host contacted compliance officials and recalled previous concerns about Bowyer’s source of wealth. The casino nevertheless permitted the relationship to resume while acknowledging that additional information might be needed. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Claimed To Be CEO Of A Synthetic-Grass Company. On a June 2019 casino information form, Bowyer identified himself as CEO of Green Forever, which he described as a synthetic turf and grass business. He claimed annual income between $500,000 and $1 million, a net worth exceeding $5 million and approximately $3.2 million in real estate. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Venetian’s Research Found The Company Had Only About $94,000 In Annual Sales. Regulators said the casino discovered inconsistencies between Bowyer’s claims and information it could independently verify about Green Forever. Despite those discrepancies, the Venetian concluded that his business and real-estate interests were sufficient to support an upcoming gambling trip while planning additional review. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Gave The Casino Multiple Explanations For His Employment. Between 2019 and 2022, regulators said Bowyer variously described himself as CEO of Green Forever, self-employed in the wagering business, owner of a wagering and real-estate investment company, CEO of a California medical business and a real-estate investor and professional gambler. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Venetian Repeatedly Could Not Verify Bowyer’s Employment Information. According to regulators, reviews between 2019 and 2024 repeatedly found that employment information Bowyer supplied was either unverifiable or inconsistent. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Enhanced Due Diligence Raised More Red Flags

A 2021 Investigation Called Bowyer’s Source Of Wealth A “Significant Concern.” The Venetian commissioned enhanced third-party due diligence on Bowyer in October 2021. The resulting report identified his 2011 bankruptcy, a 2012 monetary judgment in favor of another Las Vegas casino and a lack of concrete public information establishing his current income or financial position. The report characterized his source of wealth as a significant concern. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Casino Still Continued Allowing Bowyer To Gamble. Regulators alleged that from 2019 through 2023, the Venetian repeatedly noted concerns about Bowyer’s source of funds and whether legitimate income could support his level of gambling but continued the customer relationship. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Casino Host Knew Bowyer Was An Illegal Bookmaker

Nevada Regulators Said A Venetian Casino Host Knew Bowyer Was An Illegal Bookmaker. The employee began handling Bowyer after his return to the Venetian in 2019. According to the regulatory complaint, Bowyer eventually disclosed information that made his illegal bookmaking activity clear to the host. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Told The Host That He “Takes Bets.” Regulators said Bowyer told the host sometime in 2019 or early 2020 that he took bets and suggested that if the host referred customers to him, Bowyer would “take care” of the employee. Regulators concluded that the host understood Bowyer was operating as an illegal bookmaker. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Casino Host Failed To Report Bowyer. The Gaming Control Board said the employee understood that Venetian anti-money-laundering rules required him to report the information but did not notify a supervisor, compliance personnel or other appropriate casino officials. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Venetian Said Management Did Not Authorize The Host’s Conduct. The regulatory complaint says the casino did not condone, authorize or ratify the employee’s failure to report Bowyer and took remedial action after learning about the issue in September 2025. Nevada casinos are nevertheless responsible for actions taken by employees within the scope of their duties. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Money Laundering Concerns

Regulators Said The Venetian’s Failures Created The Possibility That Illegal Bookmaking Proceeds Were Being Laundered. The Gaming Control Board alleged that the Venetian failed for approximately five years to conduct sufficient due diligence establishing Bowyer’s source of funds, undermining its anti-money-laundering program and preventing it from adequately protecting against possible laundering of money derived from illegal gambling. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The State Did Not Accuse The Venetian Of Operating Bowyer’s Illegal Bookmaking Business. The regulatory action concerned failures to identify, investigate and appropriately respond to suspicious money and a high-risk patron. Regulators did not allege that the Venetian itself operated Bowyer’s sportsbook or joined his criminal conspiracy. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Venetian Finally Bans Bowyer

The Casino Stopped Booking Bowyer After Learning He Was A Person Of Interest In Another Investigation. In October 2023, the Venetian noted that Bowyer was a person of interest in the Resorts World investigation and had been approached by law enforcement. The casino then decided to stop booking Bowyer and associates connected to him. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Bowyer Was Formally Banned In March 2024. The Venetian formally barred him after receiving additional negative information, including law-enforcement inquiries and information suggesting that he might be an illegal bookmaker. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

The Venetian Conducted An Internal Investigation After The Ban. The final settlement states that immediately after Bowyer was banned in March 2024, the Venetian conducted an internal investigation into his history as a casino patron. [Settlement Order]

Who Is Mathew Bowyer?

Bowyer Ran An Illegal Sports-Betting Operation With More Than 700 Customers. Federal prosecutors said his unlicensed bookmaking business operated for at least five years through October 2023 and used several Costa Rica-based betting websites and a call center. Bowyer employed agents and sub-agents who received portions of bettors’ losses. [DOJ]

Bowyer Conducted Illegal Gambling Business While Visiting Las Vegas Casinos. Prosecutors said he sometimes conducted bookmaking activity while gambling and paid agents using casino chips. Federal court documents referred to the relevant property as “Casino A,” so that particular criminal allegation should not automatically be attributed to the Venetian. [DOJ]

Connection To Shohei Ohtani And Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara Was One Of Bowyer’s Customers. Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets through Bowyer’s illegal operation between September 2021 and January 2024. [DOJ]

Mizuhara Lost More Than $40 Million Net Through Bowyer’s Operation. His winning wagers totaled at least $142.3 million while his losing wagers totaled approximately $182.9 million, leaving him with net losses of roughly $40.7 million. Bowyer repeatedly increased Mizuhara’s betting limits. [DOJ]

Mizuhara Stole Nearly $17 Million From Ohtani. Federal investigators determined that Mizuhara stole money from the baseball star’s bank account to pay gambling debts. Prosecutors consistently described Ohtani as a victim who had no knowledge of the theft or illegal gambling operation. [DOJ]

At Least $16.25 Million In Illegal Gambling Proceeds Went To Bowyer-Controlled Accounts. Bowyer directed Mizuhara to send at least that amount to bank accounts under Bowyer’s control. Bowyer then transferred or directed at least $9.3 million in illegal gambling proceeds to a casino to pay markers for himself and associates. The Justice Department did not identify that casino by name in its sentencing announcement. [DOJ]

Bowyer Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering

Bowyer Pleaded Guilty To Three Federal Crimes. In August 2024, he admitted operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false federal income-tax return. [DOJ]

Bowyer Hid More Than $4 Million In Income From The IRS. Prosecutors said Bowyer reported total 2022 income of $607,897 despite having approximately $4.03 million in additional income from his illegal gambling operation. [DOJ]

Bowyer Was Sentenced To One Year And One Day In Federal Prison. U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced him in August 2025 and ordered him to pay $1,613,280 in restitution. Bowyer also forfeited approximately $258,000 in cash and $14,830 in casino chips seized by investigators. [DOJ]

Bowyer Released From Prison

Bowyer Served Approximately Seven Months Behind Bars. By June 2026 he had been released and gave an interview to NBC Los Angeles discussing his imprisonment and illegal bookmaking career. [NBC Los Angeles]

Bowyer Said He Had Made As Much As $1 Million Per Month. Bowyer described the dramatic transition from an extravagant lifestyle involving private jets and luxury treatment at casinos to federal incarceration and expressed regret about some of the choices he had made. [NBC Los Angeles]

Nevada Permanently Excludes Bowyer From Casinos

Nevada Placed Bowyer On Its List Of Excluded Persons In April 2026. The Nevada Gaming Commission ordered Bowyer excluded from licensed gaming establishments statewide on April 23. Casinos are required to prevent him from gambling at their properties. [Nevada Gaming Commission]

Bowyer Is Listed In Nevada’s Official Black Book. The Gaming Control Board identifies Mathew Raymond Bowyer as an excluded person and lists spelling variations and aliases associated with his name. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Venetian Ownership Controversy

Most Of Bowyer’s Heavy Venetian Gambling Occurred While Las Vegas Sands Controlled The Property. Bowyer’s roughly 30 visits and $3.6 million in losses cited by regulators largely occurred from 2019 through 2021. Apollo Global Management acquired the Venetian operating business in February 2022 as part of Las Vegas Sands’ exit from Las Vegas. [Nevada Gaming Control Board] [Nevada Current]

Apollo Assumed The Property’s Existing Liabilities. The current Venetian operator therefore became responsible for resolving regulatory violations connected largely to conduct occurring under the previous ownership. [Nevada Gaming Control Board]

Nevada Officials Said Apollo Overhauled The Venetian’s Compliance Program. Deputy Attorney General Michael Somps told commissioners that Apollo substantially revamped the property’s compliance operation after acquiring the resort and said the newer program had proven effective. [Nevada Current]

The Venetian Had A Previous Money Laundering Controversy

The Venetian Previously Paid More Than $47 Million To Resolve A Federal Money-Laundering Investigation. In 2013, Las Vegas Sands agreed to return $47.4 million to the federal government after an investigation into the Venetian-Palazzo’s handling of suspicious funds from high-stakes gambler Zhenli Ye Gon. Prosecutors agreed not to prosecute the company after it cooperated and strengthened its compliance systems. [DOJ]

Federal Authorities Said The Casino Should Have Investigated Suspicious Transactions More Aggressively. Investigators said casino personnel failed to adequately examine Ye Gon’s source of money and suspicious transfer patterns involving tens of millions of dollars. That case is separate from Bowyer’s activities but provides historical context for scrutiny of the Venetian’s anti-money-laundering compliance. [DOJ]

Wider Las Vegas Casino Crackdown

The Venetian Is Not The Only Casino Penalized Over Illegal Bookmakers. MGM Grand and the Cosmopolitan, Resorts World and Caesars Palace have also faced Nevada sanctions connected to Bowyer or other illegal bookmakers and failures to adequately investigate the sources of high rollers’ funds. [Nevada Current]

Recent Casino Anti-Money-Laundering Penalties Total Approximately $34 Million. Nevada Current reported that major settlements involving MGM/Cosmopolitan, Resorts World, Caesars and the Venetian collectively reached about $34 million. [Nevada Current]

Nevada Regulators Said The Venetian Case Was Narrower Than Some Other Investigations. State officials emphasized that their Venetian complaint concerned Bowyer specifically and did not allege that multiple additional illegal bookmakers were active at the property during the period covered by the case. [Nevada Current]

Current Status

The Venetian Regulatory Case Has Been Settled. The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the $7.2 million settlement on August 20, 2026. The Venetian admitted the allegations in the regulatory complaint, agreed to the financial penalty and accepted continuing compliance obligations. [Nevada Gaming Commission]

Bowyer Has Completed His Federal Prison Term. He was released after serving approximately seven months and remains responsible for restitution imposed in his criminal case. [NBC Los Angeles] [DOJ]

Bowyer Is Barred From Nevada Casinos. His April 2026 placement on Nevada’s excluded-person list prevents him from legally gambling at licensed casinos in the state. [Nevada Gaming Commission]

The Venetian Settlement Is Not An Allegation That The Casino Joined Bowyer’s Criminal Enterprise. The admitted regulatory violations concern inadequate due diligence, failure to establish Bowyer’s source of funds, failure to ban him promptly and an employee’s failure to report knowledge that Bowyer was an illegal bookmaker. Bowyer separately pleaded guilty to federal money laundering and illegal gambling charges. [Nevada Gaming Control Board] [DOJ]