LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Nevada’s Gaming Commission has added another illegal bookmaker to the state’s so-called “black book.”
Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to include Wayne Nix in the list of excluded persons, meaning he cannot set foot on a casino floor in the state of Nevada.
Nix was part of the scandal that embroiled former Resorts World President Scott Sibella and MGM Resorts in recent years.
The Gaming Control Board alleged Nix was allowed to play at MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, despite being a known illegal bookmaker. The casinos admitted that Nix used the money he earned as a bookie to gamble and pay off markers. He also solicited new customers through casino hosts.
MGM Resorts ultimately agreed to an $8.5 million settlement over allegations of violating the state’s anti-money laundering provisions.
Sibella was president of MGM Grand at the time Nix played at the casino, and he admitted to providing Nix with complimentary benefits. Resorts World ousted him in 2023 amid a federal investigation into his ties to Nix.
The former casino executive ultimately pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to failure to report suspicious transactions required of casinos and was sentenced to probation and a nearly $10,000 fine. Nevada gaming commissioners revoked Sibella’s license in 2024.
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Nix, a former minor league baseball pitcher, pleaded guilty in 2022 to federal charges of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports betting business and filing a false tax return. His sentencing is still pending.