Caesars Palace, the iconic Las Vegas casino, has been hit with a $7.8 million fine from Nevada gaming authorities for serious failures in its anti-money laundering protocols, a case that intersects with the high-profile scandal involving baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter.
The Core of the Allegations
On Thursday, 20 November 2025, the Nevada Gaming Control Board voted to impose the multi-million dollar penalty. The investigation centred on the casino's dealings with illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. Regulators alleged that between 2017 and 2024, Caesars Palace allowed Bowyer to gamble millions of dollars without properly verifying the source of his funds.
This oversight occurred despite several internal suspicions and an anonymous tip that explicitly identified Bowyer as a bookmaker. The failure to act on these red flags formed the basis of the regulatory action.
A Wider Web of Scandal and Guilt
The case is intricately linked to a broader federal investigation. Mathew Bowyer pleaded guilty in 2024 to federal charges, including running an illegal gambling business and money laundering. Prosecutors revealed that his clientele included Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and close confidant of baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani.
Mizuhara was subsequently sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after confessing to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account to cover his gambling debts.
Industry-Wide Repercussions and Commitments
Caesars Palace is not the only establishment to face consequences for Bowyer's activities. This marks the third casino to be fined in relation to the bookmaker. Earlier this year, Resorts World was handed a $10.5 million fine, the second-largest in the board's history, while MGM Resorts International was fined $8.5 million for actions connected to Bowyer and another bookmaker.
During the hearing, Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg admitted the company's failure, stating, "There is no customer that’s worth illegitimate profits. We didn’t catch Bowyer and we should have." Similarly, Gary Carano, the executive chairman of Caesars Entertainment's board of directors, called the performance of their anti-money laundering program "unacceptable."
As part of the settlement, Caesars Palace is now required to implement enhanced compliance measures, including more robust staff training, to prevent such a breach from happening again.
