Nevada Permanently Excludes Illegal Bookmaker from Casinos
Earlier this week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) announced potential updates to the state’s List of Excluded Persons, commonly known as the Black Book, a rare but critical measure to maintain casino integrity.
On Thursday, April 23, 2026, the NGCB took decisive action by unanimously voting to add Mathew Bowyer to the Black Book. This decision permanently bans the 50-year-old from entering any casino throughout Nevada.
During the same meeting, the board declined a removal request from Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr., highlighting how uncommon it is for names to be removed from this list.
Compelling Evidence Against Mathew Bowyer
Currently, Bowyer is serving a one-year federal sentence under house arrest at his California residence. He chose not to appear before the NGCB nor requested a hearing, a move that officials stated does not diminish the gravity of the charges against him.
Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence explained that Bowyer operated a significant illegal sports betting network from 2014 through 2023. Over this period, he accepted tens of millions of dollars in wagers from more than 700 bettors.
Officials also revealed that Bowyer frequented Las Vegas casinos where he used illicit funds to gamble, settle debts, and forge connections. He allegedly sought introductions to high-value casino clients by approaching employees such as hosts and valets, sometimes offering kickbacks in exchange.
Wider Consequences Impacting Nevada’s Gaming Industry
This case attracted national attention in 2024 after federal prosecutors connected Bowyer to a high-profile scandal involving Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Authorities reported that Bowyer managed bets for an interpreter who misappropriated $16 million from the player.
The investigation led to heightened oversight of Nevada’s gaming sector, with major casino operators including MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Resorts World collectively fined more than $30 million for failures related to anti-money laundering regulations.
With Bowyer’s addition, he becomes the 39th individual ever placed in the Black Book, a designation reserved for those deemed serious threats to the integrity of Nevada’s gaming industry.
