Former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court to charges related to allowing an illegal bookmaking operation to function within the casino. Following his plea, the MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan were ordered by the Justice Department on Thursday to pay a combined settlement of $7.45 million as part of a money laundering investigation. Over three years, the casino received over $4 million from the illegal bookmaking operation. Additionally, an illegal bookie was given comps, credits, and golf trips by MGM Grand to encourage spending at the resort. Despite the guilty plea, Sibella hopes to continue working in the gaming industry, which brings into question his future licensing eligibility.
Comps, credits, golf trips: An illegal bookie received perks from MGM Grand in order to encourage him to spend his money at the Strip resort, per federal documents unsealed as part of the criminal investigation into ex-MGM Grand President Scott Sibella. https://t.co/gQMKsLAYVy
Every dirty casino gaming exec & dirty money laundering gambler is now wondering. WHO IS NEXT? I will bet Illegal Bookmakers Matt Bowyer and Damian LeForbes from RWLV are just two & they're cooperating with Feds. Scott Sibella's guilty plea to the Feds was the watershed movement https://t.co/6iKnE4u70H
Over the course of three years, a Las Vegas Strip casino took in more than $4 million in cash from an illegal bookmaking operation that federal officials say its former president allowed to operate freely within the casino. https://t.co/Lfee2hRaJe
Updated w/comment from NV Gaming Control Board chairman. Sibella looks forward to working in gaming after guilty plea. Can he get a license? https://t.co/LVLO0M7Rqn via @NevadaCurrent
Scott Sibella pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, and the price was high for MGM Grand and The Cosmo https://t.co/VmhBbRdud4 #8NN
LATEST: Two Las Vegas casinos were ordered to pay a combined $7.45 million fine in a money-laundering settlement connected to Wednesday’s guilty plea by former gaming executive Scott Sibella, the Justice Department said Thursday. https://t.co/6Apa6BQCf2
Casinos to pay $7.45M fine related to Sibella guilty plea https://t.co/k3Viik7hOa via @reviewjournal
The MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan have agreed to pay a $7.45 million settlement as part of a money laundering probe. https://t.co/pZbI2JLinZ
In a statement after entering his guilty plea, Scott Sibella said he did nothing to benefit himself. I assume as president he was getting paid by @MGMGrand. Protecting its revenue didn’t benefit him?? https://t.co/FoABUwX9Kd
Sibella looks forward to working in gaming after guilty plea. Can he get a license? https://t.co/LVLO0M7Rqn via @NevadaCurrent