Illegal Bookmaker Mathew Bowyer Officially Added to Nevada Black Book

^{Nevada's 'Black Book' now has 39 members after the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously added illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer on Thursday. (Photo: ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy)}

Illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer was added to Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons on Thursday, permanently banning him from all state casinos. The list, known as the state’s “Black Book,” now has 939 members after the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) made its decision on Thursday.

Bowyer pleaded guilty to money laundering and illegal bookmaking in 2024, prompting the NGC to vote unanimously to add him to the Black Book.

Bowyer Not in Attendance for Black Book Decision

The decision took the commissioners less than 20 minutes in total. Bowyer didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting and didn’t request a hearing to discuss his case.

During the meeting, Nevada Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence told commissioners that Bowyer had operated an illegal sports betting organization from 2014 to 2023. Among his clients was Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter who is serving a prison sentence after admitting to stealing millions from Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts to Bowyer.

Lawrence said that Bowyer then took the proceeds of his illegal bookmaking operations and used them to gamble at Las Vegas casinos and pay off casino debts. Casino executives allowed him to continue gambling despite knowing or strongly suspecting that he was engaged in illegal activity. That later led the NGC to issue large fines against Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, and Resorts World. 

Bowyer has built a heavy media presence and written a bestselling book about his operation. Although his inclusion in the Black Book might only add to his reputation, the NGC agreed that the ban was required for the state’s casino industry.

“Placing Mr. Bowyer on the List of Excluded Persons really provides critical closure on this chapter of compliance failure,” NGC Commissioner Brian Krolicki said during the meeting. “My only regret is that potentially Mr. Bowyer may successfully monetize his nomination. But nevertheless, we need to proceed, and I fully support the motion.”

According to Deputy Attorney General Lawrence, Bowyer met four of the criteria for inclusion in the Black Book. These criteria include: conviction of a federal felony, conviction of a crime under California gaming laws, conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, and possession of a "notorious or unsavory reputation" capable of eroding public confidence in the gaming industry.

Citro to Remain in Black Book

During the same meeting, the NGC also considered the case of 80-year-old Francis Citro Jr., a Las Vegas entertainer who was added to the Black Book in 1991. 

Attorney Anthony Sgro argued on Citro’s behalf that he deserved a hearing where he could make his case for removal. Sgro argued that Citro’s former organized crime associates have died and that he no longer poses a threat to the reputation of Nevada's gaming industry.

However, commissioners voted unanimously to deny Citro a hearing on whether to remove him from the list. They noted that Citro was still able to entertain and even gamble at other venues in the state, including locations with restricted licenses that must have 15 or fewer gaming devices on their premises.

“I recognize that time has passed and I commend him for doing some community service some years ago as well as some other admirable acts since he’s been placed in the Black Book,” Commissioner Abbi Silver said. “But critically, a denial of a heading by this commission does not deprive him of his ability to entertain people, let alone deprive him of any constitutional right.”