RJ Cipriani Calls Resorts World a ‘Criminal Racketeering Enterprise’ in New Complaint

^{Resorts World Las Vegas faces new allegations from gambler RJ Cipriani, who has brought up a second lawsuit against the casino alleging that executives enabled money laundering and racketeering. (Photo: Nick Fox / Alamy)}

High-stakes gambler Robert “RJ” Cipriani filed a federal lawsuit in Nevada on Wednesday, alleging that Resorts World Las Vegas executives violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) by ignoring gaming regulations and allowing known criminals to gamble at the resort.

In the lawsuit, Cipriani says that Resorts World “adopted a deliberate business strategy” of allowing criminals to launder money at the casino in order to maximize profits for the company.

Lawsuit Claims Chesnoff, Sibella ‘Manufactured’ Charges Against Cipriani

The lawsuit names former hotel president Scott Sibella and Las Vegas attorney David Chesnoff among its defendants. Businessman James Russell filed the lawsuit alongside Cipriani. 

In the filing, Cipriani alleges that Sibella and Chesnoff conspired to get the gambler banned from the casino as retribution for reporting illegal activity at the resort to lan enforcement officials.

“Working together, the Defendants arranged to ‘arrest’ Plaintiff Cipriani on false charges, and, for good measures, manufactured a separate criminal charge of cheating at blackjack, with the clear intent and message to silence and prevent Plaintiff Cipriani’s future Cooperation,” the lawsuit reads.

The is the second lawsuit that Cipriani has brought against Resorts World and Sibella. In a previous complaint, Cipriani claimed that Resorts World had instructed another patron to intimidate and harass him after he raised concerns over known felons gambling at the casino. 

US District Court Judge Miranda M. Du dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice in October 2024. The case was since remanded to Du by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but with Sibella removed as a defendant. 

The new suit makes explosive allegations, claiming that Sibella admitted that the resort knew about criminals gambling illegally at the casino.

“We need [the money] to keep the lights on,” Sibella told Cipriani, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also names Chesnoff as a key part of the Resorts World operation and its decisions to allow the illegal gambling to take place.

“In addition to representing various illegal gamblers, fraudsters, drug traffickers and other criminals,” the lawsuit reads, “Defendant Chesnoff invested in, participated in, and own business interests at Resorts World, which were used to facilitate money laundering, and other illegal activities.”

Resorts World, Sibella Fined for Anti-Money Laundering Violations

Resorts World has been dismissive of Cipriani’s legal efforts, framing them as an attempt to pressure the company into settling with him over his previous complaint.

“We typically do not comment on pending litigation, but this lawsuit repackages old matters and is yet another attempt to bring negative attention to Resorts World Las Vegas and seek some form of compensation,” a Resorts World spokesperson said in a statement. “We will vigorously defend ourselves against this meritless action.”

Regardless of whether this lawsuit has merit or not, there has already been significant fallout over how Resorts World has managed its Las Vegas resort since it opened in 2021.

Resorts World fired Sibella in 2023 after reports that authorities were investigating allegations of illegal activity and a lack of regulatory oversight under his watch, both at Resorts World and in previous work as the president of the MGM Grand. Sibella would plead guilty in federal court for failing to follow anti-money laundering laws while in his position at the MGM Grand.

The company later reached an agreement with Resorts World Las Vegas that resulted in a $10.5 million fine related to knowingly allowing illegal bookmakers – including Mathew Bowyer – to gamble at the casinos. 

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