(AsiaGameHub) –   Earlier this week, we shared that the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) was evaluating a set of key updates to the Black Book, officially called the state’s List of Excluded Persons.

Though new names are seldom added to the list, the commission chose to take decisive action on Thursday, April 23, 2026, casting a unanimous vote to add Mathew Bowyer to the Black Book. 

This means the 50-year-old man will be permanently prohibited from stepping foot in every single casino across the Silver State.

During that same meeting, commissioners denied a petition submitted by Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr., who had asked for a hearing to have his name removed from this exact list. Requests for removal are even more uncommon. 

Strong Case Against Bowyer

Right now, Bowyer is under home confinement at his residence in California, serving a 12-month federal prison term.

He did not appear in front of the commission, nor did he file a request for a hearing, which officials noted did not reduce the severity of the charges against him in any way.

Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence stated that Bowyer operated a large-scale illegal sports betting ring between 2014 and 2023, over which time he took in tens of millions of dollars in bets from over 700 gamblers. 

He also reportedly made frequent trips to casinos in Las Vegas, where he used the funds to gamble, settle outstanding debts, or build new professional relationships.

Lawrence informed the commission that Bowyer, who had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, approached casino staff including floor hosts and valets, requesting to be introduced to high-net-worth clients. In several of these instances, he reportedly offered kickbacks in exchange.

The Ripple Effect

This case drew national media coverage in 2024 after federal prosecutors tied Bowyer to a high-profile scandal involving Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Officials shared that Bowyer handled bets for an interpreter who embezzled $16 million from the athlete.

The fallout from the scandal prompted heightened oversight across Nevada’s gaming sector, with major operators including MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Resorts World facing fines totaling more than $30 million related to anti-money laundering shortcomings. With this ruling, Bowyer becomes the 39th individual ever placed in the Black Book, a list reserved for those considered a serious threat to the integrity of the gaming industry.