The Nevada Gaming Commission has voted unanimously so as to add unlawful bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to the state’s List of Excluded Persons, whereas additionally denying Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr. a listening to to hunt elimination from the identical record.
The choices got here throughout a Thursday assembly centered on two very completely different figures tied to Nevada gaming historical past. Bowyer, a California-based bookmaker linked to unlawful betting and cash laundering investigations, grew to become the thirty ninth individual positioned in the state’s so-called Black Book. Citro, an 80-year-old Las Vegas entertainer who has been excluded from main casinos since 1991, did not persuade commissioners that he deserved a proper listening to.
The Black Book completely bars listed people from Nevada casinos that provide unrestricted gaming, together with venues with desk video games, sportsbooks, and race books.
Bowyer Added After Illegal Bookmaking Case
Bowyer didn’t attend the listening to and didn’t request a listening to to contest his placement on the record. Commissioners acted rapidly on his case, approving his exclusion in lower than 20 minutes.
His title grew to become broadly identified after the Major League Baseball betting scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara, the previous interpreter and de facto agent for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer was recognized because the bookmaker utilized by Mizuhara, who stole $16 million from Ohtani.
At Thursday’s listening to, Nona Lawrence of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office mentioned Bowyer took tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in unlawful wagers from at the very least 700 bettors between 2014 and 2023. She additionally mentioned he frequented Las Vegas casinos and used unlawful proceeds to gamble and pay on line casino markers.
“Over the course of at least nine years, from 2014 to 2023, Mr. Bowyer took tens of million of dollars in illegal wagers from at least 700 bettors,” Lawrence mentioned. “Further, Mr. Bowyer frequented Las Vegas casinos and used illicit proceeds from his illegal bookmaking business to gamble and pay off casino markers.”
Lawrence additionally mentioned Bowyer solicited prospects by on line casino advertising hosts and provided commissions or gratuities for referrals. She mentioned he admitted to in search of purchasers by valets and different on line casino workers in trade for a payment.
Bowyer beforehand pleaded responsible to working an unlawful playing enterprise, cash laundering and submitting a false tax return. His conduct later grew to become a part of disciplinary actions towards main on line casino firms. MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Resorts World Las Vegas paid a mixed $26.8 million in fines in 2025, whereas different studies positioned fines involving a number of Strip operators above $30 million.
Commissioner Brian Krolicki mentioned Bowyer’s exclusion supplied wanted closure after a collection of compliance failures.
“Placing Mr. Bowyer on the List of Excluded Persons really provides critical closure on this chapter of compliance failure,” Krolicki mentioned. “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 (to place him on the list).”
Bowyer has mentioned publicly that he plans to discuss his unlawful bookmaking exercise and has written a guide about his actions. Commissioners criticized that stance.
“It’s quite arrogant of him to be out there bragging about how he’s going to monetize it,” Commissioner Abbi Silver mentioned.
Citro Fails to Secure Removal Hearing
The fee additionally rejected Citro’s request for a listening to that would have allowed him to hunt elimination from the Black Book. Citro has been excluded since 1991, when regulators cited his felony historical past and “notorious and unsavory reputation.”
Citro didn’t converse throughout Thursday’s listening to. His lawyer, Anthony Sgro, argued that his shopper is not the identical individual he was greater than three many years in the past. Sgro mentioned Citro’s former mob associates are lifeless and that the entertainer now desires to carry out bebop music, Italian folks songs, comedy and tales about Las Vegas’ mob previous in on line casino lounges.
“He’s no longer a present threat to the gaming community, and there must be a way to define what constitutes that,” Sgro mentioned, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Certainly, 35 years ago has to be fair game for consideration as to whether he could now demonstrate through evidence he’s not the same person that was put on the list of excluded persons.”
Sgro additionally argued that different severe incidents related to Nevada gaming venues had not resulted in Black Book listings. He pointed to the 2002 Laughlin River riot, the place three folks died throughout a confrontation between motorbike gangs, for instance of conduct that broken the state’s popularity with out ensuing in comparable exclusion.
Commissioners weren’t persuaded. Silver mentioned Citro’s exclusion doesn’t stop him from acting at many places with restricted gaming licenses.
“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,” Silver mentioned. “But critically, a denial of a hearing by this commission does not deprive him of his ability to entertain people, let alone deprive him of any constitutional right.”
She mentioned Nevada has greater than 2,000 restricted-license places the place Citro can eat, carry out, play slots and spend time with household.
“He just can’t go into casinos with table games, horse racing and sportsbooks,” Silver mentioned.
Commissioners centered closely on Nevada’s gaming popularity and the precedent that may very well be created by permitting a Black Book elimination effort to proceed.
Silver mentioned she reviewed prior data involving Citro and described conduct tied to extortion and mortgage sharking. She mentioned Citro’s previous associates had mentioned violence towards individuals who couldn’t repay loans at excessive rates of interest.
Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey additionally pointed to the long-running picture downside created by organized crime’s historical past in Las Vegas.
“All we have is a stain that remains from organized crime in Las Vegas,” Solis-Rainey mentioned earlier than the vote. “We still get asked if the mob is still here and I don’t think it sends the right message to the industry (to remove him from the Black Book).”
Commission Chair Jennifer Togliatti mentioned Citro had portrayed himself as a sufferer, however she was unwilling to miss the unique foundation for his itemizing.
After the choice, Citro mentioned he was upset and would converse together with his attorneys about potential subsequent steps.
