Wynn Receives a $5.5 Million Fine for AML Violations

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Last updated: June 7, 2025

The Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) voted 4-1 to approve a $5.5 million fine against Wynn Resorts to settle a complaint. Two other major companies have already received such penalties for anti-money laundering violations this year. Commissioner George Markantonis characterized the offenses as a “body blow” to Wynn’s reputation, noting that the allegations also tarnished the commission’s standing.

A Near Deadlock During Commission Vote

A former president of Las Vegas Sands and current commissioner at the NGC, Markantonis described the charges as a blow to the commission itself. About 30 minutes later, he reconsidered his stance and joined three other commissioners in supporting the settlement against Wynn Resorts. The tense 90-minute hearing resulted in the NGC voting 4-1 to approve the $5.5 million fine.

The complaint originated from a non-prosecutorial agreement with the Justice Department in September 2024. As part of this agreement, Wynn surrendered $130 million to resolve accusations of collaborating globally with unlicensed money-transmitting entities to facilitate financial transfers benefiting the casino. This settlement represents the largest between a casino and the federal government.

Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey was the only one who voted against the settlement. According to her, the fine was too low compared to the gravity of the accusations. Wynn is charged with numerous illicit money transfers amounting to $130 million dollars, some of which date back to 2014.

Among those implicated was Juan Carlos Palermo, an Argentinian national who reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors after conducting hundreds of unauthorized transactions on behalf of casino patrons.

Illegal Gambling Schemes at Wynn

The complaint also mentions that the company was involved in plots known as “flying money” – a scheme where a money processor acts as an unregistered money-transmitting business. This procession was introduced to a Wynn international patron who couldn’t access cash in the US.

Such introductions were made by the patron’s personal host, whose job was to make the patron’s play easier. In exchange, the money processor would gather US dollars from third parties and provide the cash to a Wynn patron, as stated by prosecutors.

Wynn Resorts is also charged with “human hat” or “human head” gambling. This practice involves a gambler acting as a proxy for someone who is banned from the casino. In certain cases, the prohibited individuals stood just a few feet away from the proxy and were able to provide guidance without physically managing the chips.

In response, Wynn Resorts acknowledged the violations but attributed them to rogue employees with whom it had long severed ties. “We accept responsibility for those actions and are now glad the matter is fully resolved,” the company stated.