Nevada regulators are set to decide later this month on the licensing of a senior Resorts World Las Vegas executive, as scrutiny over the property’s past compliance failures intersects with discussions on the future of the north Strip.
Carlos Castro, who holds the roles of president, secretary and treasurer at Resorts World, has been recommended for licensing by the Nevada Gaming Control Board following a two-day hearing. The Nevada Gaming Commission is scheduled to take up the matter on March 26.
The hearing unfolded against the backdrop of enforcement action taken in 2025, when Resorts World was fined $10.5 million for permitting illegal gamblers to operate at the casino, marking the second-largest penalty imposed by Nevada regulators.
Investigations tied the violations to individuals including Wayne Nix, a former Minor League baseball player and illegal bookmaker who has since been placed on Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons, and Mathew Bowyer, recently released from prison and nominated for inclusion on the same list. Both were linked to money-laundering activities involving three Las Vegas casinos, including Resorts World.
In addressing regulators, Castro pointed to internal changes aimed at tightening controls on customer activity. He said the property has strengthened its “know your customer” framework and expanded enforcement authority within its compliance division. Chief Compliance Officer Jennifer Roberts and her team have been granted full discretion to restrict access to the casino or the property.
“They’re either placed on a gaming ban, or if it’s an egregious due diligence process on information that we found, it’s a full property ban,” Castro told regulators, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “And Jennifer and her team, the compliance team, have full autonomy in that decision-making process. I know that’s been important to the board, and that is what we’ve instituted. And there’s no questions.”
While compliance remained central to the proceedings, regulators also turned to the long-term use of undeveloped land surrounding the resort. Board member George Assad raised the prospect of leveraging the site for a sports and entertainment venue tied to a potential National Basketball Association expansion.
“I think it would be fantastic for the north end of the Strip and for the entire city of Las Vegas and the state, for that matter, to have an NBA team here,” Board member George Assad said in the hearing. “And that venue could also be used for concerts and other things as well,” he said.
“I saw in the paper the other day that (businessman and former Los Angeles Laker) Magic Johnson met with Gov. (Joe) Lombardo, and he’s interested in moving forward with some type of ownership structure that would be able to bring an NBA team here. I hope Mr. (NBA Commissioner Adam) Silver is listening and watching, and we definitely will support an NBA team.”
Castro did not comment on the proposal during the session. However, the idea aligns with a wider push by several groups in Southern Nevada to develop infrastructure in anticipation of a future franchise.
Oak View Group has previously explored multiple locations for an NBA-ready arena, including sites along Las Vegas Boulevard and near the Rio. LVXP, a Las Vegas-based real estate group, has proposed a mixed-use development between the Sahara and Fontainebleau that would include a 752-foot hotel and condominium tower, a 2,605-unit residential component, an 18,000-seat arena, and a 6,000-seat theater.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/17/118101-nevada-regulators-weigh-resorts-world-executives-license-amid-growing-nba-expansion-talk
