Genting Group CEO once joked that he needed to assemble a "Justice League" to save the troubled Resorts World Las Vegas. Now, two "superstars" from Nevada's political and gaming regulatory circles—former Governor Brian Sandoval and former Gaming Control Board Chairman AG Burnett—have officially joined the game, leading the board in an effort to turn around the business and compliance downturn of this $4.3 billion casino resort. Simply put, it's about bringing in the most knowledgeable people about Nevada's gaming rules to clean up the mess. At a recent licensing hearing, the regulatory body cast a vote of confidence in this "firefighting team," with the new board facing a final vote on February 26. Want to know how the world's top integrated resorts handle compliance crises? Follow ongoing industry governance case studies on the PASA official website.
Luxury Firefighting Team: Two People Who Have Nearly Held Every Key Position in Nevada's Gaming Circle
The resumes of Sandoval and Burnett cover almost every key position in Nevada's gaming and political fields:
Brian Sandoval:
Former Governor of Nevada (2011-2019), former Attorney General, former Chairman of the Gaming Commission
Latterly a senior executive at MGM International, and since 2020, has served as the President of the University of Nevada, Reno
Joined the Resorts World board in February 2024, and was promoted to chairman in November of the same year
AG Burnett:
Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board from 2012-2017 (appointed by then-Governor Sandoval)
After leaving office, became a partner at the state's most influential law firm, McDonald Carano
The families of the two men also have close ties: Burnett's father and Sandoval's brother had long partnered in a veterinary business
At a recent control board hearing, both men, along with Genting CEO Kok Thay Lim and Genting Plantations subsidiary CEO Lim Kong Wai, were questioned and unanimously recommended for their qualifications.
Why "Supermen"? Anti-Money Laundering Scandal + Financial Troubles
Since its opening in 2021, Resorts World has been plagued with problems:
Heavy penalties for anti-money laundering: Fined $10.5 million for AML deficiencies, the second highest fine in Nevada regulatory history
Scandal involving gamblers: Linked to convicted bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who had employed his wife as a private gambler hostess
Top management upheaval: Former president Scott Sibella's license was revoked, and there was a major overhaul of the operating team
Performance under pressure: The overall Las Vegas market has been adverse, and the resort has yet to fully realize the potential of its $4.3 billion investment
Genting CEO Kok Thay Lim admitted he was "shocked and frustrated" upon learning of the Bowyer incident, realizing the need to establish a stronger board oversight mechanism across all global properties. He humorously remarked that forming a new board was like "looking for Superman and Wonder Woman."
New Team's Statement: "Complete Overhaul" of Compliance Culture
At the hearing, the two new directors delivered their answers to the regulatory body:
Brian Sandoval: Emphasized that the board is fully supporting compliance construction, "establishing an absolute compliance culture in a very short time." He revealed that as chairman, he "frequently texts" with property president Carlos Castro to ensure supervision is in place.
AG Burnett: From a regulatory perspective, he noted, "management changes, board establishment, and daily supervision enhancement, you can see a thorough renovation of the compliance system."
Currently, Resorts World has introduced several former MGM executives (including Castro and Michelle DiTondo), and plans to extend the "property-level board" model to Genting's global assets, including the recently licensed Resorts World NYC project.
Not Yet Time to Celebrate: Still in a "Stabilization Period"
Lim Kong Wai—seen as Genting's future successor—cautiously stated at the hearing: "We are still in a stabilization period, far from reaching the mature state that Resorts World should be in." Currently, the Las Vegas project occupies about 30% of his work effort.
On February 26, the new board will face the final vote by the Nevada Gaming Commission. If successful, this "Justice League" will officially take the helm, starting the long road to recovery for Resorts World.
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