Nevada Keeps Citro in Black Book, Adds Bowyer

The Nevada Gaming Commission has voted unanimously to add illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to the state’s List of Excluded Persons, while also denying Francis “Frankie” Citro Jr. a hearing to seek removal from the same list.

The decisions came during a Thursday meeting focused on two very different figures tied to Nevada gaming history. Bowyer, a California-based bookmaker linked to illegal betting and money laundering investigations, became the 39th person placed in the state’s so-called Black Book. Citro, an 80-year-old Las Vegas entertainer who has been excluded from major casinos since 1991, failed to convince commissioners that he deserved a formal hearing.

The Black Book permanently bars listed individuals from Nevada casinos that offer unrestricted gaming, including venues with table games, sportsbooks, and race books.

Bowyer Added After Illegal Bookmaking Case

Bowyer did not attend the hearing and did not request a hearing to contest his placement on the list. Commissioners acted quickly on his case, approving his exclusion in less than 20 minutes.

His name became widely known after the Major League Baseball betting scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and de facto agent for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer was identified as the bookmaker used by Mizuhara, who stole $16 million from Ohtani.

At Thursday’s hearing, Nona Lawrence of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office said Bowyer took tens of millions of dollars in illegal wagers from at least 700 bettors between 2014 and 2023. She also said he frequented Las Vegas casinos and used illegal proceeds to gamble and pay 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 said. “Further, Mr. Bowyer frequented Las Vegas casinos and used illicit proceeds from his illegal bookmaking business to gamble and pay off casino markers.”

Lawrence also said Bowyer solicited customers through casino marketing hosts and offered commissions or gratuities for referrals. She said he admitted to seeking clients through valets and other casino employees in exchange for a fee.

Bowyer previously pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return. His conduct later became part of disciplinary actions against major casino companies. MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Resorts World Las Vegas paid a combined $26.8 million in fines in 2025, while other reports placed fines involving several Strip operators above $30 million.

Commissioner Brian Krolicki said Bowyer’s exclusion provided needed closure after a series of compliance failures.

“Placing Mr. Bowyer on the List of Excluded Persons really provides critical closure on this chapter of compliance failure,” Krolicki said. “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 said publicly that he plans to speak about his illegal bookmaking activity and has written a book 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 said.

Citro Fails to Secure Removal Hearing

The commission also rejected Citro’s request for a hearing that could have allowed him to seek removal from the Black Book. Citro has been excluded since 1991, when regulators cited his criminal history and “notorious and unsavory reputation.”

Citro did not speak during Thursday’s hearing. His attorney, Anthony Sgro, argued that his client is no longer the same person he was more than three decades ago. Sgro said Citro’s former mob associates are dead and that the entertainer now wants to perform bebop music, Italian folk songs, comedy and stories about Las Vegas’ mob past in 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 said, 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 also argued that other serious incidents connected to Nevada gaming venues had not resulted in Black Book listings. He pointed to the 2002 Laughlin River riot, where three people died during a confrontation between motorcycle gangs, as an example of conduct that damaged the state’s reputation without resulting in comparable exclusion.

Commissioners were not persuaded. Silver said Citro’s exclusion does not prevent him from performing at many locations 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 said. “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 said Nevada has more than 2,000 restricted-license locations where Citro can eat, perform, play slots and spend time with family.

“He just can’t go into casinos with table games, horse racing and sportsbooks,” Silver said.

Commissioners focused heavily on Nevada’s gaming reputation and the precedent that could be created by allowing a Black Book removal effort to proceed.

Silver said she reviewed prior records involving Citro and described conduct tied to extortion and loan sharking. She said Citro’s past associates had discussed violence against people who could not repay loans at extreme interest rates.

Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey also pointed to the long-running image problem created by organized crime’s history in Las Vegas.

“All we have is a stain that remains from organized crime in Las Vegas,” Solis-Rainey said before 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 said Citro had portrayed himself as a victim, but she was unwilling to overlook the original basis for his listing.

After the decision, Citro said he was disappointed and would speak with his attorneys about possible next steps.