Omar Khoury, Chief Global Compliance Officer at Wynn Resorts, has welcomed Nevada’s new AML oversight rules, saying stronger and more consistent supervision is needed to protect the reputation of the casino industry.
Nevada regulators approved new AML regulations in April following a series of enforcement actions involving Las Vegas Strip casinos. Caesars, MGM Resorts and Resorts World were fined for AML violations linked to dealings with illegal bookmakers, while Wynn Resorts was separately fined $5.5m for unregistered international money transfers. Wynn also forfeited $130m to the US Department of Justice in 2024 following a long-running investigation.
The new Nevada rules increase accountability for senior executives responsible for AML programmes and player development. The measures include regulatory review and approval of individuals overseeing AML controls, creating a direct licensing responsibility for compliance leaders.
Khoury, who joined Wynn after senior compliance roles at Everi and MGM Resorts, said that compliance has evolved from a function brought in after commercial decisions were made to one that now has a seat at the executive table. During the International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking, he stated: “One of the biggest myths I experience in my role as Compliance Officer is that I am going to say No. I am not here to tell you No. I am also not here to tell you Yes all the time.”
Khoury said compliance teams must maintain independence while working with operations, marketing, legal and senior management. Decisions on AML, patron bans and responsible gambling interventions must be based on risk rather than commercial pressure.
The Wynn executive also said Nevada regulators had worked constructively with operators while developing the new rules, adding that transparency with regulators was critical.
Khoury also highlighted the growing role of AI in compliance and RG. AI can help identify counterfeit documents, assess source-of-wealth information and flag changes in player behaviour, he said, but it should support rather than replace human judgement.
His comments come as AML and RG controls become increasingly central to casino regulation. For Nevada operators, the new rules signal a more personal level of accountability for compliance executives and a tighter supervisory environment for high-value customer activity.
