Resorts World Las Vegas President Scott Sibella Fired

Article ByDavid Weir

September 18, 2023

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Posted in: Nevada Gambling News, US Casino News, US Gambling Crime News, US Gambling News

Resorts World Las Vegas, the newest major casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, has fired Scott Sibella, who held the position of president and CEO of the resort since before its opening in June 2021.

The departure was suddenly announced late last week on September 15.

Sibella is an experienced Las Vegas casino leader, having served as president of MGM Grand for eight year before joining Resorts World.

However, his two-and-a-half-year tenure in charge of Resorts World Las Vegas was not without controversy. The latest allegations suggested that Sibella may have been involved in promoting an illegal California sports betting ring through the casino. Former baseball player Wayne Nix’s operation was shut down by the Feds in 2022, and several high-profile Las Vegas casino figures were apparently implicated in the case.  

“This action comes after the company was recently made aware that Mr. Sibella violated company policies and the terms of his employment,” said an official statement from Resorts World.

Sibella’s Tenure and Departure

Before joining Resorts World, he served as the president of MGM Grand Las Vegas for eight years.

His leadership at Resorts World was marked by significant achievements, including the establishment of a franchise agreement with Hilton Hotels Corp. This collaboration brought Hilton’s vast database and its Hilton Honors program to Resorts World, integrating the Hilton, Conrad, and Crockfords brands into the resort.

Sibella also oversaw an ambitious cashless integration throughout the Nevada casino that linked customer spending in the various entertainment, casino, and dining options across the resort.

However, his tenure was not free of controversy.

As well as the most recent allegations of involvement with illegal sports betting, Sibella was also investigated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) after claims made by frequent Las Vegas high roller Brandon Sattler.

In 2022, Sattler linked Sibella to convicted bookmaker David Stroj. The story was that Stroj held an ownership position in Tacos El Cabron, a food outlet within Resorts World. If these allegations were proven true, Sibella and Resorts World could have faced disciplinary action for associating with a convicted illegal gambler.

Sattler also said that he and Sibella had taken drugs and partied together while Sibella was in charge of Resorts World.

The NGCB investigation decided the allegations were “unfounded,” and Sattler was indicted in a Federal fraud case earlier this year.

Through the Transition

Following Sibella’s departure from Resorts World, CFO Peter LaVoie has been named the temporary new CEO for the 3,500-room resort, which is operated by Malaysia-based Genting Berhad.

“LaVoie’s extensive experience and expertise make him the right person to lead Resorts World Las Vegas through this transition,” said a Resorts World spokesperson.

Before joining Resorts World, LaVoie spent 22 years in various financial roles with MGM Resorts.

The new CEO and President will have some cleaning up to do. Not least in mitigating the reputational damage caused by Sibella’s actions, but also any potential regulatory consequences.

Last month, Resorts World was also at the center of a public relations scandal after a high-rolling player at the casino was allowed to post offensive messages on the resort’s giant building-sized screen.