Former Resorts World Las Vegas compliance director Preston Banks has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the operator fired him after he reported suspected money laundering and other suspicious activity involving international gamblers.
Banks, who previously spent around 16 years with the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), worked at the resort from September 2022 until September 2025.
His complaint alleges whistleblower retaliation under the federal Anti-Money Laundering Act and wrongful termination under Nevada law.
The case centres on a group Banks referred to as the "Argentina Scheme." According to the complaint, the group expanded to between 60 and 150 people from countries including Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Italy and Spain.
Resorts World records cited in the lawsuit allegedly documented concerns including unverified sources of funds, credit fraud, third-party marker payments, chip passing and minimal gaming.
More than 50 suspicious activity reports had allegedly been filed concerning the patrons by September 2024. Banks submitted a broader report on the group in September 2025.
Nine days later, the resort banned 28 patrons associated with alleged credit fraud and referred approximately $12m to $13m in unpaid casino credit for collection. Banks was dismissed later that month.
Resorts World Las Vegas has denied the allegations and described the lawsuit as "frivolous." The allegations have not been tested in court.
The dispute follows regulatory action against the casino's anti-money laundering controls. Resorts World Las Vegas agreed to a $10.5m settlement with Nevada regulators in 2025 over a complaint concerning its relationships with illegal bookmakers, including Mathew Bowyer and Damien LeForbes.
The settlement required changes to the resort's compliance programme. Resorts World Las Vegas also restructured its leadership and established a board with oversight of regulatory and property matters.
Nevada regulators have continued examining casino relationships with illegal bookmakers. Caesars Palace was fined $7.8m in 2026 over anti-money laundering failures involving Bowyer, following earlier enforcement involving Resorts World Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International.
In April, Resorts World Las Vegas partnered with Ordr Technologies to introduce automated payment processing at Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub. The integration covers transaction processing, point-of-sale systems, fees and consumer protection, while providing the resort with transaction visibility and real-time guest intelligence.
The 2025 Resorts World Las Vegas settlement required enhanced AML controls and included provisions for further regulatory action if related federal enforcement subsequently occurs
