Nevada gambling regulators have formally barred former professional baseball player Wayne Joseph Nix from entering any licensed casino in the state, pointing to his role in a sprawling illegal sports betting operation that drew federal scrutiny and touched several high-profile figures.
During a public meeting on Thursday (February 26), members of the Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously to add Nix to the state’s List of Excluded Persons. The designation, often referred to as the state’s casino blacklist, prohibits individuals deemed a threat to the integrity of regulated gaming from stepping inside licensed properties.
The order, published the following day, instructs all nonrestricted license holders across Nevada to ensure Nix is not allowed onto their gaming floors or other casino premises.
Nix, 49, lives in Newport Coast, California. Federal prosecutors charged him in 2022 with operating an illegal sports wagering business that handled millions of dollars in bets through an offshore website called Sand Island Sports. Investigators said the enterprise ran for more than six years, taking wagers, moving money in and out, and sidestepping state gambling laws.
In April 2022, Nix pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and to filing a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Nevada decision on Wayne Nix follows widening federal investigation
The state’s decision comes as federal authorities continue to untangle the broader network tied to Nix’s bookmaking operation. In February 2026, a Los Angeles jury found former Major League Baseball star Yasiel Puig guilty of obstructing justice and making false statements during the federal probe into the betting ring.
At trial, prosecutors described how Puig placed hundreds of sports wagers, though not on baseball, through a middleman connected to Nix’s business. Evidence presented in court showed that Puig bet nearly $1 million between May and September 2019. Some of those wagers were made at MLB stadiums before and after games.
When interviewed by federal agents in 2022, Puig denied knowing key details about the betting activity and the people involved. He later pleaded not guilty and took the case to trial. The jury ultimately convicted him on one obstruction count and one count of making a false statement. His sentencing is expected later this spring.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Puig’s betting losses included roughly $282,900 early in 2019. Prosecutors said he later wired $200,000 in an effort to pay down part of what he owed, then continued wagering.
The larger federal investigation that ensnared Nix also led to charges and plea agreements for several associates accused of helping manage bets, collect debts, and distribute payouts. Court filings outlined how the operation generated millions while underreporting income to tax authorities.
Featured image: Ideogram
