Hard Rock International has suspended one of its top executives, Alex Pariente,following a series of troubling allegations linked to the company’s operations in the Dominican Republic. Pariente, who serves as senior vice president for hotel and casino operations, was placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The company acted after a whistleblower raised claims that Pariente permitted questionable financial practices at the Hard Rock property in Punta Cana. According to multiple reports, the allegations include enabling suspicious structuring of transactions and overlooking large unpaid credit markers extended to casino patrons.
A Hard Rock spokesperson stated, “Hard Rock International is aware of the allegations involving one of our executives and is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. Honesty and integrity are core values of our organization, and we hold all team members — regardless of their role — to the highest ethical standards.” The company added that the suspended employee will remain off duty while the investigation proceeds.
Allegations Involving Illegal Betting Operations Surface
Additional reports have linked Pariente to illegal sports betting operations. The whistleblower, identified as federal informant R.J. Cipriani—alleged that Pariente knowingly allowed unlawful bookmakers to gamble at the Hard Rock Punta Cana.
Among those named is Matt Bowyer, a Southern California-based bookmaker who has been charged with federal money laundering offenses. Bowyer is widely known for accepting illegal sports wagers totaling about $325 million from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani.
Sources told iGB that Bowyer also wagered large sums on table games at the Punta Cana resort, including high-stakes blackjack. While efforts to reach Bowyer for comment were unsuccessful, he had previously admitted to running a vast illegal sports betting network that catered to over 700 clients.
The whistleblower’s accusations also point to structuring violations—where large transactions are broken into smaller amounts to evade anti-money laundering scrutiny. One reported instance involved a $100,000 deposit by a Chinese national being split into 33 parts, each around $3,000, which is illegal under Dominican money laundering laws.
Pariente’s Career Background Raises Scrutiny
Pariente has extensive experience in Caribbean casino operations. Before rejoining Hard Rock in February 2019, he held senior positions at major resort properties. His past roles include chief gaming officer at Hard Rock Punta Cana, executive vice president of casino operations and marketing at Baha Mar in the Bahamas, and a brief tenure at Nexus in Nassau, a hospitality firm backed by celebrities like Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake.
Although currently based in South Florida, his oversight has included key operational responsibilities across Hard Rock’s international casino portfolio.
NYC Casino Bid Could Face Indirect Fallout
The timing of the suspension is significant. Hard Rock International is actively seeking one of the three downstate casino licenses available in the New York City area. The company submitted a joint bid with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen for a sprawling $8 billion project—Hard Rock Metropolitan Park—planned for the area around Citi Field in Queens.
The proposed complex would include a casino, 1,000-room hotel, entertainment venues, and retail space. The allegations against Pariente, though unrelated to the New York project, could complicate the company’s positioning in an already competitive race for licensure.
Industry-Wide Concerns Over AML Oversight
Hard Rock is not the only major gaming operator facing scrutiny over anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. Two other contenders in the New York casino licensing race—MGM Resorts and Resorts World—have recently faced regulatory action from Nevada authorities.
Earlier this year, the Nevada Gaming Commission issued a $10.5 million penalty to Resorts World Las Vegas over AML violations involving illegal bookmakers, including Bowyer. MGM Resorts also settled for $8.5 million in connection to AML lapses tied to former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella’s dealings with illegal gambling figures.
Sibella later took a similar executive role at Resorts World Las Vegas but was terminated in September 2023 after multiple breaches of internal policies. The Nevada Gaming Commission revoked his license in December.
As Hard Rock deals with internal fallout and intense regulatory competition, how these allegations will shape the company’s future—particularly its ambitions in New York—remains to be seen.
Source:
‘’Hard Rock International suspends top executive amid bid for Queens casino’’, nypost.com, July 14, 2025.
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