The UNLV Center for Gaming Research states that since 2000, basketball has been the second-most favored sport for betting in Nevada. Both college and professional basketball games are popular among bettors, ranking between football and baseball in terms of preference. [toc]
Betting on basketball and football is quite comparable as both involve point spread-based bets. Placing a bet on college basketball is simple as all teams are open for betting. However, betting on the NBA might be somewhat complex. Not all teams are available for betting in every casino. At times, bettors may need to visit a specific casino to place a bet on a certain game.
Houston Rockets and Golden Nugget
In 2017, Tilman Fertitta, owner of Golden Nugget, acquired the Houston Rockets. Following the completion of the deal, which made him the owner of both entities, the Rockets were removed from the betting rosters at the Golden Nugget sports book in Las Vegas and Laughlin.
The Golden Nugget continues to accept bets on all other teams, except when they are competing against the Houston Rockets. Upon entering the sports book, you will observe that futures and full game wagering are also unavailable for the Rockets.
Indeed, the language used to describe championship odds differs between professional basketball and other professional sports. While other sports teams have their odds listed as “To Win (sport) Championship,” the Golden Nugget lists NBA futures as “Best Finish In NBA.” This is because a team like the Houston Rockets could potentially win the championship.
Boston Celtics and Caesars Entertainment
The prohibition on betting on NBA teams at certain Nevada teams is not a recent development. Gary Loveman has held executive positions and served on the Board of Directors at Caesars Entertainment (formerly known as Harrah’s Entertainment) since 1998. Additionally, in 2006, Loveman became a part-owner of the Boston Celtics.
After the Boston Celtics deal was finalized, the former Harrah’s Entertainment had to remove the Celtics from their Nevada sports book offerings. This policy is still in effect today, as Loveman remains on the Board of Directors for Caesars Entertainment. As a result, you are unable to place bets on the Celtics at these casinos:
- Bally’s
- Caesars Palace
- The Cromwell
- Flamingo
- Harrah’s Las Vegas
- Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
- Harrah’s Laughlin
- Harrah’s Reno
- Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
- The Linq
- Paris
- Planet Hollywood
- Rio
Potential future pro sports wagering conflicts
The San Antonio Stars’ relocation to Las Vegas was recently approved by the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors. MGM Resorts International bought the team, which will play their home games at Mandalay Bay. Although the WNBA isn’t the top choice for recreational bettors, leading to less focus from sports book operators, professional bettors often find the league appealing due to its weak lines.
A team’s presence could influence sports bettors in two ways. Firstly, sports book operators may scrutinize the league more closely due to the existence of a local team, potentially leading to tighter lines. This could disadvantage those betting on WNBA games. Secondly, and more crucially, it wouldn’t be unexpected if MGM Resorts International refrained from accepting bets involving the team they fully own.
The Maloof family used to own both the Palms Casino and Resort and the Sacramento Kings, but they didn’t allow bets on the NBA team when they were the owners of both enterprises. They have since sold both properties, but currently possess a minor share in the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. If they were to buy a partial or full interest in a casino business, the league may demand that they relinquish their share in the team. In the event they decide to maintain ownership, the casino might not be permitted to accept bets on the Knights.
Image sourced from Shutterstock.com, courtesy of Roman Tiraspolsky.
