Gaming board favors all-star bet ban

Thursday, June 9, 2005 | 11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Control Board today recommended that betting on the 2007 NBA All-Star Game be prohibited if it is played in Las Vegas.

Board chairman Dennis Neilander said this game would be of "great benefit" to the state and noted that there wasn't much betting on the event anyway.

Las Vegas is submitting an application to host the All-Star Game and one of the requirements of the NBA is that there be no wagering on the outcome.

Myles Pistorius, assistant general counsel for NBA Entertainment, said Las Vegas is the only non-NBA city to apply. He said there were several NBA cities seeking the game but he declined to name them.

Luke Puschnig, counsel for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, told the board the game would bring in 10,000 to 15,000 visitors and maybe even more. He said there would be national press and other benefits.

Puschnig said this would open up other chances to get other sports event.

This recommendation goes to the state Gaming Commission, which meets June 23 in Carson City.

Pistorius said the final decision on the site will be made by NBA commissioner David Stern and that it will be made soon.

He told the board this was a weeklong event with visits by players to schools and to community events.

Neilander said there have been two previous occasions in which the board has prohibited betting on major league teams that came to Las Vegas. They involved games by the NBA's Utah Jazz and baseball's Oakland Athletics.

Frank Schreck, a Las Vegas attorney representing Sacramento Kings owner George Maloof, who also owns the Palms in Las Vegas, said there has been no objection from the major casinos to having to refrain from taking bets on the game.

Schreck said a "mandate" of the NBA is that there not be any wagering on the game.

Board member Bobby Siller questioned if NBA players could bet on other sporting events.

Pistorius said NBA players and employees cannot bet on professional basketball but there is no prohibition against wagering on other sports.