Monday, June 27, 2005 | 8:34 a.m.
Las Vegas' hopes of someday landing a professional sports team were bolstered last week by a vote of the Nevada Gaming Commission. It voted unanimously to ban betting on the National Basketball Association's all-star game if the event is held in Las Vegas in 2007. Las Vegas is among a number of different sites being considered.
A major stumbling block to a pro team locating here has been our gambling industry. The thought by sports commissioners has been that open betting in our casinos on their teams would taint their sport's image.
The vote by the gaming commission is a positive signal that Nevada is sensitive to their concerns. If the all-star game is played here, and all goes well, the city could be taken seriously as a possible site for a pro team. As Las Vegas grows in population and importance, a pro sports team is becoming more and more conspicuous by its absence.
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