SEARCH NEWS:

 

Gambling-Sports Relationship Changing

PENNSYLVANIA – As reported by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Post-Gazette: "The relationship between sports and gambling, once at arm's length and now almost hand in hand, is embodied by the brothers Maloof.

"The family owns both the Palms Casino in Las Vegas and, since 1998, the Sacramento Kings. The National Basketball Association approved the family's purchase of the team after they agreed to quit taking bets on NBA games in their casino's legal sports-betting operation.

"…[George Maloof said,] 'I wouldn't be surprised if you saw more sports owners get into gaming.'

"The next sports team to do that could be the Penguins, who hope to use a slot machine parlor to finance construction of a new arena.

"In addition to the Penguins' plans, Steelers running back Jerome Bettis stirred a National Football League inquiry when he announced his limited partnership with Charles Betters' proposal to build a horse track, casino, hotel and retail complex in Hays.

"Both plans resulted from the slots law enacted in Pennsylvania two weeks ago and bring closer to the surface the often rocky relationship between sports and gambling.

"…Major League Baseball is considering Las Vegas as a potential Montreal Expos relocation site. And the Women's National Basketball Association moved a team into the arena of a Connecticut casino, the Mohegan Sun.

"…For the past century or more, the people running professional sports have tried to put a lid on gambling within their games, still today posting prohibitions and warnings around locker rooms and clubhouses.

"…In recent years, though, the gambling landscape has changed.

"…The NHL gave its blessing to the Calgary Flames, whose officials two years ago applied to place a casino in their arena. Last summer, however, those efforts were redirected toward a stand-alone parlor. And last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he had no problem with the Penguins operating a slots parlor and using the revenue to build an arena.

"As for Major League Baseball, it has accepted advertising from casinos. Dodger Stadium and Bank One Ballpark have Las Vegas signs…"

< Gaming News