As the NFL plans for its foray into the world’s most well-known gambling hotspot, the league continues to grapple with how it will operate in Las Vegas while keeping its distance from betting.
A new development may further complicate matters, as the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, the Nevada Gaming Commission and the NFL debate language within a recently approved conditional lease agreement.
ESPN.com reports that language within the lease agreement approved by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority expressly prohibits “any Gaming or Gambling, the maintaining or operating of a Gaming Establishment and/or sports wagering or any wagering on racing or other non-sports events.”
However, the stadium authority and state gaming officials say that that language doesn’t prohibit bets placed via mobile app, which are offered by many of the state’s sportsbooks and, according to regulation, allow bettors to make wagers from anywhere within state lines.
The Nevada Gaming Commission is the policy-setting authority within the state, though the NFL may ask to bar mobile betting app access within the stadium by using geolocation technology. Nevada Gaming Commission chairman Tony Alamo told ESPN.com that the league has not approached him about changes to current policies.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN.com that the Raiders “are required to abide by League rules on the matter,” but didn’t refer to a specific rule.
What do you think? Should the NFL explicitly ban mobile bets within all league stadiums, or should state policies on mobile bets remain in place?
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