Stadium In Nevada Puts Ban On Gaming; Casinos Respond With Mobile Alternative
Recently, the lease for the new Raiders’ stadium in Nevada was approved unanimously by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. But certain language within the lease had many raising eyebrows and voicing concerns, especially those who own casinos. These potential issues came to light when MGM official Bill Hornbuckle vocalized his worries.
The lease contained a gaming memorandum, stating that operating any “game, gaming device, inter-casino linked system, mobile gaming system…or sports pool” is prohibited in the stadium. This really shouldn’t come as a shock, with the NFL’s still vehement opposition of any form of legal sports betting (at least publicly). But it has sent waves of worry through officials in the sports betting business.
But wait, isn’t sports betting legal in Nevada? Yes, hypothetical other half of this conversation, it is legal in the state. So how can they ban it from the stadium? That’s a good question. Casino owners in the state with mobile links to their sports betting operations are wondering the same thing. I mean, it’s not like the authorities can very well ban cell phones. We’re too technology obsessed, they’d never fill the stadium that way.
How Will The Stadium Ban Mobile Sports Betting?
So, how will the stadium follow through on this subsection of their lease? Will they ban cell phones and other mobile devices? Of course not. Is there technology that can block these sort of sites at the stadium? More than likely, yes, a technology like this exists. But it’s not going to be used.
The answer is actually pretty simple. While the lease does prevent the operation and offering of gaming systems, it does not prevent the usage of mobile sports betting sites that are legal in the state. Basically, you can’t go to a kiosk or try to use a laptop provided by the stadium or something to bet on the game. But you can use the apps and sites that casinos in the state offer on your own cellular device. So there’s really nothing to worry about.
The State Of Sports Betting At the Raiders New Stadium
While this is not a big game changer, it is just the first of other potential gambling restrictions in and on the stadium, however. The NFL has been the most vocal opponent to legal sports betting, leading the charge in most sports betting cases. So when they moved a team to Las Vegas, many speculated that there would be heavy regulations surrounding the Raiders.
While Roger Goodell has said that the league is not pursuing any restrictions at this time, 2020 is a long ways away. The NFL still has plenty of time to ask the Nevada gaming control board to take the Raiders off the books completely. They could also ask for a similar ban, but just on sportsbooks that have mobile betting apps so that gambling can’t be done in the stadium.
LegalGamblingUSA feels time will really tell if we’ll see any further restrictions on sports betting on the Raiders. For now, sports bettors can rest easy. Mobile gambling can still be accessed in the stadium, it just can’t be offered by the stadium.
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