Casino pays off Warriors bets due to conflict of interest
One Las Vegas casino is already paying off Golden State Warriors bets before the Western Conference finals begin, and it’s all due to a conflict of interest.
The Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas is owned by Tilman Fertitta, who became the owner of the Houston Rockets in October. After he became the Rockets owner, the casino stopped taking bets on anything involving the Rockets. That meant you couldn’t bet on Rockets games at the casino, and you couldn’t place futures bets on them either (to win the conference or championship). The casino almost acts as if the Rockets don’t exist.
However, people were able to bet on the Warriors to win the Western Conference. Anyone who placed such a bet with the Golden Nugget is being paid out as a winner even though the series hasn’t begun, according to ESPN’s David Purdum. Sweet deal, right?
This isn’t the first time something similar has happened.
Fans were unable to bet on UFC fights at Stations Casinos, which are owned by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta. The two previously were the UFC owners as well until selling recently.
It’s not often you hear of easy money like that at a sportsbook. But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a bet taken off the board, though for other circumstances.
