MGM Resorts International said its casinos won’t accept wagers on the company’s new pro basketball franchise, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
The Aces, formerly the San Antonio Stars, were purchased in October and will play their home games at the gaming giant’s Mandalay Bay Events Center when their season starts in May.
The ban takes in all 10 MGM resorts on the Las Vegas Strip―Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Aria, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus―but will not eliminate betting on other WNBA teams, although the action generated by the women’s league historically has been light, according to Jay Rood, MGM’s sports book director.
“I mean almost nonexistent. The handle for the entire year in the WNBA is probably less than what we do on a really good NFL game.”
In keeping the Aces off its betting boards MGM will be toeing a line the gaming industry adheres to very closely to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.
The practice dates back to when the Maloof brothers owned the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the Palms and Fiesta casinos. The Golden Nugget accepts NBA bets but not on Houston Rockets games or futures after owner Tilman Fertitta purchased the team earlier this year. Likewise, Caesars Entertainment properties don’t post Boston Celtics games or futures because director and former Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman is a minority investor. The Silverton doesn’t accept wagers on the Los Angeles Lakers, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks or NHL games because owner Ed Roski is co-owner of the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
