City to NBA: Betting will stay

So much for compromise.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's written proposal to the NBA regarding Nevada's legalized betting on the sport did not change from what has been the status quo: No games, not even those of a proposed local franchise, should be banned from state betting boards.

The proposal was sent to and received by the NBA on Thursday morning and will be discussed when the league's owners meet April 20 in New York.

In a two-page letter also signed by Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, Goodman pointed out that in the decades Nevada has allowed legal wagers on the NBA, there never has been a hint of impropriety and, therefore, there is no need to change the current system.

"We put the ball in their court," Goodman said at his weekly news conference Thursday at City Hall. "They can say, and might say, that Las Vegas came up short."

In his letter, which was made public Thursday afternoon, Goodman said the city should be considered for a future franchise because of its growth and potential for success, whether or not Las Vegas -- or the state at large -- allows betting on professional and college sports.

"We are fully cognizant of the Association's position as it relates to sports wagering, and in particular the acceptance of wagers on NBA games by our licensed sports books," Goodman wrote. "We recognize that this issue is of clear and significant importance to the Association as well as our community and our state regulatory agencies.

"With respect to the Association's position, we would like to emphasize that Nevada's regulatory system has a record of performance that should provide sufficient cause for the Association to permit a franchise to exist comfortably in Las Vegas without concern of corruption or interference by unsavory individuals. We believe that our regulatory system is considered the world's leading example in providing the necessary framework for operating wagering that earns the public trust and confidence for integrity and operational excellence. Our regulations support the acceptance of wagers from the public in a manner consistent with the highest levels of integrity and probity."

The league confirmed that it received the letter but would not comment on its contents.

On Feb. 14, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that he had asked Goodman to come up with a proposal to address the gambling issue as it pertained to a potential Las Vegas-based NBA franchise. One of the stipulations to Las Vegas hosting February's All-Star Game was that there would be no betting on the event.

Stern has pointed out repeatedly that he is opposed to betting on his league's games -- even legal, regulated wagering. Before he would permit the NBA to expand into Canada in the early 1990s, Stern insisted that the league be eliminated from that country's national and provincial sports lotteries. The lottery commissions complied and paved the way for the league to expand to Toronto and Vancouver.

Goodman was supposed to have had his proposal to the league on or around March 20. However, he requested more time last week and was granted an extension.

There was considerable speculation that Goodman would propose reviving the old "UNLV rule" that, before it was rescinded in 2001, banned state sports books from taking wagers on UNLV and UNR basketball and football games. Reviving the rule for the NBA would have called for the prohibition of betting on a local team while allowing wagers to be accepted on the rest of the league.

Thursday's letter to the NBA offered no compromises. However, the letter concluded by saying, "We propose that a dialogue take place where we will outline how wagering shall be monitored jointly between the Association and our regulatory agencies; state legislation be enacted which would assure the Association that no improprieties will occur and we promise that we will work together to guarantee the success of a true public-private partnership."

Goodman said he spoke with several gaming executives but was unable to come up with unanimity regarding the stance on dealing with the NBA when it came to betting.

"I'm not surprised, but I was disappointed," Goodman said.

Of his decision not to propose changes to the current betting regulations, the mayor said, "I think it was the appropriate stance for Las Vegas. This is a starting point. This is not an ending point."

Goodman said he spoke with Stern and was assured that his proposal would be studied.

"He and I have talked many times, and he knows my feelings," Goodman said of Stern. "I have to represent the city of Las Vegas the best I know how. But I have tremendous respect for the commissioner, and I would not do anything to insult him."

Goodman also did not address the issue of a new arena other than to say the city is considering several proposals.

"We are putting out requests for bids from the interested parties, and I expect to see some responses in the new few weeks," Goodman said. "The arena project is on a very fast track."

Stern had said the league would not consider using the Thomas & Mack Center for future All-Star contests, and several owners, including Joe Maloof of the Sacramento Kings, have said that without a new facility there will be no NBA team in Las Vegas.

"I don't have a problem with that, and I don't think a lot of owners will have a problem," Maloof said of Goodman's plan of keeping all games on the betting boards. "The key is, what does the commissioner and the league think? I don't know how they'll react to that.

"But at least there's a starting dialogue. In the past, the door would have been slammed in the mayor's face. You've got pros and cons. You've got healthy discussions. I say, let's keep the dialogue going and keep talking. You're not going to hit a grand slam on the first pitch."