The NBA's gambling conumdrum: Atlantic City, the Maloofs and the Maverick Mark Cuban

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world's greatest showcase for basketball. Players throughout the US and internationally aspire to join a league which attracts a massive fan base as well as massive investment and profits from this extremely professional sport. However it faces a major issue in how to handle gambling.

In the past the NBA has been wary of associating itself with gambling. For many years Las Vegas has tried to get an NBA franchise, however for the first time there is actually a chance that it may happen. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in October on efforts by Las Vegas to attract a team with the mayor, Oscar Goodman saying it will happen within 2 1/2 years and various current NBA team owners supporting the move.

However there are even close connections that currently exist between gambling interests and the NBA. Owners of the Sacramento Kings, the Maloof family also own the Palms Hotel-Casino, in Las Vegas , which is currently one of the most popular casinos in Vegas especially with young people and celebrities.


On top of that, the NBA-owned and operated WNBA (Womens National Basketball Association) actually has a team owned, and carrying the name of a casino. The Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut is the home of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun who were defeated by the Seattle Storm (featuring Australia and the worlds best woman basketballer, Lauren Jackson) for the WNBA championship.

On the other hand the NBA and its commissioner David Stern have been against gambling on the outcomes of games for many years. This can be demonstrated by its recent support with the NFL and gambling addiction services to oppose gambling on professional sports in Atlantic City casinos, the main gambling mecca on the east coast of the USA.

So if their position on gambling was confusing at best already, Mark Cuban's recent revelations would be even more worrying. Cuban, the outspoken owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, has proposed a gambling hedge fund which would allow investors to provide money to high rollers which would then gamble on professional sports. Cuban details his plan on his blog, Blog Maverick His plan, unfortunately for some, actually does make some sense (see this comment on blog maverick) although many can judge for themselves as many have on his blog.

Chris Isidore, the sports business columnist on CNN-Money points out that it would be difficult for the NBA to do anything to stop Cuban if he proceeded with the venture. He also says that it cleary points out the hypocrisy of the NBA on the gambling issue.

Professional sports need to ensure the integrity of their competitions. They need to take a firm stance on whether they will support gambling like many Australian sports or oppose it like the majority of US sports. They do however need to realise that their decision has consequences beyond their sport and they will be contributing to those effects and should have a responsibility to alleviate any negative consequences.

GG