NFL Draft Comes to Las Vegas: You Can BET It Will Be Fun - State Bar of Nevada
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NFL Draft Comes
to Las Vegas:
You Can BET It Will Be Fun
BY BRIAN SCROGGINS JR.
In April 2020, millions of National Football League (NFL) fans will flock to Las Vegas from
around the world. While Las Vegas is used to having large crowds and blockbuster events,
this will be the first time Las Vegas will host the NFL Draft. These fans will be coming to Las
Vegas excited to enjoy the city but also eager to see who their favorite NFL team will select
in the 2020 draft. The draft is an exciting time of year, as every fanbase has championship
aspirations for the team they have been cheering for since they were children.
With so many fans in town for the while also offering some different action rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. Although
draft, sportsbooks around the city will be for the more-seasoned bettor. Simply the bookmakers lost that bet, both the
competing for their time and money. One put, a prop bet is a wager made regarding bettors and bookmakers won that day as
of the most effective ways to differentiate the occurrence or non-occurrence of an the oddsmakers figured out that prop bets
and draw patrons to a specific book is event during the course of a game that is would entice the fans to stay at the casino
to offer bets and odds that are different not directly affecting the outcome of that property longer and increase their handle
from other establishments. Greeting you game. Though these exotic bets have been on the sporting event.
at any sportsbook will be bright, green around for many years, we can pinpoint According to CBS,1 one in 10
lights consisting of traditional wagers Super Bowl XX as the game that gave Americans is expected to place prop
(money line, spread, under/over, etc.) and them traction and popularity in the U.S. bets during the Super Bowl. While
non-traditional bets, known as proposition Vegas bookmakers were looking to some of these prop bets are similar to
bets (prop bets). increase the betting handle for the big the one mentioned above, regarding
game and decided to offer 20-1 odds who will score a touchdown, they can
Origin of Prop Bets that William “Refrigerator” Perry would also become a lot more exotic. From the
score a touchdown. That Sunday, the color of Gatorade poured on the winning
These prop bets, or exotic bets, are
sportsbooks exploded with excitement coach after the game or the length of
great ways to get even the most casual
as the 330-plus pound defensive lineman the national anthem, these exotic bets
fan interacting and betting on the games
20 Nevada Lawyer December 2019
really do run the gamut.2 While these the instructions to bookmakers that, amateur sports organizations to identify
exotic prop bets are not currently legal to “Any additional wagers which deviate which types of bets simply pose too
wager on within the state of Nevada, the from those listed below will require a significant a risk to the integrity of
odds that some books assign to them are separate application and approval.” This sports and to work with regulators not to
entertaining, and serve as great publicity. process of getting bets approved could authorize them,” Moore said.
take anywhere from a few weeks to a The U.S. Supreme Court repealed
Prop Bets in the NFL Draft few months. As offshore books continue the Professional and Amateur Sports
to offer different types of prop bets and Protection Act (PASPA) or the Bradley
With the NFL Draft coming to
in-game wagering, legal book makers Act, which made sports wagering illegal
Las Vegas in 2020, we are sure to see a
must wait for the approval of the GCB in all but four states. Since then, the
plethora of interesting prop bets offered
before taking wagers on certain action. constant regulatory and legal discussion
by different bookmakers. The draft could
has revolved around what the leagues
arguably appeal to more audiences, as all
Opposition to Prop Bets will do to ensure that the integrity of
32 teams have representation and not just
the game is kept intact. By allowing
the two clubs competing for a Super Bowl In her testimony before the
individual player performances to
title. With these 32 teams, bookmakers U.S. House of Representatives on
determine the outcome of a wager, some
have the chance to allow bettors to put September 27, 2018, NFL Executive
have argued that outside influences begin
their “money where their mouth is” and Vice President Jocelyn Moore asked to
to play a bigger role into why an athlete
let them place bets on who their team get rid of prop bets that involved the
under- or over-performed. Even if there
should draft. performance of the individual athlete
is no foul play or outside pressure, a
While more conventional prop bets during the course of a game.
team employee or scout would have
are available for the NFL Draft, the “To address concerns regarding
inside information that allows them to
breadth of bets comes very close to that of risky betting fixtures, we encourage
the Super Bowl. Once again, these exotic Congress to allow professional and
bets can range anywhere from whether
the drafted player will hug his mom or
dad first, to the type of suit the player
will wear when he walks on stage.3 The
creativity of the prop bet is only limited
to what the books can come up with and
what the Nevada Gaming Control Board
(GCB) will approve.
CHECK
Approval Process of Prop
Bets in Nevada
WILL YOU CHECK YES to
For many years, the GCB restricted
YES IN
support Pro Bono?
prop bets to only include events on the 100% of your contribution
field. Books operating legally within supports pro bono.
the state could only take money on bets 2020
sanctioned by the GCB. Many exotic prop
bets were only available with offshore
bookmakers. In the past decade, Nevada
regulators have relaxed the restrictions
and allow betting on post-season awards
(Heisman Trophy, Super Bowl MVP,
etc.) and limited eSports activities.
In 2018, the GCB began to allow DUES
bookmakers within the states to take
wagers on what would happen in the
NFL Draft.4 In the approval notice, the CHECK WILL YOU CHECK YES to
GCB listed out more than 30 wagers support the Nevada Bar
that could be taken by sports books. Foundation?
Interestingly enough, only two of 100% of your contribution
the approved bets allowed bettors to
OFF
supports law related
wager on where specific players will education.
be drafted. The notice also included
December 2019 Nevada Lawyer 21
continued from page 21
NFL Draft Comes to Las Vegas:
You Can BET It Will Be Fun
make a bet in real time before the sports Future of Prop Bets waiting for the GCB, as well as other
books can adjust the line. regulators, to give them the green light to
In the 18-plus months since
Now, it is important to note that allow these bets
PASPA was
sports books have the right to post these on mobile devices
overturned,
crazy prop bets but limit the amount they throughout the
the tech and
will take in the wager or even refuse In the 18-plus months Silver State.
innovation
to take any action at all. Prop bets are The GCB
sometimes used primarily to get publicity
in sports since PASPA was
wagering has reason to
rather than actually increase the action overturned, the tech be hesitant with
has quickly
of a sports book. A popular prop-betting and innovation in in-game prop
evolved. These
website, Odds Shark, even posted the betting. This
odds on who would rule Westeros at the
growing areas sports wagering has
include in- branch of prop
end of the popular HBO series “Game quickly evolved. bets has its own
game betting of
of Thrones.”5 These odds are made for set of difficulties.
both traditional
the fun of the consumer and have great Courtsiding, the
sports bets
entertainment value. practice of transmitting data or betting
(money line, point spread, etc.) and prop
bets. Once again, these innovations are directly on sporting events as they happen
focused on increasing viewership and in stadium, is a large problem in the
handle. The innovators in this space are international markets that currently have
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22 Nevada Lawyer December 2019
legalized in-game wagering, such as the
United Kingdom. It arises as a result
from the delay between the live action 1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/betting-
and television delay. Though that is the on-the-super-bowl-1-in-10-americans- BRIAN
placing-bets-on-super-bowl-liii/ SCROGGINS JR.
prominent problem, it is just one of many
2. https://www.sbnation.com/
concerns for regulators. is a native Nevadan
nfl/2018/1/29/16941918/super-bowl-prop-
At their core, prop bets are created bets-2018-pink-national-anthem-justin- who is excited to be back in his
and used to keep the consumer engaged timberlake-halftime-performance hometown. In his time away,
in the event. They are used primarily by 3. https://www.nj.com/sports/2018/04/ he attended the University of
sporting events to keep people watching nfl_draft_2018_prop_bets_trades_sam_ Kentucky, earning both his
darnold_saquon.html Juris Doctorate and Master of
the game, even during an otherwise 4. https://gaming.nv.gov/modules/
unentertaining game. We also see Business Administration degrees.
showdocument.aspx?documentid=13049
bookmakers offering odds on who will 5. https://www.oddsshark.com/ He is currently enrolled in the
win awards in the entertainment industry6 entertainment/game-thrones-prop-odds- LLM program at UNLV, studying
(Emmys, Oscars, etc.), which can get bet-who-will-be-ruling-westeros gaming law and regulations. His
those events additional viewership they 6. https://www.oddsshark.com/ research has focused on the
entertainment/primetime-emmy-awards- areas of intellectual property,
would not otherwise be receiving. betting-odds
With Nevada transitioning from sports and gaming law. After
7. Mission of Nevada Gaming Control Board
being the gaming capital of the world to graduating from UNLV in May
the entertainment capital of the world, 2020, Scroggins is looking to join
it is important that we keep in mind the a firm with strong mentorship
regulatory process and how we must have and community involvement in
“strict regulation of all persons, locations, Nevada. He can be reached at
practices, associations and related brianscrogginsjr@gmail.com or
[gaming] activities.”7 (702) 635-1884.
POWERHOUSE ADDITIONS
Mackenzie Warren Diane Welch
joins our Government joins our Employment &
Affairs Group as a Vice Labor Group, drawing on her
President, bringing a history in litigation, higher
background in legislative education law, and employee
advocacy and lobbying. policy compliance.
In our long-standing commitment to serve our clients and Nevada, McDonald Carano is proud to
announce the addition of two highly-respected attorneys, each with impressive credentials in their fields.
We are delighted to welcome Mackenzie and Diane to our firm, further strengthening our bonds
throughout Nevada.
R E N O | L A S V E G A S | M c D O N A L D C A R A N O. C O M
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December 2019 Nevada 11/1/19
Lawyer 23
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