Sports betting rules discussed

During a Nevada Gaming Commission meeting Thursday, the Nevada Resort Association and managers of major sports and race books backed the regulation to outlaw messenger betting.

Messenger bettors are people paid by others to place bets for them in Nevada race and sports books. Typically the bets come from people living in other states.

The proposed regulations also would prohibit the use of cellular telephones, pagers and other communication devices in sports or race books.

Greg Gale, chief auditor for the Gaming Control Board, said his agency is concerned that a "significant number" of wagers in Nevada race and sports books come from people outside Nevada.

Although some residents may receive a small amount of money or a gift for placing bets for friends, Gale said the intent of the regulation is to stop those who make their livings as messenger bettors.

The regulation is scheduled to be adopted Nov. 2 by the Gaming Commission. A workshop on the proposal will be conducted Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas lawyer Robert Faiss expressed support of the regulations on behalf of the Nevada Resort Association, as did Vincent Magliulo, sports book manager at Caesars Palace.

But Jeff Siri, representative for 14 race and sports books, questioned a portion of the regulation.

Siri wanted a section stricken that could block people with unpaid winning tickets from using such proceeds to make subsequent bets without having to identify themselves.

As part of an effort to prevent money laundering, the regulation requires sports or race books to identify people who place bets that add up to more than $10,000.

Siri said the books would earn additional money if bettors did not have to identify themselves if they use proceeds from unpaid winning tickets to make additional bets.

But control board Chairman Steve DuCharme made a strong objection to Siri's suggestion.

Through wiretaps in New York, DuCharme said his agency has learned there is an "underground currency" in gaming chips.

"If you could use unpaid winning tickets, then the underground currency would switch from chips to tickets," he said.

Wiretaps already have revealed discussions about unpaid winning tickets, he added.

"This would be another opportunity for abuse of the system," DuCharme said. "It's another loophole."

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