NHL Kings co-Owner Ed Roski, who is bidding for an NFL
expansion team in L.A., "owns a casino in Las Vegas -- an
apparent conflict" under NFL rules, according to Alan
Abrahamson of the L.A. TIMES. Roski operates the Silverton
Hotel Casino and RV Park, "which he opened about 18 months
ago when the previous casino [Boomtown] went bust." Roski
owns the property and had been "leasing the site" to
operators of the casino. Roski said he was "unaware that
the NFL bars team owners from owning an interest in a
casino." Roski: "I would have to deal with it." NFL
VP/Communications Greg Aiello: "The rule is that an NFL
owner is prohibited from having an ownership interest in a
casino -- that's what it is." Aiello said the league talked
about "formalizing" its casino policy in writing during its
most-recent league meetings in K.C. The NHL "allows team
owners to own a casino" as long as the casino doesn't
operate a sports book. Roski has also invoked a clause to
acquire 25% of the Lakers, and the NBA permits team owners
to own a casino as long as there is no betting on NBA games.
Silverton operates 1,200 slot machines and 18 gaming tables.
The NV Gaming Control Board shows that Roski owns 90% of the
new casino, with Roski's company, Majestic Nevada, owning
the remaining 10% (L.A. TIMES, 11/13).
