Raiders’ Las Vegas NFL stadium could offer mobile betting

A new stadium that will be built in Las Vegas, Nevada, to house NFL American football team the Oakland Raiders is set to offer on-site mobile betting services to fans attending games.

Last week, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority gave its approval to a conditional lease agreement on the new 65,000-capacity venue, which is expected to cost $1.9 billion (€1.7 billion) in total.

NFL owners are expected to vote on ratifying the conditional lease at a meeting this week.

According to ESPN, although the lease includes language that prohibits “gaming and gambling, the maintaining or operating of a gambling establishment and/or sports wagering or any wagering on racing or other non-sports events”, it does not mention mobile betting.

Many major sportsbooks in Nevada operate sports betting mobile applications, with Nevada still the only state in the US where wagering on sports is legal.

Although the NFL could request that the Nevada Gaming Commission prohibit access to such apps at the stadium through the use of geolocation technology, Tony Alamo, a spokesperson for the state’s regulatory body, said a request has yet to be made.

“The NFL has not approached me for any policy decisions,” Alamo told ESPN.

“The Nevada Gaming Commission is the policy maker for the state of Nevada and gaming, and they have not approached us in any shape, way or form.”

However, referring to on-site mobile betting, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN the team is “required to abide by league rules on the matter”

Earlier this year, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hit out at the sports betting market, saying that the league is “strongly” against wider legalisation of such activities in the US.

The new Las Vegas stadium is set to open in 2020, with the Raiders to remain in Oakland, California, for the next two seasons before making the move to Nevada.

Related article: NFL chief reiterates opposition to sports betting in US