Gamblers at one Las Vegas casino who bet on the Warriors to win the Western Conference finals can collect their money before the series even begins Monday.
That's because that casino, the historic Golden Nugget in downtown Vegas, is owned by Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. According to David Purdum of ESPN, after Fertitta purchased the team in September, the Golden Nugget sportsbook stopped taking Rockets future bets to avoid any possible conflict of interest. Yet the casino still offered a betting option on which team would "Finish Best" in the Western Conference this season.
With the Rockets not on the board for that bet, anyone who bet on the Warriors can go ahead and collect.
"We've already graded [the Warriors] a winner," Golden Nugget sportsbook manager Aaron Kessler told ESPN. "Bring your ticket and you'll get paid."
The casino would also face a similar situation should Houston advance to the NBA Finals. With the Rockets not on the board for that futures bet, anyone who bet on the Eastern Conference team (either the Celtics or Cavaliers) will be able to collect before that series starts.
We're betting that Fertitta, who purchased the Rockets for an NBA record $2.2 billion in September, will be more than happy to see those bets paid out if his team advances.
