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News - Sports Betting
Bettor is angered by ban
LAS VEGAS - The sports book operations for Station Casinos are under fire for an incident that took place a week ago Sunday, Nov. 24.
Ron Boyles, a professional sports bettor from the suburb of Henderson, went into the Green Valley Ranch Station that day and made a $2,200 bet on the Miami Heat +8 1/2 against the Orlando Magic, plus two other $1,110 wagers. He turned over the cash and received his tickets about 15 minutes before the Heat-Magic game began. Around that time, many books in town took the game off the betting boards because it was learned that Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill weren't going to play.
Boyles claims he was asked to fill out a player tracking application to qualify for comps, and then shortly after the game started, he was approached by Green Valley sports book manager Kelly Downey and asked to void the bet. Boyles says he didn't have previous knowledge of the injuries and was playing the Heat because the Magic were playing their first home game after a lengthy road trip, which he said is one of his favorite angles.
Boyles said Downey went to make a call, and then returned and said if he didn't agree to void the wager that Art Manteris, vice president of race and sports book operations, would bar him from all Station Casino properties.
Boyles refused. The Magic went on to win 77-75, meaning the Heat covered the spread and Boyles won the disputed bet (for the record, he said he split his other two wagers).
"I refused because I didn't do anything wrong," Boyles said. "I made my bet in good faith, and they booked it. I didn't know about the injuries, but even if I had, it's their job to adjust their lines or take a game off the board. Plus, I didn't know the legality of canceling the bet after the game had already started. That didn't seem right."
Later that week, he cashed tickets at Boulder Station and Sunset Station (two Station properties where he bet more frequently than Green Valley) and was told he wasn't allowed to bet there anymore.
Manteris declined comment Wednesday because he said he is prohibited from discussing individual customers' wagers. He did say, however, that there are inaccuracies in Boyle's account. Manteris refused to be specific.
Boyles went to the Gaming Control Board this week to file a complaint. Boyles said he was told by agent Renee Rivera Shaffer that Gaming would investigate the incident, particularly the accusation of voiding a bet after the game started (in light of the Breeders' Cup pick six scandal, any talk of altering a bet after an event has begun is sure to draw scrutiny).
Calls to the Nevada Gaming Control Board were not returned by early Wednesday afternoon.
Bettor is angered by ban
LAS VEGAS - The sports book operations for Station Casinos are under fire for an incident that took place a week ago Sunday, Nov. 24.
Ron Boyles, a professional sports bettor from the suburb of Henderson, went into the Green Valley Ranch Station that day and made a $2,200 bet on the Miami Heat +8 1/2 against the Orlando Magic, plus two other $1,110 wagers. He turned over the cash and received his tickets about 15 minutes before the Heat-Magic game began. Around that time, many books in town took the game off the betting boards because it was learned that Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill weren't going to play.
Boyles claims he was asked to fill out a player tracking application to qualify for comps, and then shortly after the game started, he was approached by Green Valley sports book manager Kelly Downey and asked to void the bet. Boyles says he didn't have previous knowledge of the injuries and was playing the Heat because the Magic were playing their first home game after a lengthy road trip, which he said is one of his favorite angles.
Boyles said Downey went to make a call, and then returned and said if he didn't agree to void the wager that Art Manteris, vice president of race and sports book operations, would bar him from all Station Casino properties.
Boyles refused. The Magic went on to win 77-75, meaning the Heat covered the spread and Boyles won the disputed bet (for the record, he said he split his other two wagers).
"I refused because I didn't do anything wrong," Boyles said. "I made my bet in good faith, and they booked it. I didn't know about the injuries, but even if I had, it's their job to adjust their lines or take a game off the board. Plus, I didn't know the legality of canceling the bet after the game had already started. That didn't seem right."
Later that week, he cashed tickets at Boulder Station and Sunset Station (two Station properties where he bet more frequently than Green Valley) and was told he wasn't allowed to bet there anymore.
Manteris declined comment Wednesday because he said he is prohibited from discussing individual customers' wagers. He did say, however, that there are inaccuracies in Boyle's account. Manteris refused to be specific.
Boyles went to the Gaming Control Board this week to file a complaint. Boyles said he was told by agent Renee Rivera Shaffer that Gaming would investigate the incident, particularly the accusation of voiding a bet after the game started (in light of the Breeders' Cup pick six scandal, any talk of altering a bet after an event has begun is sure to draw scrutiny).
Calls to the Nevada Gaming Control Board were not returned by early Wednesday afternoon.
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