The NFL betting on moving – or having – a team to Las Vegas was something that, until not long ago, would have been received with incredulous chuckles. Like if I told you the Oakland Raiders are moving to Sin City, you would say that I’m really funny. And I would ask you, what do you mean, I’m funny? Funny how? Funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh? And I would be right to ask those questions, because that particular move is no longer laughing matter.
For example, Jerry Jones has gone public about his acquiescence to having an NFL betting team in Las Vegas. But Jerry Jones is the owner of the Dallas Cowboys; what in the name of sportsbook betting has he got to do with any of this? First of all, in general, the move would affect the rest of the teams, who would have to travel to the Nevada city – as would their fans. Second of all, Jones is one of the most influential team owners; for instance, he was the puppet master who pulled the strings to allow St. Louis Rams to move back to Los Angeles. Among NFL team owners, he is Agamemnon to the Achaeans. Which lends a lot subtext to his saying that he was open to a team in Vegas with “the right ownership;” he’s allegedly been trying for years to get Mark Davis to sell the Raiders – or, failing that, that Davis yields control of the team.
According to Giants co-owner said in March that Las Vegas is non-starter for most owners as far as a Raiders move there, and that the casinos would be a big part of owners’ objections. On the other hand, other owners may see Las Vegas as the final frontier for expansion – and rightfully so; look at what men like Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal accomplished there. The Las Vegas Raiders could be one of the most popular NFL teams. On one hand, the Raiders fans are die-hard, not averse to traveling, and can be found all over the U.S. of A. On the other, NFL betting fans in the western part of the country could be easily persuaded to support the team.
Ideally, sportsbook betting fans would make a whole weekend out of the trip to see the Raiders, and while they’re in Las Vegas they could gamble – NFL betting and otherwise – catch a show, or wake up in the morning with no recollection of what went on the previous night only to find a tiger in the bathroom. Now concerning that Las Vegas Raiders thing, I hope it’s not set in stone. I’d suggest the Las Vegas Outlaws as a tribute to the defunct XFL, but I’m going to refrain from doing so because it might not be construed as a politically correct thing to say.