Betting Ban Approved in Bid for 2007 All-Star Game

All bets will be off if the NBA brings its 2007 All-Star game to Las Vegas, thanks to a ban approved Thursday by state gambling regulators.

At the request of the NBA and tourism officials, the Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously to prohibit wagering on the February contest and related events.

“The amount of wagering on NBA All-Star games is relatively little compared to the benefit for the state of being able to host this kind of event,” commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said in Carson City, Nev.

NBA officials said they would not consider the Las Vegas bid to play host to the game without the betting ban.

NBA Commissioner David Stern will choose from among several cities vying for the weekend event. Las Vegas is the only city on the list that does not have an NBA team.

Nevada regulators have prohibited betting on sporting events at least twice before.

During the 1983-84 season, the city played host to the Utah Jazz for 11 games in a bid to expand the team’s fan base. NBA officials insisted that no betting be allowed on those games. Regulators also approved a similar request from Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics when they played in Las Vegas.

*

The Dallas Mavericks are negotiating to buy out the contract of center Shawn Bradley, a precursor to his likely retirement after 12 seasons.

Dallas owner Mark Cuban said Bradley started the discussions “because of injury concerns,” primarily his knee and hip. A seldom-used reserve, Bradley has averaged less than 12 minutes a game each of the last two seasons.

Bradley, 33, has three years and $14.5 million remaining on his contract.

Bradley, the second overall pick in the 1993 draft by Philadelphia, has averaged 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in his career.

*

A Detroit Piston fan pleaded guilty in Rochester Hills, Mich., to throwing a quarter that hit the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson during an April playoff game.

Dennis Pauley, 31, of Taylor, Mich., faces up to three months in jail and a $500 fine when sentenced Sept. 1 for the city ordinance violation.

The judge dismissed a second charge against Pauley at the request of the prosecutor for the city of Auburn Hills.