HAVE VEGAS ODDSMAKERS BEEN SOLD? 09/18/03 - Stephen Nover
Excuse the cliché, but often where there's smoke there's fire. Rumors are now rampant about Las Vegas Sports Consultants being sold to a group featuring oddsmaker/handicapper Ken White.
According to Scotty Schettler, who was the sports book manager at the Stardust Hotel during much of the 1980s, a group of attorneys are buying LVSC from SportsLine.com. Schettler, who also briefly worked for LVSC a couple of years ago, says White will be in charge. The purchase could happen any day.
"It was a cut and dry deal that Kenny and his group are going to get it," Schettler said.
Schettler said he heard three groups were interested in buying the company, with two actually making a bid.
Another source close to the scene said White's group would be purchasing LVSC this week. A third source said it was a case of White's group being the last one remaining.
Oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough started LVSC in the early 1980s. SportsLine.com bought the company from Data Broadcasting Company, who Roxborough had sold it to in April of 2000.
Asked to comment about a possible sale, Vegas Insider vice-president and general manager Peter Gold said, "Because SportsLine is a publicly traded company, I am not permitted to discuss the sale of LVSC at this time. The only thing I can say at this time is that LVSC has not yet been sold and several interested parties are looking at it.
"There are many false rumors in the marketplace that I have heard. I wish I could correct them, but my hands are tied."
White did not return an E-mail asking for his comment.
All this coincides with an order from the Nevada Gaming Control Board that Nevada sports books no longer use the Don Best service. The state gaming board apparently did not like Don Best referring to itself as a sports information provider because Nevada Gaming had not issued the company a license.
Because the Don Best screen is being phased out in Nevada sports books, state sports establishments could soon be at a competitive disadvantage if they don't know the opening offshore odds or have the latest injury alerts.
LVSC does not have a Nevada license either, but a grandfather clause allowed it to operate while its sale was pending. There is some question if the state gaming board would even issue White a license. Some believe it would be highly unlikely.
White isn't your conventional oddsmaker either. His lines are based more on his handicapping opinion rather than arriving at a number that would likely provide two-way action.
Eugene Buonantony, an independent oddsmaker, is presently the only person licensed by the state gaming control board. Buonantony, a well-respected and long-time Las Vegas linesmaking consultant, received his license on Sept. 4 of this year.
However, Buonantony does not make college lines, nor does he have the Sports Signal product. Asked if he had plans to expand his business and hire college handicappers, Buonantony declined comment.
Some Nevada sports books had arrangements where they didn't have to pay to receive the Don Best service, according to a source. Nevada bookmakers, especially the ones in Las Vegas, like familiar faces. They hate to pay extra for services.
They knew Roxborough and were comfortable with him when he ran LVSC. But Roxborough has been in semi-retirement for the past five years living in Asia. The people in charge of the company are in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Sportsline.com, the parent company, is located.
Nevada hotels don't have to take LVSC, but are currently limited in their choices. That could change if some independent groups emerge.
The state gaming control board would hate to see the industry without a watchdog, such as LVSC. Yet they make any potential sports information provider go through a strict, meticulous, expensive licensing process.
And that sure does eliminate many potential candidates.
Excuse the cliché, but often where there's smoke there's fire. Rumors are now rampant about Las Vegas Sports Consultants being sold to a group featuring oddsmaker/handicapper Ken White.
According to Scotty Schettler, who was the sports book manager at the Stardust Hotel during much of the 1980s, a group of attorneys are buying LVSC from SportsLine.com. Schettler, who also briefly worked for LVSC a couple of years ago, says White will be in charge. The purchase could happen any day.
"It was a cut and dry deal that Kenny and his group are going to get it," Schettler said.
Schettler said he heard three groups were interested in buying the company, with two actually making a bid.
Another source close to the scene said White's group would be purchasing LVSC this week. A third source said it was a case of White's group being the last one remaining.
Oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough started LVSC in the early 1980s. SportsLine.com bought the company from Data Broadcasting Company, who Roxborough had sold it to in April of 2000.
Asked to comment about a possible sale, Vegas Insider vice-president and general manager Peter Gold said, "Because SportsLine is a publicly traded company, I am not permitted to discuss the sale of LVSC at this time. The only thing I can say at this time is that LVSC has not yet been sold and several interested parties are looking at it.
"There are many false rumors in the marketplace that I have heard. I wish I could correct them, but my hands are tied."
White did not return an E-mail asking for his comment.
All this coincides with an order from the Nevada Gaming Control Board that Nevada sports books no longer use the Don Best service. The state gaming board apparently did not like Don Best referring to itself as a sports information provider because Nevada Gaming had not issued the company a license.
Because the Don Best screen is being phased out in Nevada sports books, state sports establishments could soon be at a competitive disadvantage if they don't know the opening offshore odds or have the latest injury alerts.
LVSC does not have a Nevada license either, but a grandfather clause allowed it to operate while its sale was pending. There is some question if the state gaming board would even issue White a license. Some believe it would be highly unlikely.
White isn't your conventional oddsmaker either. His lines are based more on his handicapping opinion rather than arriving at a number that would likely provide two-way action.
Eugene Buonantony, an independent oddsmaker, is presently the only person licensed by the state gaming control board. Buonantony, a well-respected and long-time Las Vegas linesmaking consultant, received his license on Sept. 4 of this year.
However, Buonantony does not make college lines, nor does he have the Sports Signal product. Asked if he had plans to expand his business and hire college handicappers, Buonantony declined comment.
Some Nevada sports books had arrangements where they didn't have to pay to receive the Don Best service, according to a source. Nevada bookmakers, especially the ones in Las Vegas, like familiar faces. They hate to pay extra for services.
They knew Roxborough and were comfortable with him when he ran LVSC. But Roxborough has been in semi-retirement for the past five years living in Asia. The people in charge of the company are in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Sportsline.com, the parent company, is located.
Nevada hotels don't have to take LVSC, but are currently limited in their choices. That could change if some independent groups emerge.
The state gaming control board would hate to see the industry without a watchdog, such as LVSC. Yet they make any potential sports information provider go through a strict, meticulous, expensive licensing process.
And that sure does eliminate many potential candidates.
