PlaySugarHouse moves off Golden Nugget license to take NBA bets

Rush Street Interactive has changed its sports betting license from the Golden Nugget to Monmouth so it can offer NBA bets, EGR can reveal.

Sportsbooks operating on the Golden Nugget license cannot take NBA wagers because state regulations ban anyone with a major interest in a particular sport from taking action on that sport.

Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta also owns the Houston Rockets.

As a result, Rush Street switched the license for its PlaySugarHouse sportsbook to Monmouth Park ahead of the new NBA season, which started last night.

The NBA accounted for more than 15% of Nevada’s sports betting handle last year.

“It’s a huge disadvantage not to have NBA,” said one source with knowledge of the situation.

Rush Street Interactive and Golden Nugget declined to comment.

The Golden Nugget said earlier this year it “hopes to persuade lawmakers over time that the total NBA ban is unnecessary and should be limited simply to the Houston Rockets team owned by Mr. Fertitta”.

Golden Nugget sportsbooks in Nevada operate with the above caveat, and EGR understands the operator is currently trying to negotiate similar rules in New Jersey for the start of the next NBA season.

The PlaySugarHouse online casino will continue to use the Golden Nugget license.