IN LAS VEGAS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF HIGH ROLLERS WITH DEEP POCKETS AND MONEY TO BURN.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR UNLV FOOTBALL FANS THOUGH, NONE OF THAT CASH WILL BE GOING TO THEIR RECENTLY DEPARTED STARTING QUARTERBACK MATTHEW SLUKA.

SLUKA LEFT THE TEAM AMID AN NIL DISPUTE WITH THE SCHOOL-

AS SOURCES CLOSE TO THE PLAYER CLAIMED HE WAS PROMISED A MINIMUM OF 100,000 DOLLARS TO JOIN THE PROGRAM-

WHILE UNLV SAYS NO SUCH FORMAL OFFER WAS EVER MADE.

CREATING A COLLEGE FOOTBALL CONTROVERSY THAT A LOCAL CASINO MOGUL HAS TRIED TO STEP IN TO HELP RESOLVE.

CIRCA RESORT AND CASINO OWNER DERECK STEVENS REPORTEDLY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE REACH OUT TO UNLV-

OFFERING TO PAY SLUKA THE MONEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO KEEP HIM ON THE TEAM.

HOWEVER, SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE SAID TO HAVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DECLINED THE OFFER-

INDICATING THAT SLUKA HAD ALREADY LEFT THE SCHOOL AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WAS UNLIKELY TO BE REPAIRED. 

BUT, THE EMERGENCE OF A HIGH-PROFILE BUSINESS IN THE AREA TO FOOT THE BILL FOR SLUKA’S SERVICES DOES ADD AN INTERESTING TO NEW WRINKLE TO THIS SAGA-

POTENTIALLY SERVING AS A PRECURSOR TO SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS IN THE FUTURE AMID THE IMPACT OF NIL DEALS ON COLLEGE SPORTS.

JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.