Wanting to keep UNLV’s College Football Playoff hopes alive, a Circa Sports Vice President offered to compensate former UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka the $100,000 he allegedly was promised by an assistant coach.
Late Tuesday night, Sluka, who started UNLV’s first three games, announced he would not play the rest of the season and was redshirting because “certain representations made to me were not upheld. Despite discussions, it became clear these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future.”
Mike Palm, Circa Sports Vice President of Operations, told Action Network he contacted UNLV Wednesday morning, inquiring if the Las Vegas resort and casino could help make up for the money allegedly owed to Sluka so he might stay at UNLV.
However, a UNLV official told Palm that Sluka was no longer with the program and “we won’t be doing business with the Sluka family again.”
UNLV and the school’s NIL collective both issued statements disputing the claims by Sluka and his father, who said his son was promised $100,000 by a UNLV assistant to attend the school.
When Palm saw Sluka’s announcement on Twitter Tuesday night, he talked with Circa Sports CEO and owner Derek Stevens about assisting the school in keeping its starting quarterback.
“I told Derek, ‘Why don’t we take a run at it?’“ Palm told Action Network. “'The kid’s claiming he’s owed $100,000. Are you willing to make a call to UNLV to help out?’”
Stevens told Palm to contact the school for more information. Palm said Stevens and Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas were prepared to offer Sluka a substantial NIL deal before learning he was no longer with the team.
“Mr. Stevens was willing to help the university get there,” Palm said. “One hundred thousand dollars is a small price to keep UNLV’s College Football Playoff hopes alive.”
The NCAA prohibits players from accepting sports gaming or casino NIL deals. However, Palm said there were several non-gaming options at Circa Resort and Casino, such as Saginaw’s Delicatessen or Legacy Club.
“He could have even been a lifeguard at Stadium Swim,” Palm said, referring to the resort’s epic six-pool, two-spa amphitheater with a massive 143-foot screen.
UNLV and Circa Sports officials hope to have future discussions on how the local resort and casino can work together in future partnerships, Palm said.
As for UNLV’s playoff hopes, the Rebels (3-0), ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll, host Fresno State (3-1) in a key Mountain West matchup Saturday night. The highest-ranked conference champion from the Group of Five receives an automatic bid into the playoff.
UNLV opened as a 4-point favorite at Circa Sports on Sunday, but after the news of Sluka’s redshirt, UNLV dropped to a 1-point underdog. As of Thursday morning, UNLV was back to a 2.5-point favorite.
Palm supports the hometown Rebels to succeed, so I asked him if he bet on any Mountain West teams to make the College Football Playoff.
“Yes,” Palm said. “I have Boise State at +460.”
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