Circa Sports Exec Wanted to Offer Matthew Sluka $100K NIL Deal to Prevent UNLV Exit

Mike Palm, Circa Sports Vice President of Operations, made a late attempt to keep Matthew Sluka from leaving UNLV over a disputed NIL payment that wasn't made.

Palm told Brett McMurphy of the Action Network he contacted UNLV officials on Wednesday asking if Circa Sports, a resort and casino headquartered in Las Vegas, could make up for the $100,000 Sluka was allegedly owed to prevent him from leaving the program.

McMurphy noted that a school official told Palm that Sluka was no longer with the program and they wouldn't "be doing business with the Sluka family again."

Sluka announced early Wednesday morning that he was utilizing his redshirt year and would sit out the remaining games this season due to promised "commitments would not be fulfilled in the future" after he agreed to join the program "based on certain representations that were made to me" during his recruitment.

Marcus Cromartie, Sluka's agent, told ESPN's Pete Thamel and Adam Rittenberg that a UNLV assistant coach made a verbal offer of $100,000 to Sluka that the program didn't follow through on.

Matthew's father, Bob Sluka, told Thamel and Rittenberg that Rebels head coach Barry Odom said in a phone call that the assistant's offer wasn't valid because it didn't come directly from him.

In a statement to Thamel and Rittenberg, UNLV said it honored all "previously agreed-upon scholarships" for Sluka:

"UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka. UNLV has conducted its due diligence and will continue to operate its programs within the framework of NCAA rules and regulations, as well as Nevada state laws."

Running back Michael Allen announced the same day as Sluka that he was also exercising his redshirt year and entering the transfer portal, but he clarified the decision was about playing time and not related to NIL discrepancies.

McMurphy noted NCAA rules prohibit players from accepting NIL deals from casino or sports gaming companies, but Palm explained there are several non-gaming options offered by Circa Sports that would have allowed it to cover the cost without violating any rules.

"He could have even been a lifeguard at Stadium Swim," Palm told McMurphy. Stadium Swim is the resort's amphitheater that features six different pools and a 40-foot high-definition screen that shows sporting events.

Sluka transferred to UNLV in January after playing four seasons at Holy Cross from 2020 to '23. He threw for 318 yards, ran for 253 yards and accounted for seven touchdowns in three games with the Rebels this season.

UNLV is off to a 3-0 start with two wins over Big 12 teams Houston and Kansas. Hajj-Malik Williams is expected to start at quarterback for the Rebels on Saturday when they host Fresno State.