Rockets owner's casino paying out Warriors bets ahead of West finals

Even though the Western Conference finals haven't even started, one Las Vegas sportsbook is paying out bets on the Golden State Warriors.

The sportsbook in question belongs to Tilman Fertitta, who bought the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion in September. Per normal gaming procedure, his Golden Nugget sportsbook halted all NBA futures bets involving the Rockets over concerns of conflict of interest.

As such, the sportsbook took the Rockets off the list of teams people can bet on to "finish best" in the West and in the playoffs, therefore, those who put money on the defending champions can now cash out, despite the fact the best-of-seven series doesn't begin until Monday.

"We've already graded (the Warriors) a winner," Golden Nugget sportsbook manager Aaron Kessler told ESPN's David Purdum. "Bring your ticket and you'll get paid."

If the No. 1 seeded Rockets make it out of the West, any futures bets through the Golden Nugget on the winner of the Boston Celtics-Cleveland Cavaliers series will automatically be deemed winners.