WASHINGTON — Live! Casino & Hotel kicked off a casino promotion Thursday night with a free-throw contest between real estate developer David Cordish and NBA champ Shaquille O’Neal, and it ended in a tie.

The 77-year-old Cordish owns Live! Casino & Hotel’s developer, The Cordish Cos.

“I was sitting on my couch one night and my phone went off, and it was David Cordish challenging me to a free-throw competition,” O’Neal said. “I said, ‘I’m in.’”

The NBA Hall of Famer and Cordish went head to head in the free-throw contest, with both making their sudden-death shots after sinking three of six throws.

“I am never one to settle for a tie, so don’t be surprised if I challenge him again for a rematch,” Cordish said.

[custom_gallery]Eight casino guests were also chosen to be on Team David and Team Shaq. The tie meant each team member won $1,200 in cash.

Live! was kicking off a monthlong promotion called “Sin to Win, with weekly themes of pride, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, envy and lust and $350,000 in cash and prizes.

Live! Casino & Hotel recently changed its name from Maryland Live! Casino, in preparation for the opening of its on-site hotel. The 17-story hotel will open early next year and is part of a $200 million expansion by The Cordish Cos.

Live! marked its fifth anniversary in June.