Sportsbook Review

We were in Vegas last week and the book is where I spend a majority of my evenings.

Not my first time at any of these books but I thought I give a recent experience type of review.

MGM - nice big book, plenty of seating, do not volunteer drink tickets and they will will let the vagrants hang out later in the evening.

The Tropicana - dead, beyond dead. This is the place to go if you want to be by yourself. I found it to sterile for my tastes but they do have large viewing screens.

Luxor. Easy to watch what you want and comfortably not crowded. Cocktail service is non-existent and drink tickets not volunteered.

Mandalay Bay - not crowded, no service, no drink tickets volunteered. Decent viewing area. Kind of boring IMO.

NYNY - A favorite book - my luck always seems to be good here. Drink tickets offered and good cocktail service. Viewing area leaves alot to be desired but the Sporting House is right there as well as an attended bathroom.

Monte Carlo .......... love the hotel and everything about it. Viewing area is decent and drink tickets given freely. The kicker - cocktail service here is absolutely horrible. You might be lucky if one comes into the book on any given hour. Tickets at the bar will not be accepted and if you ask for service in the book you will be told curtly a server will be in shortly. When they do come its with an attitude despite being tipped well. This is now 3x this has happened to me in this book. I'll be going else where from now on.

Cosmo - sports book is more of a race book. Small and new its more geared to the in and out better. Not a game watching venue. Have to say I was disappointed.

Planet Hollywood. I use to think this was one of the best places to watch the game and lay some bets. Comfortable seating and a solid viewing area still present but they have really not kept up the book itself. Its well worn.

Aria - did not care for it the first time I checked it out but this time I absolutely loved it. Cocktail service was fantastic and friendly (Catey). Drink tickets given at 125$ but they will toss a couple extra your way upon request (Makers Mark free large pour). Everyone was fall over friendly with one exception - the young male was rather quite the prick. Just go to the females behind the counter to place your bets. Viewing area is fantastic and comfortable. With Monte Carlo losing my business this probably becomes my go to book now.

 

NYNY is so tiny... unless they've moved it to somewhere that has more than a few dozen seats in the middle of the entrance to the casino.

Cosmo is the same way. They want you to place a bet and leave. There are a few dozen seats (desks is more like it)... but the viewing screens are amazing.

Aria is my goto spot these days. The seats are comfortable and even though it's not very large you never feel like it's packed. I also like that the race book is tucked into the back and somewhat private. I've played the ponies there and it was a good experience.

 

You are telling me that they had CW coming around for the 10-15 seats in that sports book?

NYNY is the one book that I just assumed they didn't even have drink tickets.



I especially like MGM Grand with the deli right there. Most of the other books don't have a nearby food option.

My only complaint about Aria is that on busy weekends it can be very difficult to get a seat. The book isn't exactly small, but it feels like the amount of seating is rather limited with the way they have it setup.

 

If you haven't had a chance to hit the LVH in past trips, you should consider a trip to what I believe is the best all around sportsbook in Vegas (RIP Stardust Superbook).

Drink tickets are not needed (once in a rare while, they will ask for a wagering slip) and drink service is decent. They offer great in game bets (for the feature games during each commercial - points and totals) and they also typically offer the widest variety of wagers in Vegas (props, gimmicks, totals). They have a large no smoking "man cave" as well and you can also play 9/6 JOB (nickel, quarter or dollar) while watching the games. They also cover all race tracks. If you are a baseball better, they offer a dime line, not a 20 cent line found on the strip (Gold Coast also offers good baseball lines).

 

Too bad you missed the Superbook @ LVH

Best Sportsbook in the world IMO

 

I agree the Stardust was great, and LVH still is good. Another strip property that has a good book is Bally's.

Personally I am a fan of Red Rock, GVR, and most of the other Stations. I also have to add South Point to my list just because I like it. Nothing great about it, but I am a fan anyway. There is always a knockout cocktail waitress that always seems to working the book.

 

QFT

Red Rock is my favorite Stations Sportsbook, and I also have always liked South Point's book. Golden Nugget and El Cortez are the only two downtown books I use, and they pale in comparison to the Strip and Off-Strip books noted above.

 

Stardust was great, Flamingo is a joke. I remember that the IP use to have a nice sports book too, but the last time I was up there was in 96.

 

Daily Sports Player

I'm a daily sports bettor and Vegas local. I hang out at the CG Technology (formally Cantor Gaming) sportsbook at the Palms. I'm not a huge fan of Cantor and their approach to customer service and wagering information available is deplorable. However, I make very few bets with CG and use my online/mobile accounts at Stations casinos and William Hill.

If you are ever in the Palms during the early afternoon, be sure to give me a holla'.

Cheers

 

I like Aria.....great for early baseball and LVH was always my favorite

 

I'd like to point out that I love the little nyny sports book as well. Just a relaxing spot to always get a seat, mull over lines and enjoy. However I've stayed there four times in the last five years and don't recall ever seeing a cocktail waitress.

 

Does any sports book take players club cars and awards credits for betting?

 

M-Life does not.

CET - Total Rewards does.

 

While they do, don't choose CET due to this reason. The amount of credits you get is very low. Somewhere between 0c and 1c for every $100 bet.

 

Can you use an I-pad or smart phone in any of these or others? Anyone's knowledge appreciated...

 

Used phone fine in aria Bellagio and Monte Carlo.

 

Hedgehog I saw wireless devices out in the open at Bally's and nobody seemed to care.

My personal rankings:
Aria
Mirage
Wynn
LVH
Caesars
Rio
PH
MGM
Bally's
Hard Rock
Harrah's

 

Call me a sucker, or crazy, but this does discourage me from sports betting at MLife properties unless I'm short on time and at one of those casinos.

It just doesn't feel right to be gambling at a casino without a casino "recognizing" it. I know sports comps are crap in general, but I do like the feeling that CET at least knows how much I bet on sports.

It might just be bs, but I thought that I read somewhere even if you're not getting TR credits on sports, CET is tracking your sports bets and this can lead to certain offers.

 

Think about like this.

Casinos give you back up to 40% of your theoretical loss in comps. The house edge on standard side and total bets is about 4.5% for the casino.

Now say you bet $5k one day. They can comp you up to $90 on that $5k.

Since most people don't bet that much and the comps are so insignificant it's really not worth it to the casino to track the comps.

You'd have to be in the $20k+ worth of bets per day before it really made sense to track. That's at least worth a room comp at that rate.