How is the Bellagio Sports Book in Comparison to Aria's?

Just wondering.

 

It's got a lot of booths for betting but not much else. I think MGM with their skyboxes is way better than both.

 

Tell me more about the skyboxes. As a long time MGM guest, I've somehow managed to miss them. I have Platinum - I understand that qualifies me in some way for access to them...but how does that work?

 

Bellagio is pretty wide open. On the left as you enter are the horse terminals. In front are the ticket writers, betting windows. On the right is a seating section for about 40-50 people (as I recall). The seats are leather recliners. I don't care for them much... very uncomfortable. It's dark in there, like a cave with big boards and it's located just behind the poker room. There's also a video bar you can sit at and watch the games. The have a few decent screens. Nothing to write home about. People used to love going there for their liberal drink policy. They hand out drink tickets now.

The Aria is a long and narrow. You enter from the side. As you enter, there are high-top tables in front of you, seating areas and tvs to the left, betting windows to the right, and the horse betting terminals to the back and to the back right (around a corner). The horses are separated from the other tvs, which is kind of nice. The Aria has couches and tables for drinks and leather seats that are pretty comfortable. They have two large screen tvs that are flanked with various sized smaller tvs. It's pretty bright in there and they lack the old school big boards... which kind of sucks. I like the big boards for tracking the lines.

I wouldn't say either of the books have stellar service. I definitely prefer the Aria sports book over the Bellagio though. The tvs are much nicer and it's more comfortable to me.

 

MGM is long and narrow as well. The Skyboxes are positioned just above the regular seating areas. I have never used that Platinum perk, but supposedly Platinum has access to the Skybox. I would assume you can inquire at the ticket writer desk on how to gain access to the Skyboxes.

I believe it's limited access though and it's reserved for the biggest players during peak times (NFL Sundays, March Madness, Super Bowl, etc).

 

I think the Aria book is probably a bit objectively "nicer", but I like how the Bellagio doesn't feel so secluded from the rest of the casino. The Aria book is in the very back of the property and down a separate corridor, and it always felt a bit removed from everything else.

 

Apples and oranges. They are entirely different and reflect sportsbook construction from two different vegas eras. I'll see if I can do a comparison rundown:

Bellagio is a big room, Aria feels like a series of connected rooms;
Bellagio has old school electronic boards, Aria uses TV screens to list the bets;
Bellagio has a ton of seating for horse bettors, Aria has a separate room for digs and ponies;
Drink service is better at Bellagio;
Both require you to get there early on a big game days to get seats;
Aria has more couches and "home" style seating;
Aria has a VIP room in the book for busier days and bigger events;
Aria has a machine that will take your bets, don't think Bellagio has that yet.

That's all I can think of at the moment. I like both books, but for different reasons. Overall, on a busy sports day, I would go with Bellagio. On a slower day where you can find a comfy seat, go with Aria

 

Now that's a first. The number one thing that everyone always raves about the Bellagio book is the comfortable recliner style seats. I, and the majority of posters, would say that Bellagio has the most comfortable seats in the city.

I don't like Aria's book. I like a cheering crowd, like at Bellagio and some of the bigger books. Aria is more like a night club with TVs.

 

Agree 1000%. Bellagio's sports book is one of the most comfortable and they recently replaced their tv's. Still one of the best even though they changed their drink service. But I usually just bet and go unless I want to watch the game.

 

Yeah. I never understood people raving about the seating. The seat feels like it's pushing you off of it the entire time you're sitting in it. I'm 175lb guy. Perhaps you need to be a bit heftier so that you don't get that feeling.

The seats over at Aria are comfortable, leather seats and couches with pillows. Doesn't get any better than that, IMO... unless you're paying for the stadium seating at Lagasse's Stadium.

The tvs are nicer, newer as well at Aria (at least they were in September).

I like the big boards and darker atmosphere at Bellagio... but I'll trade big boards in a cave for a comfortable seat any day of the week.

 

Both are nice. B has good drink service and more of a group feel

 

Just to add another voice, give a thought to the new book at Mirage. It may not be the best, but it's certainly the newest, and it's nice. Big room feel.