1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Minors in Sports Book?

Discussion in 'The Sports Book' started by jhpa, Apr 17, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. jhpa

    jhpa VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,211
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    How strict are the Sports Books about keeping out minors?

    It seems to me that the books are pretty open and nobody is really policing who goes in or not. Obviously, if the kid is 8 years old, they may stand out. And a 19 year old looking to place a bet might get carded. But so many teenagers these days are big and well developed looking kids. If some 18 year old slips in and grabs a seat to watch some of the games, is anyone going to give them a hard time?

    This is not to say I endorse bringing kids to Vegas. I do not. Keep them at home or take them to Disneyland. But if they happen to be there....
     
  2. NYPoker

    NYPoker Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Messages:
    275
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    You won't know until you try... Good luck.
     
  3. AndShock

    AndShock Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2013
    Messages:
    21
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    I can only speak from personal experience and this stuff can change depending on who's working but I'm 22 and get carded anytime I'm sitting at VP, a slot machine or while being in the near vicinity of a table (I should just tape my ID to my forehead.) I've placed quite a few bets in the sports book and I think I've been carded once. I've never been carded while watching the games before. Suffice it to say, from my experience the sports books are very lax compared to everywhere else.
     
  4. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I don't think it can be a general question like "how are the sportsbooks" but should maybe be more about specific sportsbooks - they aren't all the same for how much traffic is through them (staff, waitresses, patrons) or placement in the casino or lighting.

    Like the Excalibur sportsbook would probably be an easy one for a minor to blend in with - its dark, in the back corner of the casino and there are nooks and crannies for somebody to sit.

    But then Mirage, MGM and Caesars all have big sportsbooks, lighting isn't too bad but there is pretty much nowhere to hide in those things: wherever you sit you will feel front and center to everything and everybody in the casino.

    I haven't been to Ti in a while but there was dark, in back corner and lots of walls and places to sit inconspicuously. Whereas NYNY and Luxor have those booths where you can sit and watch from.


    All that said, if you are thinking of doing this (either being the minor or taking one with you to Vegas) two big thoughts would be:

    First, the thing that usually gives people away is themselves. Whether its a minor in a bar or buying alcohol or somebody going to shoplift something or somebody going to commit a crime - a lot of people feel guilty and so they end up looking and acting guilty. Like they will feel like everybody is on to them, that they are suspected of something and that everybody is looking at them or checking them out... so they end up trying to scan all the people in authority constantly, they get fidgety when they come by, etc... basically they make themselves look guilty and so people suspect them of being guilty of something.

    Secondly would be to have multiple plans of what to do if something goes "wrong". Like if this was your younger brother and he was going to just sit in the sportsbook all day while you played blackjack if security comes up and asks him for ID and he can't provide any they might kick him off the property... they aren't going to let him go to the tables and try to find you and they may not even let him do something like go to the food court and sit there and wait for you - if he isn't a guest at the property they will likely escort him off the premises.

    And if he gets IDed there really isn't anything he can do. They won't accept "I forgot it" or "its up in the room" or "my brother has it" and they will likely see through a fake ID. So the best thing is just to go with something that will get him out of there but not in trouble, like "I forgot it up in the room" so he can act like leaving to go get it. On that note: if he has ID then remove it from wallet or put it in some pocket in the wallet or something. Pulling out wallet and digging through it with ID sitting there, clearly visible, and then saying "I forgot it" is actually a pretty common goof people make.
     
  5. jhpa

    jhpa VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,211
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Good start to the replies....I hope I get some more.

    I guess there are two aspects to my question. One: Is there a legal prohibition? Do you need to be 21 to sit in a sports book? My first thought was yes. But then, when I realized that the big properties are hotel resorts with the gambling often spread out throughout, I was not so sure. You see kids on the casino floor all the time (unfortunately) - walking to and from the restaurants and pools and to the hotel elevators. The distinction between where the casino starts and the resort ends is blurred at best.

    So this leads to question two: If age restrictions do exist for being in the part of the casino where there is gambling, do the properties enforce them? It seems so many properties just don't enforce any restrictions anymore - until it actually comes to gambling and drinking.

    And I would imagine this will vary by property. We will be in MGM at a convention.
     
  6. undathesea

    undathesea Grandissimo

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    Messages:
    1,664
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    I would think it's illegal. Minors aren't allowed to be on the gaming floor of a casino. They are allowed to walk through but not allowed to loiter or stop and watch. The sports book is definitely part of the casino and not the hotel or restaurants.

    On the main gaming floors of a casino, this heavily enforced. I think in other areas the enforcement is overlooked. The poker room is a great example. I've played with many players I've known to be under 21 and when I used to post on boards like 2+2, underage players posted all the time about playing poker while underage.

    So, while I think it's illegal to do so, I don't think anyone will say anything if they don't bet, just watch sports, and don't order a drink. Interacting with casino personnel is just another opportunity for them to ask for ID and subsequently kick them out.
     
  7. saintpauljeff

    saintpauljeff VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    Messages:
    2,521
    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    funny, I just saw a group of kids get carded this past weekend in the MGM sportsbook... it was in the afternoon, the book's seats were mostly full, they were just sitting- the entire group of them were asked to show ID. security specifically said before checking IDs that if they are underage that they would not be allowed to stay. they all got up and left prior to most of them showing ID
     
  8. Steelers7

    Steelers7 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2010
    Messages:
    229
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Those under 21 can walk thru the casino with someone over 21 but are not allowed to be on the floor. Ususally the gaming area is carpeted and the common area tiled. I have seen people with babies in their strollers at slot machines asked to move off the gaming portion with the infant, as well as younger children. The sportsbook I'm not sure about... but since it is a place where you can wager a bet I would think its the same.
     
  9. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    Yes you do. The sportsbook is part of the casino.

    Minors are allowed to pass through the casino, but not stop.

    You will see people being asked for ID all the time at bars and on the casino floor but that is if they are doing something that requires verification of their age: standing in the casino, playing a game, ordering a drink, etc.

    But if they are just passing through the casino, like going to the bathroom or heading to the elevators or something, then that is something they are legally allowed to do and so there isn't any need for them to be asked for ID.

    As for sitting in the sportsbook, that is part of the casino and so minors are not allowed to loiter in those areas. I am actually pretty sure most sportsbooks will even be so posted, having signs every few feet saying no minors allowed.
     
Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.