Las Vegas Sports Books – Best of (Part 1 in a Series)

PART 1 IN A SERIES

Las Vegas is increasingly being known as a sports town. The NHL has come to Sin City, the Raiders are on their way, and major media sports outlets regularly report on the Las Vegas Sports Book point spread when providing information on a game. Most of the warranted Las Vegas hype revolves around nightclubs, shows, and good old-fashioned gambling at the tables or slot machines. But if you overlooked all the wonderful places to watch and bet on sports in Las Vegas, you’d be missing out.

So I’ve compiled a list of some well-known and not so well known Las Vegas sports books. Basically, what the list consists of is a “best of” compilation in different categories ranging from best screens to the darkest, most dimly lit sports book. If you’re a sports fan visiting Las Vegas, you should check them out – some can be described as Mega-sized theaters, some are like dimly lit cocktail lounges, and yes, some are even akin to a dive bar. But they all have one thing in common – sports are always on and a ticket writer is ready to take your bet.

In this post, let’s begin with “best grub,” “best at being cool,” and the “best at looking the loneliest.”

Best for Grub: Planet Hollywood – Yes, Planet Hollywood’s sports book takes the prize in this category, but barely. Places like Wynn (Charlie’s), The D (American Coney), and The Mirage (Carnegie Deli) are contenders but Planet Hollywood takes it with Earl of Sandwich (aka Earl’s) directly across from the sports book and Pin Up Pizza – a New York Style pizza joint serving up giant slices of pie, which is connected to the Planet Hollywood sports book.

Planet Hollywood Sports Book Seating Area
Planet Hollywood Sports Book and Pin Up Pizza Neon Sign

If you’ve never tried a sandwich from Earl’s, it is a must and even more so if you plan to eat at your seat in the sports book. Pin Up Pizza is also a solid choice, which in addition to pizza slices, serves up some terrific garlic knots. I can thank my friends on Twitter who turned me on to the knots……tasty. 

Earl of Sandwich - A few Steps from the PH Sports Book

Earl of Sandwich – A few Steps from the PH Sports Book

Best at Being Cool: Tie – Cosmopolitan and Bellagio. Wynn and Aria may have an argument here, but as far as the coolness factor goes, you cannot go wrong with either the Cosmopolitan or Bellagio Sports Books. The Cosmopolitan moved their sports book setup to the first floor casino area just under a year ago and it has been a hit ever since. Great seating, a nice bar set up with additional screens in the center of the sports book, and the coolness factor of the Cosmopolitan are all in play here. The ultra HD screens are also outstanding. What is not cool is the lack of free drinks for most sports bettors. However, I solved that problem during my last visit with a $20 Video Poker session, which scored me a few drinks to go along with my $28 cash out after my go at Deuces Wild VP.

The New Cosmopolitan Sports Book
The Cosmopolitan Sports Book

While not as hip as the Cosmopolitan, the Bellagio sports book certainly maintains a classically cool feel. The iconic oversized leather chairs that have been in place since the sports book opened in 1998, a recently remodeled area that has been decked out with comfortable sofas and tables, and the connected sports book lounge with its full pints of microbrew beer and delicious, albeit pricey, cocktails. The Bellagio is right next door to the Cosmopolitan so if you’re in “cool mode,” both spots are easy to check out to see which vibe suits you best.  

The New Lounge Set Up at the Bellagio Sports Book
Bellagio Sports Book – Classically Cool

Best at Looking the Loneliest: Tropicana – Is there such a thing as the loneliest sports book in Las Vegas? If there is one that is lonelier than the Tropicana, I’d like to know. Back in the 90s, the “Trop” had a sports book about as big as a walk-in closet, tucked away beyond the casino. It contained approximately 6 chairs and a small 1-person betting window. I recall making a couple of NBA bets there before heading to the tables (yes, once upon a time I spent more time at the tables than the sports book). Then, many years later, a grandiose new sports book was built and subsequently operated by CG Technology. The place was great – nice screens, non-smoking, and usually ample seating as the sports book rarely was packed even on football weekends. That space is now a restaurant and the Tropicana once again made their sports book an afterthought, placing a betting counter at the rear of the casino adjacent to the secondary side entrance of the casino. I ended up making the 5 minute walk over to the Hooter’s sports book once I saw the small quarters at the Trop and the fact that there is no seating . It’s a place to make a bet and then leave – no vibe (and no people) at this sports book.

Tropicana Sports Book - Reminds me of that 80s song by the Motels....

Tropicana Sports Book – Reminds me of that 80s song by the Motels….

Next week, I’ll present to you Las Vegas Sports Books with the best screens, best free drink policy, and best kept secret sports book.

Thanks for checking out The Vegas Parlay – The Las Vegas Sports Book Blog.  Connect with us on Twitter @sportsbooktom or via  The Vegas Parlay Facebook Page

Comments

  1. Richard Garcia says:

    Great info Tommy!!! Keep up the great work!!!

  2. The Vegas Parlay says:

    Thanks RG !

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