Las Vegas Sports Books – 10 Fun Facts
Las Vegas sports books come in all shapes and sizes, with some of them looking like sports viewing palaces while others simply providing a betting counter and a few areas to sit. Las Vegas sports books have been around for a while, originally popping up in Vegas as independently run store fronts that dotted areas of the strip and elsewhere in town. Sawdust was placed on the floors at these establishments to absorb the spilled beer among other things – hence the nickname of old Las Vegas Race and Sports Books: Sawdust Joints.
Here are 10 fun facts about the modern day Las Vegas Sports book
- The first major hotel/casino on the Las Vegas Strip to operate a sports book was the Stardust. The sports book at the Stardust opened in 1976.
- The Mirage sports book opened in 1989, when many of you reading where at an age where you could not legally bet on sports. The Mirage sports book turns 25 years old this year.
- The Las Vegas Super Book at Westgate is the largest sports book in the world, with a floor area of 30,000 square feet.
- William Hill operated Las Vegas sports books (The D, Plaza, Riviera, SLS) are the only ones offering a 10-point teaser parlay on football wagers.
- The Cromwell (formerly Barbary Coast/Bill’s) is the only major hotel/casino on the strip that does not have a sports book. You will find only a kiosk to make your sports bets.
- The Golden Nugget sports book Downtown has more TV screens per square foot than any other sports book in town. This means two things – a smaller sized sports book and a ton of screens.
- The South Point sports book is the only sports book in Las Vegas that has two completely separate sports books for horse racing and sports betting.
- The first major hotel/casino in Downtown Las Vegas to open a sports book was the Union Plaza in 1975.
- Lagasse’s Stadium, the ultra-hip sports book located in the Palazzo, was originally Jay Z’s 40-40 club. The space was converted into a hybrid sports bar/sports book once the club closed.
- The Bellagio was the last major hotel/casino sports book on the Las Vegas Strip to go to the the drink ticket system for complimentary beverages in the sports book. The change occurred in early 2013.
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