A recap of Super Bowl in Las Vegas…..
Sports fans, sports bettors, as well as a bunch of Vegas revelers, who just happen to be in town during Super Bowl weekend, descend upon the sports palaces that are Las Vegas sports books for the “Big Game.” This, along with March Madness is when sports books are at the forefront in Vegas-land as millions are wagered on the last professional football game until September – it’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas and this year saw the usual massive crowds, even more Big Game parties, and a record amount of money wagered on the Big Game.
Here are several images that offer snapshots of some of the Super Bowl weekend happenings on the strip, off-strip, and downtown. But with everything going on in town, these photos only touch the surface of what the Big Game weekend experience in Las Vegas is like……enjoy!
The New Renovations and the Big Game Crowds at the Westgate Super Book were both Impressive
The newly renovated Westgate Super Book saw huge crowds all weekend. The upgrades are completed and from the new leather lounge chairs to the crystal clear giant HD screens, the changes are impressive. The lines to make bets were rough given the huge crowd. But the whole Vegas sports book experience, with the huge seating area space as well as at the new sports book bar offering A+ views of the massive HD screens, is hard to beat.
The Westgate Super Book Super Bowl Props are Always a Hit – and the Lines to Bet on them Proved That
The Westgate Super Book and William Hill Sports Books (Plaza, The D, Hooters, Casino Royale, SLS) have the most comprehensive list of Super Bowl prop offerings in town. Prop bets make up nearly half of the money bet on the Super Bowl in Las Vegas – and as you can see by the line, many folks had a Super Bowl prop sheet in hand while they waited in the queue. Depending on the Vegas sports book, you had to give yourself approximately 30-60 minutes in line to get your action in.
As far as how much was wagered on the Super Bowl in all of Nevada? $132 Million, with sports books making in the range of $13-$14 million. The largest bet one ticket writer I spoke to processed was a $90,000 money line wager……on the Panthers. Ouch.
The New William Hill Sports Betting Counter at Casino Royale – Plenty of Betting Odds Sheets to Take Your Cares and Troubles Away
The new William Hill sports betting counter at Casino Royale was doing some brisk business on Saturday afternoon – it had just opened this Super Bowl weekend! The new set up, which is the second Vegas Strip location for William Hill, makes it convenient for those looking at shopping for point spreads. Also, if you’re looking for better odds on future bets (i.e. World Series odds) William Hill’s odds are usually the most customer friendly. A big thumbs up to the William Hill ticket writer – friendly as can be and like many sports book staffers all over town, a lot of extra hours were being put in to handle all of the customers hitting the sports books.
The Casino Royale Sports Book/Betting Counter Gives William Hill a presence on the Vegas Strip
And yes, I was brave and had a $2.49 foot long hot dog, with chili and cheese added. The hot dog was delicious and I washed it down at the bar while enjoying a $1 Michelob and some college hoops. I’m happy to report that there were zero after affects – give it a try, it’s a great bargain at $2.49 and it’s quite tasty. Throw in a $5 parlay from the William Hill betting counter and you’ve got yourself a fun time at Casino Royale for under $10.
Downtown was no different in terms of the Super Bowl vibe that was found on the Strip. With several Big Game viewing parties going on along Fremont Street (The D, Plaza, and Golden Nugget to name a few), there were plenty of folks out and about enjoying some pre-Super Bowl fun. When downtown is busy, expect a bit of a line at DuPars – the breakfast business was brisk on this Super Bowl Sunday morning. Starting off the day with some DuPars pancakes is the perfect way to get things started on Big Game Sunday. If you’ve never tried them, you must make the trip to the Golden Gate Casino for breakfast next time you’re in town.
There is no Better Way to Start a Super Bowl Sunday than with a Short Stack of Pancakes from DuPars
William Hill has a huge presence downtown with sports books located at several casinos along or near Fremont Street. Their biggest sports book downtown is at The Plaza, which also hosts one of the biggest Big Game parties in town. The Plaza sports book was a busy spot on Sunday as there were plenty of patrons getting action on not only the Super Bowl, but also horse racing and college hoops. Lines to bet were increasingly longer as Super Bowl kickoff approached, but the line moved very quickly. The self service kiosk as well as mobile wagering via the WIlliam Hill app was also available for those not wanting to wait in line.
Sports Bettors in LIne at The WIlliam Hill Sports Book at Plaza Several Hours Prior to Super Bowl
The culmination of Super Bowl in Vegas is attending a Big Game party. Hundreds of fans cheering on their team, or their wagering interest, while enjoying food and beverages is the highlight of the weekend. The fun starts with the coin flip as many bet the “heads or tails” prop and the party gets going from there. These parties get bigger every year and it’s something that every football fan should try to experience. The particular party I attended at the Plaza was pro-Denver, even with the lopsided betting action that had Carolina taking in most of the money action leading up to the game.
The Big Game Party at the Plaza
Super Bowl is a boon for Las Vegas, not only for the sports books in town, but also for the hotels, casinos, restaurants, etc. It has become a big weekend in Sin City and with the continuing rise in the popularity of sports betting and the behomoth fan base that the NFL has, there’s no signs of it doing anything else but growing even more in the years to come. And now……on to March Madness!
Las Vegas Sports Books – Downtown Fun
7 Lucky Wishes for the New Las Vegas Club Downtown
Bellagio Sports Book Lounging it Up
All About the Planet Hollywood Sports Book
March Madness in Vegas – The Crowd Goes Crazy
Best Sports Books for Free Drinks
Speak Your Mind