Going to Vegas this weekend for my little bro's 21st birthday and thought it would be cool to spend Sunday in the sports book betting NFL games. I have bet online but am a total live sports betting noob. I have done a little googling but would love any personal input or advice relating, but not limited to


When should we arrive?
How crowded can we expect it to get?
How much do we need to be betting to have drinks comped?
Any sports book etiquette I should be aware of?
Should we be going somewhere besides MGM and why?
Any specific tips to make our day more enjoyable?

Actually spent this past Sunday there.

I got there pretty close to 10am pst so right at kickoff and found a seat.
Seats filled up but didn't seem over crowded.
Didn't bet there so don't know about drinks.
Act like you're in public but in an atmosphere that allows excessive swearing.
I enjoyed the MGM over a lot of the sportsbooks ive been in, only one ive done an NFL Sunday in tho.
They have some private skyboxes where you can get sound of the game you want, no clue what it costs but seems fun if you have a bigger budget.

I recommend the sportsbook at the Venetian, for more comfortable seating alone

 

Originally Posted by Underdog34

You're going to the MGM Sportsbook? Okay, this is important. If you dress like a cheerleader from your favorite team, you get free drinks for as long as you are in the sportsbook area. If you have pom poms, you might get a free order of wings, if it's a Free Wing Sunday. Check the web for details on that, but I'm pretty sure they do that all December Sundays. Have fun.

Very poor effort at best.

Another one I've enjoyed is the Mirage, just because of the nice big comfy chairs. Never tried the MGM because it's always too far from us because we usually stay somewhere in the center of the strip. The etiquette LV mentioned will get you through it.

I really like the LV Hilton Sportsbook. It's just a little bit off the Strip but not far at all. Check it out if you get the chance.

Lagasse's-pretty cool, has a stadium-like seating area with couches-may have a minimum $ tab if you want to sit anywhere though. that's how it is during UFC events anyway. Food isn't bad, but I think it's very average for the prices you'll be paying. This is a hybrid-restaurant/bar/sportsbook, probably the best place to maximize overall enjoyment while watching/betting games; though food/drinks are pricey. keep in mind, most any other sportsbook on the strip is going to be located within very close proximity to the poker room as well as a cheaper food option (sammiches/hotdogs).

MGM-$200 bet to get a comp drink???!!! well played, mgm. I'm not 100% sure how sportsbooks around town are comping drinks as I generally place my bets and head over to the poker room or craps tables, however I get at least one drink ticket at the venetian no matter how much action i get. this is not a bad sportsbook area, but the seating's limited.

Venetian/Bellagio/Wynn all have some comfortable seating. . .this is probably more important if you and your friends like to chill while watching the game, but if y'all are gonna be yelling and boozing, this may not work so well.

Hilton-for the pure sportsbetter, this is where you want to be, plenty of tvs, a 'sportsticker' running constantly with all scores, and way more betting lines than anywhere else, they'll even have moneylines on games that online sites won't offer.

I think i heard the hardrock is building a new sportsbook into their structure.

ESPNzone-haven't been there in years. This is also a resturant/bar type of place however from what I remember the actual sportsbook was small/limited. I also remember the place to be very busy and, again, a little pricey (as a function of the quality of food).

Recommendation-- if you're not a big sportsbettor then staying at the MGM is just fine. all other games are located within close proximity of the sportsbook. If it was me, I'd place my bets and walk the 20 yds over to the poker room-you have a view of at least a half dozen tvs wherever you're sitting in there and all your drinks will be comped while you're playing. Small deli located right there as well.

 

Originally Posted by smokey337

mgm book is garbage.. you cant buy half points, the screens suck and if you dont sit in the back 2 rows your neck will hurt.. some of the TV's are non HD too... its a cluster fuck so get there earlier esp if its a weekend of big games... if you must stay on the strip, i would go to the wynn but it also gets crowded so get their early.... most strip books are outdated and have not had any renovations since they opened. also, you have to bet 200-400 for 1 drink ticket. i would suggest Green Valley Ranch,Red Rock or the M if you want to go off the strip... get a few drink tickets for small wagers 20-50 bucks or just place a 2 dollar horse bet and you can drink a few drinks for each 2 dollar wager... they are much nicer than what you will find on the strip..

This. + south point.

Ya, I love the South Point sportsbook.

southpoint is crap-whenever I've been there, it's a bluehair joint. . .I get the feeling that the sportsbook crowd are comprised of local degenerate losers-just observations anyway.

smokey is right. . .most of these sportsbooks are old. . .and the newer ones aren't much better. . .makes it seem like they have sportsbooks just for the sake of having them (affects their star rating?). at least the off-strip ones he mentions have better bar exposure into the sportsbooks. if simply placing a bet is your concern, go to the Hilton (Hilton also has the best lines, generally). If you're looking for a cool place to watch the game as well as get a little action on it, then go to any casino with a sportsbook, book your action, and go straight to the bar of your choice there (or anchor yourself to a poker table).

On a side note, the mirage does have that California Pizza joint adjacent to the sportsbook

 

Originally Posted by ChocoThunder

Where would be the best for the NCAA tournament? Cannot wait.

depends on what you are looking for. best betting lines? availability of food/drinks? a place to chill while watching the game or a place where its more of a party atmostphere?

Sweetness I'm going to fucks with you at espnzone/whatever it's called now on the first day.

On the boards there are numbers next to teams and bets. Walk up and say "$50 on 9258" and they will know what you mean.

just say the number of the game, NOT the team... example 468 LSU PK 469 TX a&m, if you want lsu you would says 55 on 468 or whatever

 

Originally Posted by LatestLines2

ESPN Sportszone closed last summer I believe.

correct

Update. have actually made most of my bets in the Excalibur, its not as big as the MGM's book but less crowded and its been raining and shit so I don't have to walk across the street. Am 3-3 so far, break even gambling ftl.