Your Favorite Racing/Sports Book in Vegas
 

I'm heading to Vegas Friday for a long weekend. Wondering if anyone has a favorite race / sports book and why you like that one in particular? Thanks.

I was impressed with the Luxor's customer service, I'm not a high roller but they treated me that way. Bally's was my favorite, great place to watch the races, it doesn't feel dark and claustrophobic.

There are different ways to approach this question.

COMFORT: Bellagio

The book at Bellagio is all about elegance. Comfortable leather chairs, a perfect setting and positively lovely cocktail waitresses.

ATMOSPHERE: Hilton

The Superbook is absolutely gigantic and they have a contest every Saturday called Superbook Saturdays for $30 which has a decent pot and is a fun addition to the day. You will also have no issue getting a seat as there are over 200 available to race players.

RACE ORIENTED: Orleans

The problem with Orleans is that this weekend is the Horseplayer World Series so I don't know if they're opening up the race book to the public. Otherwise, the Orleans is extremely racing-oriented and the comp system is outstanding. One point for each $12 you spend is going to be about the best you'll find in Vegas.

Other good ones are Mandalay Bay, which is positively gigantic but the employees have been rude and they don't give a damn about racing when a Jamaican bob-sled race is about to go off. Good luck trying to get down on a race with three minutes to post if the 12:30 college basketball games are about to tip off.

MGM Grand is OK but they chopped the hell out of the book when they installed the poker room. Caesars' re-designed book is nice and it's in the middle of the action, not closed off from the rest of the casino. I've heard good things about Rio, Venetian is very nice and of course, Wynn is top notch.

Avoid NY/NY as its book was quite clearly an afterthought. I also have had generally positive experiences at Luxor despite getting into a heated argument with a waitress there during Game 5 of the NBA Finals last year when she wouldn't bring me a beer despite me having multiple tickets on the game and a desk full of losing tickets from a long afternoon playing the ponies. She said I needed some kind of coupon.

Here's a good site to visit with individual reviews of the books.

http://www2.vegas.com/gaming/sportsbooks/

Good luck!

NT

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess I could add that we will be staying at Planet Hollywood. Haven't been to vegas in a number of years so I'm not sure of the current layout and what is close.

Its the new thing out there, it is quite comedy but I understand why. Corporate style........

Anyplace that gets my bet right and doesn't treat racing wagering as an afterthought is OK by me.

I suspect most places can get bets right.

I did have a bad experience at the Hard Rock racing sportsbook on a trip with my family when gambling was pretty much a secondary activity for me.

I've been betting at windows for a couple of decades, so I'm pretty darned sure I know how to accurately call my tickets.

Long story short, while my family was waiting for lunch dessert I ran out for a fun wager on a horse I saw on the screen in the paddock at a track i soon forgot.

The horse probably had "Irish" in it's name, knowing me and my sportsbook bets.....

Anyhow, after watching the race, I thought I had a $50 place winner that would more than pay for the family lunch.....and likely dinner, too.

Turned out the "ticket seller" at the Hard Rock punched in the wrong track, and it was my screw up for not checking the ticket before moving to a screen to watch the race.

It was all on me, I know. That said, the ticket sellers at my local OTB have never required double checking.

I do understand the Hard Rock pool party is sometimes a "must see" event however.

Caesars' was the first of the big sports and race books when many casinos modernized in the early 90's. It's still quite good, nice atmosphere, and big. Since you're staying at Planet Hollywood, which is was formerly the redone Alladin, it's right near you (walking distance).

planet hollywood is a nice flashy casino, very new. Their sportsbook on the other hand is small. Last year when i was out there i noticed minimum teller windows (maybe 3-4) small floor which leeds to a mall entrance and some sort of eating joint behind. If you look at the pics on their website, thats pretty much it, what you see is what you get

ceasars, miraje, bellagio, are pretty much nice books (as you can see i stay on the strip and don't go too far)
for my money i think bally's is one of the best, its def. not one of the flashiest books in vegas, but its an awesome environment to watch a game and from my experience they're very player friendly to the horse player (didn't find that as much at bellagio). Flamingo's sportsbook is close to non-existance

-bt-

You might want to check and see who'll let you use a laptop, if that's how you handicap. That will probably vary a lot. It sure does near me in Atlantic City.

The Wynn is far and away the best in Vegas. The Red Rock is also great but is in the middle of nowhere. None of the others are close.

Paul

All of the "high end" books use drink coupons. This makes sure that there is space for those actually betting. Making a bet of any size will get you a drink coupon.

Paul

dis agree on nyny .ask for rafiel..hes the book mgr and takes care of players well..

I'll 2nd that. Stayed there alot of times and they'll track and comp you even when you're not playing a bunch of $$. A bunch of the sportsbooks won't track your play unless you're playing a ton, and some not at all. NY'll track you even if you're doing low bets. Drink coupons go out to anyone making even a couple of horse bets and if you're playing them for awhile, you'll get a handful of them.

One thing I found out in MGM last year was that no matter how many tickets you've got on the non horse racing sports, you won't get your drinks comped... but if you've got a horse ticket, you'll get them free.

best books are Wynn and Bellagio, however I'll gladly be in Caesars, MGM or NY (if I can get a seat). With you staying at PH though, you may want to check out Monte Carlo's book as it's good size and very close to you.

They're all good if your winning....

i'm a small player but have been treated well at NYNY the couple times i've played there. was actually just playing and killing some time waiting on a show to start.

no love for wild bill's gambling saloon dman?:D

-bt-

Planet Hollywood does not have a good race/sports book.
You're very close to Bally's, which is relaxed and treats the horse players well. No drink tickets needed, as long as they know you're a horse player, you're taken care of.

Wynn is gorgeous, but crowded.
Some of the casinos that cater to locals (SouthPoint and especially Green Valely Ranch) have very nice accomodations. I'm sure Rich Eng or Lauren Stitch could comment on this when they appear on Steve's shown.

Speaking of the Wynn, does anybody know any possible way to place a Derby future bet with them without actually doing it in person? I looked on their website and it was no help.

When I got stuck there 8 days during a basketball tourney, I spent some time searching for sports book with a nice screen and monitors for the horses.
Wandering around I found Bally's pretty darn good. Its been a while though.
And mind you I was only looking for the horses.

Bally's was great 5-10 years ago. Not now. Since John Avello left it has all been downhill there.

Paul

John Avello??? Didn't someone say he is the guy at Wynn's now??

John Avello IS the head of Wynn's book.

John used to run the Bally's book. When Harrah's took over, he ran all of their properties before going to the Wynn. There is no more player friendly man than him. The Wynn is a great facility but John's attitude toward the player makes the book great.

Paul

we like Bill's Gambling Hall:o . i like the hotel and the sports book is small, not fancy but it's comfortable.

I THINK VEGAS IS THE WORST PLACE TO PLAY HORSES IF YOU LIKE BETTING MACHINES (SELF SERVICE). THEY ARE IN THE DARK AGES IN THAT REGARD. WHO THE HELL CALLS OUT THEIR BETS ANYMORE? AND THEN GET THE WRONG NUMBERS? NO THANKS. DID FIND A FEW MACHINES AT SOME OBSCURE HOTELS, BUT DEL MAR RACE PLACE BLOWS AWAY VEGAS ANYDAY!:tro:

Don't forget Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall on Boulder Hwy on the east side of town. They built a brand new race and sports book about 18 months ago. And you get the added bonus of race book hosts Professor Gordon Jones and Patrick McQuiggan. They post suggested plays and also put together group Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets everyday. You can hear the radio show Vegas Track Talk sponsored by Sam's Town every Saturday and Sunday at 7:30AM Pacific featuring both handicappers on KLAV AM 1230 in Las Vegas, and streamed live at http://www.klav1230am.com/

last time i was there the coast casinos were good and lots of room. also didnt need coupons for drinks. station casinos also mostly that is where a lot of locals go. if no car get get to them by bus.

not thats its not nice, but this what planet hollywood offers, not sure how crowded it gets. Either way gl out there


-bt-

Got to have my own TV and usually find a spot to use the TV next to me as well.

theres no place like the Bellagio for me, you can get your poker in while watching and betting adjacent to the sportsbook. I also found the Mandalay Bay book to be very nice and spacious, I haven't had a problem with finding a seat and long waits to place bets. I don't care much for the Wynn, and I would say Caesars Palace but if you hate smoking and smelling smoke stay away its the worst place on the strip in terms of the smoke.