Sports betting on just about everything
By David Sweet • Dec 28th, 2009 • Category: Uncategorized, bars, college basketball
When I traveled to Las Vegas in November, I praised the Palazzo sports book, with its comfortable couches, superb bars and quick service for free beer.
I forgot to mention one item. Two women approached me (not in the manner they’d approach, say, Tiger Woods) and suggested I try a hand-held device where I could bet on a number of possibilities during a given game. With enough bets to keep me interested already and a general aversion to learning new technology designed to make me lose money, I declined after their three-minute spiel.
Little did I know the devices were catching on, with more than 200 licensed at the Palazzo and its neighbor, the Venetian. According to The New York Times, casino operators love the idea, since sports book revenue is such a miniscule portion of overall gaming revenue. It makes sense; rather than have a customer bet once on a three-hour NFL game, he can bet repeatedly on whether each field goal will be made or missed along with other options.
Approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission in 2008, the technology does not accept credit cards (users pay cash to sports book tellers in advance) and it’s probably worth trying once, maybe for a one-game day like the Super Bowl. The first afternoon of March Madness? Even in Vegas, heads would be exploding trying to keep up with the betting pace.
