Sports Betting

In large casinos, the sports book is often in a separated area, or even a separate room. Most likely, it will be co-located with the race book. A few sports books are integrated with a sports bar or restaurant. On the Strip, sports books typically have cocktail waitresses, with the idea of making a patron comfortable, happy, entertained, and, perhaps, distracted from the main purpose of the visit. It is just possible that sports gamblers who have been drinking will bet more money on worse propositions than a sober "sharp," and the casinos may have figured this out. The house is on the winning end of a patron's losses, so this may suggest a strategy for the casino. Some casinos go so far as to hand out free drinks to sports players.

Like the race book, the sports books should be inviting, comfortable and conducive to the main reason to be there, i.e., sports. There should be good work space, a comfortable chair and ease of navigating between the work space and the betting window. Some books will use the same betting windows for both sports and horses. This should not make much difference unless it is close to game time and also to post time at an important track. In general, sports wagers can be made will in advance of the event, whereas a lot of horse race betting is at the last minute. If your handicapping information is stored in a laptop, look for a book with wireless internet connections and a place to plug in the computer near the working surface.

The other important feature of a sports book is the display of events. Sports books may have individual sets for each station, but all of them will have the main sporting events on "big screens" along the walls of the facility. The "standard" is to have a good collection of large, high definition plasma screens, plus a number of exceedingly large (like 8 feet by 6 feet) projection screens. Be sure the audio is discernible, as some places are fairly noisy from the casino background and/or have very resonant acoustics.

Two important information resources are always found near the windows. The first is a paper summary of today's propositions, including the various competitions and events. The other resource at the entrance to the sports book is "the Board." Usually this is a large, wall-mounted electronic display. It contains all the current information on contests available for wagers, plus some of the more standard "exotics." It is always a good idea to confer with the board from the sheet, as the board contains more up-to-the-minute information, and rules.

It is a good idea to check in with the clerk at the betting window and say hi. Smile. Be nice. This person has considerable influence over how the day will go (rough or smooth), and the window clerks often have to deal with unpleasant and difficult people. It's a good tactic to let them know in advance that you're not one of those. (And then, of course, don't become one.) If the plan is to lay down some serious money, it may make sense to speak in the same way to the book manager, as she or he might have to authorize a large bet or decide whether and how to move a line when someone makes a maximum bet on a proposition.

It is not illegal, of course, to be a good sports bettor and to leave the book with more money than when you started. But it is useful not to convey the impression that you are a "sharp." The best image is that of a competent sports player with a good attitude.