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From Gaming Tables To Masks, Recapping Las Vegas’ Big Reopening Weekend

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As the clock struck midnight on June 4, you could almost feel the electric anticipation of people getting ready to finally visit Las Vegas casinos again.

Casinos on the Vegas Strip opened at 8 a.m. and later on June 4. After a quick temperature check at many casinos, gamblers rushed in to place their first bets inside of a casino in nearly three months. While there were celebrations for the first guests at Caesars Palace and Bellagio, the scene was a bit more relaxed.

There was plenty of excitement to check into hotel rooms and hit table games and slot machines but visitors were cautious at first. That changed as the days continued and more guests arrived in Las Vegas from all over the world — and presumably, as the cocktails flowed.

Michael Trager, a visitor at Caesars Palace from London, told PlayUSA that he wanted to come to the reopening of Las Vegas because “I needed to see the reopening of Vegas. This is historic. In addition, in some ways, this pandemic has caused Vegas to change forever.”

The energy on the Las Vegas Strip

There are more than 100 casinos in the Las Vegas area. Only 30 of those casinos are located on the Vegas Strip and not all of those properties are currently open. Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International operate the majority of casinos on the Vegas Strip and are opening properties in phases.

MGM Resorts opened Bellagio, MGM Grand, and New York-New York with limited capacity. Excalibur will open later this week on June 11. MGM Resorts’ acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal he’d like to open Aria by July 4th weekend. He’d like to continue opening MGM properties every two to four weeks after.

Caesars Entertainment started with Flamingo and Caesars Palace. The company opened Harrah’s and The Linq promenade on June 5 due to overwhelming demand. Caesars expects to open The Linq casino, but not the hotel, next. The properties that are open now can offer more hotels and amenities for guests should customer demand continue to increase.

While the atmosphere on opening day at Bellagio was somewhat subdued, Caesars Palace and the Cosmopolitan were just getting started. Guests from California started to arrive on Friday afternoon and they were much more exuberant. Here’s a quick scene from the casino floor at Cosmopolitan on Friday night into Saturday morning.

Las Vegas is officially back. pic.twitter.com/EI3nXs2e5w

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 6, 2020

To mask or not to mask

MGM Resorts and Wynn Las Vegas are offering complimentary face masks for anyone entering their properties. However, most casinos in Las Vegas are not offering free masks for all guests. Casino employees are required to wear face coverings at all times. Casino operators recommend guests wear a face mask but do not require it.

The video above captures a young crowd almost exclusively not wearing face coverings. This wasn’t the case all day. When the sun was still up on the first days of Las Vegas reopening there were noticeably more guests on and off the Vegas Strip wearing masks.

There was one thing in common with the majority of the guests wearing a face covering: the guests wearing masks tended to be older and more susceptible to catching COVID-19. Dru Chai, a visitor from California staying at New York-New York told PlayUSA that he “felt safe after visiting all three MGM Resorts properties that re-opened on June 4, although my experience was different at Bellagio where there were significantly more people compared to MGM Grand and New York-New York.”

Safety at Las Vegas casinos

The Nevada Gaming Control Board gave casinos a detailed list of health and safety policy requirements for reopening. Casino operators aren’t required to share their health and safety plans although many decided to do so before reopening.

The first thing some guests will notice happens right at the doors to enter a casino. Some casinos in Las Vegas — not all — are taking the temperature of guests upon entry. Checking temperatures is a way to see if a guest might have some symptoms of COVID-19. The process takes a couple of seconds but as casinos become busier, there could be a short wait.

The starkest change guests will see are dealers, and all casino employees, wearing face coverings. Sitting down at the tables and machines is also a different experience. There’s more space for social distancing and it’s noticeable with only three seats at blackjack and similar table games.

Craps is limited to six players while roulette tables only have space for four players. Slot machines have either been rearranged to create more space or there are chairs missing from games that might also be turned off.

Social distancing while gambling seems to be off to a good start at the larger casinos that have more room and open tables. Smaller casinos off the Vegas Strip might have some problems with onlookers. The limited space at the table might make gamblers hover while waiting to hop onto a hot craps game.

Social distancing measures could change in the future. For the time being, gamblers didn’t seem to mind having extra elbow room. Gamblers also didn’t mind playing behind plexiglass barriers at the few casinos that have the extra protective measure.

Chai also told PlayUSA “I was impressed that there were hand washing stations, including free masks, gloves, and sanitizing wipes readily available throughout the casino floor. There was an increased level of security, especially at highly trafficked points of entry.”

Even though there are significant safety precautions today, he wonders how long it will last, saying “it will be interesting to see how social distancing will be regulated when crowds significantly increase.”

Las Vegas is reopening slowly

Social distancing on the casino floor is an attempt to keep gaming spaces capped at 50% of capacity. This is mostly an attempt to keep the spread of coronavirus to a minimum. It also affords casino operators the ability to ease into restart their businesses slowly

Casino restaurants also have a 50% capacity limit. Some eateries remain closed while others have limited hours. This should change in the future but the limits are allowing the casino operators to re-learn how to walk before they run on all cylinders again.

Today’s Las Vegas does not offer the same experience as the beginning of March. In addition to limited bars and restaurants, most of the entertainment options that visitors love in Las Vegas have not returned yet.

Nevada venues can only have gatherings of 50 or fewer people right now. Large shows and residencies might return later this year or next year depending on the venue. Nightclubs aren’t open yet either. Pools are open for guests but don’t expect to see dayclubs and pool parties return anytime soon.

While large shows aren’t open, small lounges like Petrossian at Bellagio still offer their signature piano player to entertain its guests.

Is it time to visit Las Vegas again?

Las Vegas casinos are taking reopening very seriously. The thorough health and safety plans are an indication of the measures they’re going through to keep guests safe. It takes two to tango and guests have to do their part to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Many, but not all, casino guests are choosing to go without a face covering since there isn’t a mandate to wear one. The casinos are cleaning surfaces often but that doesn’t mean every surface is germ-free 24-7. While there are sanitizing stations, guests have to use them to do their part.

Anecdotally, those who wear masks are also washing hands often and using sanitizer often. Those not wearing masks might not be washing as frequently.

Wearing masks and cleanliness are personal matters for everyone. The casinos are doing their part and many of the best restaurants are open, albeit with limited menus. Almost every casino employee we’ve come across in the past few days has been happy to be at work and looking to welcome guests back to Las Vegas.

In a strange way, closing down casinos might have led to a way to improve the experience. The great customer service that Las Vegas is famous for is firing on all cylinders and is as good as it has been in years. Casino operators have streamlined and automated many hotel processes so guests can get what they want quicker.

This may not be the same Las Vegas as a year ago but it’s on the way back to being better than ever. It’s just going to take some time to get there.

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From Gaming Tables To Masks, Recapping Las Vegas’ Big Reopening Weekend

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As the clock struck midnight on June 4, you could almost feel the electric anticipation of people getting ready to finally visit Las Vegas casinos again.

The energy on the Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas is officially back. pic.twitter.com/EI3nXs2e5w

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 6, 2020

To mask or not to mask

Safety at Las Vegas casinos

Las Vegas is reopening slowly

While large shows aren’t open, small lounges like Petrossian at Bellagio still offer their signature piano player to entertain its guests.

Is it time to visit Las Vegas again?

Anecdotally, those who wear masks are also washing hands often and using sanitizer often. Those not wearing masks might not be washing as frequently.

This may not be the same Las Vegas as a year ago but it’s on the way back to being better than ever. It’s just going to take some time to get there.

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Big NASCAR Betting Anticipated As Races Return May 17

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NASCAR is set to become one of the first major sports to return after a two-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Action is set to begin on May 17, with three races at Darlington Raceway followed by two weeks of scheduled events.

As with the return of any major sports, the main goal is to keep competitors safe. In order to do this, league officials have changed up a few things that fans might not notice. However, races will still look the same.

NASCAR schedule for May

Sports bettors eager to place some bets on NASCAR races will be happy to know there will be seven races over an 11-day span beginning Sunday, May 17.

Here is what the schedule looks like thus far.

May 17 — Darlington Raceway — Cup Series
May 19 — Darlington Raceway — Xfinity Series
May 20 — Darlington Raceway — Cup Series
May 24 — Charlotte Motor Speedway — Cup Series
May 25 — Charlotte Motor Speedway — Xfinity Series
May 26 — Charlotte Motor Speedway — Trucks Series
May 27 — Charlotte Motor Speedway — Cup Series

New procedures for NASCAR

According to ESPN, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials, held conversations with NASCAR to determine the best and safest way racing could return.

One of the most noticeable differences with all May races will be the absence of fans.

Some, but not all, of the new procedures include:

Teams will be limited to 16 total members, including the driver.
Only licensed NASCAR team members will be permitted onto the racetrack and will be required to wear a cloth face mask at all times.
Garage work areas will be spread out to comply with social distancing requirements.
Pit crew members will use face screens in addition to normal gear.
There will be random temperature checks of everyone working in the garage area.
Anyone determined to be a potential virus threat will be required to leave and be replaced with another crew member.

NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations John Bobo said drivers and crew members will not receive COVID-19 tests because they are not widely available to the public.

Through a series of tweets, several high profile drivers like Alex Bowman, Jimmie Johnson, and Brad Keselowski have expressed their excitement for NASCAR’s return.

League officials have said there is a tentative schedule in place for June but anything past the May 17 return is subject to change.

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New Jersey, Pennsylvania Online Gambling Revenue See Big Uptick In March

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This was supposed to be a landmark time of the year.

Two of the biggest and flourishing legal sports betting industries were supposed to be reaping the rewards of one of the sporting year’s busiest times: March Madness, MLB, the Masters, and postseason pushes for the NBA and NHL.

What an incredible month — certainly one that would produce record-breaking sports betting handle and revenue numbers for both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Yet we were left wanting. The coronavirus pandemic shut it all down. All that’s left is what could have been.

That said, online gambling did not completely suffer. Rather, both online casinos and online poker saw an uptick. And last month, industries in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania seemingly compensated for a lack of sports.

New Jersey online gambling flourishes

Believe it or not, online gambling has been a mainstay in New Jersey for going on seven years. No month, however, has ever been as prosperous as March 2020.

Online casinos and poker operators reported a jaw-dropping $64.8 million in revenue. How big is that? Well, it sits nearly $13 million more than the previous month, for starters. More important, though, that total is the industry’s first month exceeding $60 million. And it’s actually nearly $10 million more than the state’s previous best monthly report.

If those feats aren’t enough, March 2020 numbers reflect an astonishing 65.6% increase year over year.

The kicker, though, lies with online poker. Entering March, this sector had not eclipsed $2 million in monthly revenue since August 2017. It hadn’t seen more than $3 million since October 2016. In January 2014, the state enjoyed its best poker month with $3.4 million in revenue.

You see where this is going: In March 2020, New Jersey online poker posted a whopping $3.6 million in revenue. Month over month, that’s a 101% spike.

All told, all but one online casino in the state reported record-setting revenue figures in March.

Certainly, these online platforms benefited from stay-at-home orders. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the closure of Atlantic City casinos midway through the month. And when leagues began suspending and canceling events, online casinos and poker filled the void.

PA online gambling shows a similar trend

New Jersey was not alone in rewriting the history books.

Neighboring Pennsylvania was coming off a record-setting February. As the Keystone State nears the anniversary of its first online casinos, the industry put up yet another historic month.

Already trending upward, what with revenues up over 31% month to month since December, operators in March reported some $24.3 million in online revenue, marking a 24.5% increase from February. That total breaks down to a $12.4 million/$8.8 million/$3.1 million slash line for online slots/table games/poker.

It’s not just the revenue that stands out, but also the action. Consider players in Pennsylvania accounted for $871.6 million in total wagers, up nearly $170 million from the previous month. Staggering.

Like in New Jersey, the uptick in Pennsylvania can assuredly be attributed to mass shutdowns. With casinos closing down amid the coronavirus pandemic, overall gambling revenue in Pennsylvania actually dropped by 51%.

Takeaways from NJ, PA online gambling reports

Leagues and organizers suspending and canceling events sent a shockwave across not only the country but the world. What were fans and bettors to do?

From jump street, operators who integrated online casinos with online sportsbooks or vice versa made sure to cross-promote. The two industries appeal to different demographics. Get your slot players to notice the NFL lines, for example, or market table games to the everyday sports bettor.

March 2020 emerges as the most significant example of such strategies paying off.

What’s more, online gambling in New Jersey and Pennsylvania could open the eyes of lawmakers in other states. After all, those states could certainly use revenue from somewhere, right?

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Big 2019 Betting Numbers, Movement In Kentucky, NV Casino Updates

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The first full year of legalized sports betting outside of Nevada is in the books.

And, according to the figures, it did not disappoint.

While Pennsylvania and New Jersey bask in the glow of titanic state-sanctioned industries, other states are continuing to find ways to integrate legalized wagering. The latest effort comes from Kentucky. Surely, more will follow.

Once again, so much to unpack, so let’s get to the Rewind.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey sports betting took off in 2019

What a year for legalized sports betting. Particularly, there were two states we expected to do well but really kicked it into high gear.

The Pennsylvania sports betting market, particularly after the advent of online wagering, shined in 2019. In December alone, the PA industry took in a state monthly record of $342.6 million in wagers. Nearly 87% of that total came via mobile sportsbooks.

Last year, Pennsylvania saw regulated online sports betting come to life and expand to eight sportsbooks. And as Play Pennsylvania detailed, monthly handle via betting apps has spiked 477% since going live in July.

In 2019 alone, bettors in Pennsylvania laid down nearly $1.5 billion with legal books. However, Pennsylvania still looks up at New Jersey.

With a whopping $557.7 million wagered in December, the Garden State wrapped up 2019 with an astounding $4.5 billion in handle.

Like Pennsylvania, New Jersey has watched online betting quickly take hold. In December, nearly 90% of all bets went through an online sportsbook.

Both states were expected to rise to prominence after the US Supreme Court repealed PASPA. Both have answered the call to this point. Now we’ll see how they can improve and escalate even higher in 2020.

Is Kentucky sports betting on the horizon?

Gov. Andy Beshear provided some fodder during his State of the Commonwealth address.

He emphasized the need to “create the new revenue to meet the growing needs” of Kentucky. He noted how the state is “watching more than $500 million in gaming revenue go across the border to states like Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.”

Then, Beshear announced that Rep. Adam Koenig has filed a bill to legalize sports betting. It has the governor’s full support.

After multiple bills arose and fell short in 2019, both Beshear and Koenig express optimism about the latest filing, which removed the previously proposed stipulation that no bets can be placed on Kentucky-based teams and events.

On top of it all, Koenig’s bill would legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports. While online casinos remain out of the picture, Beshear said there could be more conversations down the road:

“I hope that isn’t the end of the conversation, because right now all of our neighboring states — all of them — most of them Republican-led, have embraced expanded gaming while we are being left behind.”

The bill received a unanimous 18-0 vote in the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee and is expected to get approval soon on the House floor.

Nevada casinos get new owners

A new team has taken over Las Vegas real estate occupied by MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay.

MGM Growth Properties LLC and Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture and acquire the real estate assets of the two properties for $4.6 billion. MGM Growth Properties will own 50.1% of the venture, while Blackstone will possess the remainder.

Once the deal is closed, MGM Resorts International will continue to manage and operate both MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. The deal is expected to finalize in the first quarter of 2020. With both casinos spanning some 226 acres on the Strip, MGM Resorts’ annual rent will stand at $292 million.

Blackstone continues to add Strip properties; recently the group acquired the Bellagio for $4.25 billion.

Up north, Harrah’s Reno will soon have new ownership. Caesars Entertainment confirmed that a CAI Investments affiliate will acquire the property for $50 million.

Caesars has leased Harrah’s via VICI Properties, which will split the sale’s proceeds with Caesars.

Over the first half of the year, Harrah’s will continue to be part of the Caesars Rewards network. Then, new ownership – Reno City Center LLC – will take over and the property will transition into a “mixed-use, non-gaming property.”

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Pennsylvania Online Gambling Had A Big 2019, But What Can Be Improved For 2020?

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It feels like the awareness and legalization of online gambling did not exist until the repeal of PASPA in 2018, which opened the door for state-sanctioned sports betting.

Certainly, that is not the case. Prior to that historic decision by the US Supreme Court, several states enacted legislation to launch (or even went as far as launching) regulated online gaming markets. That includes Pennsylvania.

In 2017, the Keystone State passed into law a gambling expansion package that allowed online casinos, online poker and online sports betting. It was not until well over a year later that any of the verticals rolled out.

The lengthy waits have been well-documented, and so too have the drawbacks of such delays. Regardless, Pennsylvania stands as one of just three states with all three regulated markets operational.

And despite prolonged holdups, PA online gambling appears well on its way to a bright future. The Keystone State could get their faster, though, by addressing several issues while continuing to perpetuate its assets.

The good of Pennsylvania online gambling

PA sports betting off to strong start

Start with the obvious: Pennsylvania sports betting has boomed.

In its first year, legalized wagering in the state generated more than $1.1 billion in bets. And despite facing a sky-high tax rate of 36%, operators pocketed nearly $75 million in revenue.

Overall handle has increased in each month since April, a credit not only to thriving competition but also to the advent and swift takeover of betting apps. (Online wagers account for better than 80% of overall bets placed in Pennsylvania.)

Of course, football season helped: Each month between August and November featured handle totals exceeding $100 million – including November’s record total of $316 million.

With eight betting apps and 12 retail sportsbooks, Pennsylvania continues to expand its sports betting industry as it attempts to rival New Jersey and Nevada as legal sports betting powers. (For perspective, nearby New Jersey needed seven months to eclipse $1 billion.)

PA online casinos, poker establishing footholds

The other two online verticals in Pennsylvania operate in the shadows of sports betting. Like regulated wagering, though, online casinos and online poker remain in their infancy.

That said, the group of Pennsylvania online casinos has increased to five operators since going live in July 2019. In November, that collective totaled some $7.6 million in revenue, reflecting a $2.75 million increase from October. Since launching with three operators, online casinos in Pennsylvania have spiked $6.88 million in revenue.

As for online poker, November marked the first month of the vertical in the Keystone State. And it did not disappoint, as PokerStars debuted with rake and tournament fees totaling near $2 million.

Big names, big competition, big appetite for PA online gambling

Fear abounded that Pennsylvania’s high tax rates and licensing fees would prevent the state from reaching anything close to full maturity.

Who could blame them? Even today, PA’s rates stand as the highest in the country.

Operators, however, flocked toward the Keystone State; those who saw rising success in New Jersey opened up shop in PA. The likes of DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook and Fox Bet (among others) have thrown their hats into the Pennsylvania sports betting ring. As has Unibet, which, like SugarHouse and Parx, also powers an online casino.

Competition gradually swelled as 2019 wore on, seemingly in stride with the PA public’s growing hunger for and acceptance of online gambling.

How hungry has the public been? Of the state’s top five properties in terms of revenue during November 2019, four enjoyed noticeable boosts year over year – in part because of online gambling products:

Parx Casino: +12.58%
Rivers Pittsburgh: +14.48%
Rivers Philadelphia: +23.35%
Hollywood Casino: +9.13%

To boot, properties such as Valley Forge (+71.38%) and Mount Airy (+31.64%) saw big spikes from November 2018, again in part to the advent of online gambling.

The not-so-good aspects of Pennsylvania online gambling

In hindsight, not much was terrible about Pennsylvania’s modernization.

Initially, the state’s gouging tax rates and licensing fees didn’t sit right with stakeholders or analysts. They still don’t, of course, what with Pennsylvania’s rates still sitting as the highest in the country. That said, while that certainly has affected the bottom line for some, those rates have yet to scare off operators, who continue to hold an optimistic outlook for the potential of online gambling.

Then, of course, there was the whole Wire Act debacle of 2019. Just before the close of 2018, the Department of Justice issued an updated opinion of the act, essentially noting that the Wire Act should pertain to all forms of online gambling and thus prohibited under federal law.

As the New Hampshire Lottery started mounting its case against the DOJ (one that is still circulating through the courts), Pennsylvania maintained a cautionary approach. The state required operators to establish in-state servers and to submit plans to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board explaining how they would come into compliance should the new Wire Act opinion become enforced.

Such tactics no doubt delayed the debut of online casinos and online poker in Pennsylvania. Additionally, it restricts the title selection in the state.

How Pennsylvania online gambling could improve

Simply because Pennsylvania has opened up all three online verticals does not mean the state’s work is complete. These industries want to grow more. They want to become innovative. These are the paths Pennsylvania can take to help each industry reach its full potential – or at least close to it.

As such, moving forward, it would be ideal for Pennsylvania to be looking out for its casinos. While the safe bet is the following will not occur, it would sure help online gambling become even more profitable.

First, revisiting the tax rates would allow for industry stakeholders to open up their wallets more. Obviously the state claiming a larger take does not allow operators to take advantage of marketing and promotional tools. In such marginal industries, operators are already left with low percentage profits. These rates only dig into those pockets even more.

Certainly, Pennsylvania is unlikely to make any changes soon (if ever) surrounding tax rates. But what about its stance on the Wire Act opinion? One court has already ruled in favor of the NH Lottery condemning the DOJ’s take on the Wire Act. And now the DOJ is appealing that ruling. As such, that opinion appears a far cry from being enforceable.

Regardless, Pennsylvania remains cautious. And as a result, operators in the state are limited in what games and titles they can offer, while others can’t even get a foot in the PA door because of a lack of in-state servers.

Looking forward, what price could Pennsylvania pay by requiring so much of stakeholders? Under status quo, could Pennsylvania fall well short of its potential?

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie essentially said as much in 2019, noting that these fees “are not going to encourage innovation” or “investment in the properties.”

“Every dollar you pay in licensing fees or in taxes is a dollar you don’t have available to bring new types of betting to the floor, to have state-of-the-art products to allow the experience to be more enjoyable. That’s why I think they are missing the boat.

“In the end, it’s a short-term problem and a long-term problem. The long-term problem is they’re not going to invest in getting Pennsylvanians the best technology because they spent all they are going to spend on the licensing fees and the taxes.”

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From The Raiders To New Casinos, Here Are Las Vegas’ 5 Big 2020 Happenings

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One of the great things about Las Vegas is that it is always changing. Sin City has truly evolved from only being a gambling destination. Non-gaming revenue has been greater than gambling revenue on the Vegas Strip since 1999.

People visiting Las Vegas have been spending more money on food, beverage, hotel rooms, etc. than on casino games for years. This isn’t exactly news and Las Vegas continues to change its business model to attract visitors seeking a variety of experiences.

Additionally, gamblers in just about every region of the country now live within driving distance of a casino. While they serve one need for gamblers, they don’t always offer everything a casino guest could want. Las Vegas casinos have big shows and residencies, the finest dining in the country, luxurious spas, and great mixologists for the drinkers.

But not everyone who visits Las Vegas comes for fun. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), 8% of visitors to Las Vegas last year were in town for a convention or meeting. These guests have a different purpose and spend money differently.

Only 41% of convention visitors gamble when visiting Las Vegas. Las Vegas is improving convention facilities at a rapid pace to draw more of these visitors because they bring greater revenue for the non-gaming areas in Las Vegas Casinos.

The same report from the LVCVA shows that leisure travelers spend $272.68 on food and drink while convention guests spend $427.07 drinking and dining. Similarly, nearly 90% of convention guests pay a negotiated full convention rate. That’s quite a difference from leisure travelers. Only about two-thirds of vacationers pay regular room rates.

Las Vegas will continue to be a great place to visit for work and play. Developments in 2020 will help ensure that stays the case with new casinos, renovated properties and better convention facilities. Oh yeah, people live in Las Vegas and there’s a little something coming to town that should become a local favorite.

1. Say hello to the Las Vegas Raiders

The Oakland Raiders will become the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. The team brings along more than just eight regular-season home games to Las Vegas. This move is much more significant.

One of the keys to having the Raiders move to Las Vegas was building a new state-of-the-art football stadium near the Vegas Strip. The Raiders and Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee have teamed up to build Allegiant Stadium.

This 65,000 seat venue will be home more than just Raiders home games. The venue will also host a variety of sports and non-sports events thanks to a facilities management deal with AEG Worldwide. The company says they should have no problem filling the stadium for 46 events.

Allegiant Stadium will also become the home of UNLV football and the Pac 12 football championship game for the next two years. The Runnin’ Rebels previously played home games at Boyd Stadium. As the stadium nears completion in the summer of 2020, expect to hear announcements for concerts and other events after the newest venue in Las Vegas opens.

After the Raiders announced the move to Las Vegas, the NFL selected Las Vegas to host the NFL Draft. The event will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25, 2020. Draft headquarters will be at the new Caesars Forum convention center behind Harrah’s. The location isn’t much of a surprise as the Caesars is the NFL’s first casino partner.

While much of the activity surrounding the Raiders will take place on or near the Vegas Strip, the team will actually touch the local market with its headquarters in Henderson. The Las Vegas Raiders will become a major part of the landscape for years to come.

2. Everything at Circa Resort & Casino

Casino developer Derek Stevens introduced his latest casino project, Circa Resort & Casino, in January of 2019. Stevens currently owns and operates The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate casinos. Circa will be his third downtown Las Vegas property when it opens in December 2020 in downtown Las Vegas.

Construction on Circa is bucking trends in Las Vegas in many ways. The casino is on budget and construction appears to be on schedule to open before the year is over. (Unfortunately, not every Las Vegas casino construction has stayed on time and on budget: Resorts World Las Vegas broke ground in 1995 and has been pushed back multiple times. It’s now slated to open in the summer of 2021.)

Another difference between Circa and other “new” Las Vegas casinos is that this is new construction. Park MGM, the newest casino in Las Vegas, is an update of an old casino named Monte Carlo. Circa will be the first new casino build in downtown Las Vegas since 1980.

The plans for Circa are massive. There will be 1.25 million square feet of amenities including:

A three-level sportsbook with the world’s sportsbook video screen and broadcast studios
Multilevel pool deck amphitheater with six pools that will be open all year round
A rejuvenating Spa
Casino on two floors
777 hotel rooms and suites
Numerous restaurants

Circa Resort & Casino will be the tallest building north of the Vegas Strip. The property will be unlike any other in downtown Las Vegas. The pool and sportsbook will make the property a destination instead of a property visited just because it’s in a mall of casinos.

Stevens does a great job of combining classic Las Vegas service with modern amenities. Circa should be the pinnacle of this experience with great dining, gambling, drinking, a spa, and hotel rooms.

3. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

The Hard Rock will close after the Super Bowl to make way for new casino and hotel operators in Las Vegas. Unlike other recent casino renovations at Park MGM and Palms, the property won’t be open during 10 months of construction. Once the renovation is complete in December 2020, the property will reopen as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Virgin will operate the hotel while Mohegan Gaming will operate the casino. These two companies bring a fresh look to Las Vegas. Virgin Hotels famously doesn’t attach fees to its rooms and could open a hotel in Las Vegas without parking and resort fees.

In addition, its hotels in Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas offer complimentary WiFi. This would be a welcome addition to Las Vegas which has gotten a little fee happy in recent years.

Mohegan Gaming operates casinos all over the world, except Las Vegas. Virgin will be its first Las Vegas casino. The company offers fair gaming rules at its properties. Mohegan also has a different sportsbook partner than existing Las Vegas casinos.

The new property will also introduce a new casino loyalty club: Mohegan’s Momentum. The hotel will be a part of the Virgin Hotels loyalty club called “The Know.” Finally, the hotel will be part of the Hilton Curio collection. There will be many ways to earn and use rewards at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas should bring a new way of operating a casino-resort to Sin City. The potential of a property opening with no fees, fair gaming, multiple loyalty/rewards partners, new food and beverage partners should be exciting for those looking for a different experience

4. A new Circus Circus

MGM Resorts announced the sale of Circus Circus to Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin in October. The sale is complete and changes are already underway.

Since MGM Resorts no longer owns the property, they won’t be operating the sportsbook. William Hill is operating the sportsbook at Circus Circus. After the Super Bowl, they will renovate the sportsbook by updating the viewing screens, seating, and more in time for the first weekend of March Madness.

The main casino and Slots-A-Fun will be renovated but changes are already underway. Ruffin has already introduced improved gaming conditions that Treasure Island guests might be familiar with. There are now $10 3:2 blackjack games and craps odds have been upgraded to 3x-4x-5x from 2x. Circus Circus also removed MGM’s triple zero roulette game.

Major changes coming to Circus Circus include the closure of the only RV Park on the Vegas Strip. In its place, Ruffin plans to add a massive pool complex similar to Mandalay Bay Beach. He’s also planning on adding a new 2,000 seat theater to Circus Circus. This theater could be home to a new Cirque du Soleil show.

MGM also sold Ruffin 35 acres of land that most recently the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. Ruffin plans on developing this land with a partner. He previously said a family entertainment center could be built here.

The future is bright for Circus Circus as Ruffin plans to renovate the casino floor but not the rooms. This will keep room prices down as the property looks to find new customers. The rooms will be upgraded in the future but the goal is to keep Circus Circus an affordable family destination in Las Vegas.

5. Las Vegas convention expansions

As noted earlier, those visiting Las Vegas for conventions and meetings tend to spend more money on food, beverage, and hotel rooms than those visiting on vacation. It’s no surprise that the casino-resort operators are looking to attract more of these customers.

In 2018, MGM Resorts was ahead of the curve by expanding or improving many of its convention facilities. Not only is Las Vegas expanding its convention center but two casino operators are opening new facilities.

Wynn Resorts canceled its massive Paradise Park expansion in 2018. However, they kept one part of the plan. Instead of offering new amenities to a different customer, Wynn Las Vegas will continue to focus on its high-end guests. It will open a brand new convention and meeting space in February 2020.

Likewise, Caesars Entertainment is wrapping construction on the Caesars Forum as the new year begins. The new convention center is located behind Harrah’s and is a short walk to The Linq, Flamingo, and Caesars Palace. The increase in conventions should bring more convention customers to Caesars’ properties.

The expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center is creating the Convention Center District. The massive 1.4 million square foot phase of the expansion will be open by the Consumer Electronics Show in 2021. The footprint is so big that they’re building an underground people mover to transport convention guests around the huge convention space.

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Sports Betting

Big Trades Within The Division Have Always Been Part Of Baseball

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As the trade deadline approaches, most broadcasters are naturally discussing completed as well as possible transactions in Major League Baseball. During a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, the announcers had just received the news of a huge trade that had been completed.

The Orioles had traded Zack Britton to the New York Yankees, which prompted the TV analyst to criticize the deal. He complained that the Orioles, who are deeply buried in the East side of the American League, had violated some unwritten rule about never trading within your own division.

I was doubtful that such a rule existed, for any club planning to trade a player would make a deal yielding the best return. When you are wanting to do what is best for your organization, geography would not trump your own interests.

The very next day reinforced my doubts as to that so-called unwritten rule to which the announcer had alluded, for another huge inner division trade had been completed. The Tampa Bay Rays shipped starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to the Boston Red Sox, who are currently on top in the A. L. East.

Giving the benefit of a doubt to the broadcaster, I wondered if the rule had once existed but had disappeared like complete games and sacrifice bunts from today’s state of the game. Recalling some notable transactions over the last fifty years, however, I realized that there had not been an unwritten rule that suggested teams not trade within their own divisions.

Here are eight cases since the Seventies in which well-known players were traded from one team to a rival in its own division.

San Francisco traded future Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey to a team not only in the same row in the standings, but also in the same state. The San Diego Padres acquired Stretch from the Giants way back in 1973.

Early in the next decade the Houston Astros traded All-Star outfielder Cesar Cedeno to West rival Cincinnati, which in turn sent third baseman Ray Knight from the Reds.

The year immortalized by George Orwell’s futuristic novel, 1984, saw a notable inner division trade. The Philadelphia Phillies shipped popular outfielder Garry Matthews to the Cubs, and he helped Chicago to the playoffs soon after that.

Two years later future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter was traded by the Montreal Expos to Eastern Division rival New York, where Carter helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series Championship against the Boston Red Sox. Apparently the Expos, like the Astros and Giants before them, had been oblivious to the rule not to trade to rival clubs.

All Star slugger Carlos Delgado, less than a year removed from winning a World Series Championship with the Marlins, was sent from Florida to the New York Mets back in 2005. Three years later on July 29, 2008 the Texas Rangers traded first baseman Mark Texiera to the Angels.

In 2010 the Milwaukee Brewers swapped All Star center fielder Jim Edmonds to N. L. Central rival Cincinnati, who felt Edmonds would help the Reds reach the postseason for the first time since the end of the twentieth century. Again, if such a rule existed, it continued to be ignored by most clubs.

In a more recent transaction the Minnesota Twins in 2011 agreed to send designated hitter Jim Thome to the Cleveland Indians, the club with which he started his illustrious baseball career. Thome was contemplating retirement, and he wanted to end his playing days as a member of the Tribe.

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Source by Doug Poe…

Sports Betting

Never Bet on Big Soccer Underdogs

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As almost every professional bettor will tell you, backing heavy favourites is a sure fire way to the poorhouse. That’s common knowledge, right? Perhaps, but there’s one problem with that type of thinking: it’s dead wrong.

The received wisdom is the linesmakers skew their odds on heavy favourites because the public love betting on the best teams. The bookies no doubt see a flurry of parlays involving clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona and Juventus every weekend. Surely there’s value in taking the underdog in these situations, isn’t there?

In fact, numerous studies have shown that blindly backing long shots is a losing proposition in the long term. To see why that is the case, we have to understand how a bookmaker operates. Since the bookies take most of their action on short-priced favourites, it’s often assumed they are exposed to big liabilities if all the hot teams win. While this is sometimes the case, and many bookmakers suffer months of huge losses, there are several ways a bookie can protect himself.

It’s important to remember that most heavy favourites are combined in parlays involving at least three teams. A bookmaker only needs one loser to take his customer’s money. As a result, there’s little need to lower the odds on a “public” team. Many sportsbooks will even inflate the odds of a hot favourite to attract new customers, safe in the knowledge that parlay players won’t hurt their bottom line.

If the favourite’s odds are an accurate reflection of it’s true probability of winning, the bookmaker must make adjustments elsewhere. That usually means offering worse odds on the underdog and the draw. Understanding the concept of theoretical hold can make this clearer.

When creating lines, a sportsbook will offer odds on each team that give it a slight edge, ensuring a profit no matter how the game turns out. This is called the Theoretical Hold and is expressed as a percentage. It represents the combined amount of customers’ bets that the bookmaker expects to keep.

It’s called theoretical because in reality a bookmaker rarely has balanced action on all sides. If a bookie takes the bulk of his bets on a heavy favourite, he can offer it at a more generous price and accept a smaller profit margin. Short-priced favourites generally have small margins, but high volumes. Bigger odds mean bigger margins. There’s little incentive for a bookie to offer competitive odds on a big underdog if he doesn’t expect much betting interest in that team.

For evidence of this, look no further than the betting exchanges. At Betfair, for example, the theoretical hold on a soccer money line is usually 1-2%, compared with around 11% at traditional bookmakers. Because the hold is so low and the percent market is close to 100%, the exchanges represent an almost perfect market. They can give us a closer indication of the true probability of an event happening. The following table shows the odds available at several bookmakers for an upcoming match between Qatar and Argentina:

Bookmaker Qatar Draw Argentina Theoretical Hold

Betfair +1800 +660 -500 1.72%

Nordicbet +1100 +445 -500 9.10%

Bet365 +1000 +400 -500 11.05%

Interwetten +900 +400 -667 14.5%

Admiral +850 +365 -455 12.28%

Two things are immediately striking. An exchange like Betfair has significantly better odds on Qatar and the draw, which are the less probable outcomes of this game. But Betfair’s odds on Argentina, the heavy favourite, are in line with the prices offered by traditional bookmakers. In fact, even though Betfair’s market has razor thin margins, it can’t beat the odds on Argentina offered by Admiral, a bookie with a theoretical hold over 12%!

What can we learn from this? If the exchanges are a nearly perfect market, they prove that heavy favourites are fairly priced at the traditional bookmakers, but underdogs are massively underpriced and poor value. Some research has shown that backing all short priced favourites (at -500 or greater) is a profitable proposition in the long term. Now we can understand why. As a general rule, only bet on long shots at the exchanges; if you like to play favourites, stick with the traditional bookies.

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Source by Marc Carinci…

Sports Betting

The Big 3 Factors in Choosing a Sports Handicapper

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Are you a sports fan who likes to bet on his favorite team? Are you a casual bettor or do you bet on sports seriously? For casual bettors who enjoy plopping down a few bucks on a game of interest, there is not so much a need to pay for a professional service that provides betting advice. It’s just a little money on an interesting game, and it makes spectating a little more enjoyable. But for those individuals who take their sports betting seriously, they may want to consider hiring a sports handicapping service.

In many cases, it can make sense to hire a handicapping service, but you need to understand exactly what you are paying for. You’re not hiring the handicapper (also known as “capper”), for some additional counsel. They shouldn’t be viewed as just another opinion. If you are going to pay handicappers, then you should take their tips and bet them accordingly. Picking and choosing which bets to play may not be the best strategy.

So let us assume you have made the decision to hire a capper because you are serious about making money in the world of sports betting. What should you look for in your search? Although there are many similarities in the various cappers, there are also some differences as well. In this article we will review three of the most important considerations.

Look for an Experienced Handicapper

There is an old saying that there is no substitute for experience and that is very true in the world of sports handicapping. Make no mistake that capping sports games successfully takes a lot of hard work. There are many variables to consider and these guys need time in the business to really figure out how to do their jobs effectively. That usually involves many years in the business. Thus, look for a handicapper with at least ten years of solid experience handicapping sports.

Find a Handicapper Who Posts Results Publicly

In the business of sports betting, there are many handicappers who prefer to keep their identities and results private. That may serve their own needs well, but for me, I want to know who I am hiring and what their track record for successful capping has been. Look for someone who isn’t afraid of being transparent, if not with their identity, at least with their results. It is common knowledge that even the top handicappers are only successful 55-60% of the time. Make sure the handicapper has a success rate of a minimum of 55%, so that you can bet profitably over the long run. After all, you are paying him for his expertise and he should therefore be willing to own up to all of his picks.

Ensure the Pricing Structure Fits into Your Budget

The bottom line in professional sports betting is making money. The bookmaker must get paid. The handicapper must get paid, and you, the bettor, wants to get paid too. Before you hire a handicapper, make sure you have a complete understanding of his prices. Are you paying for a subscription? If so, how long does it last, and is the renewal rate the same? Calculate the handicapper’s fees into your formula to determine how successful you need to be to profitable. Higher priced handicappers are more suited for the bigger bettors.

Conclusion

Who is the best sports handicapper? The answer may surprise you. There are quite a few good ones out there. If you choose one that has been capping for at least ten years, posts their results publicly, and has a fair pricing structure, then you have done your homework and are ready to dive into sports betting with a good partner.

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Source by Phil Fogliani…