How To Bet On Sports In Vegas

Legal Sports Betting in Vegas. There are numerous states in the US where bettors can enjoy the tables and slots in a legal establishment. Nevada is the original state for sports betting, as it was legalized in 1949. Therefore, las vegas betting has consolidated itself as one of the most popular ways to bet in the United States. Oct 16, 2020 Sports betting has never been so popular. That means a number of Las Vegas casinos have pumped money back into their race and sports properties in the past few years, giving way to a sportsbook. Jan 15, 2021 Sports bettors can wager on any games available from a sportsbook operator anywhere in the state. The convenience of betting on sports from anywhere means that someone on vacation can place a bet on a game from a pool or nightclub. Meanwhile, Nevada residents can place wagers from their house.

Betting on sports in a casino sportsbook isn’t the same as betting with an illegal bookie or online sportsbook. Placing a wager with a ticket writer inside of a casino can be intimidating for new sports bettors. The big board with betting options may be confusing for someone who hasn’t seen anything like it before. Some gamblers avoid the sportsbook simply because of the pressure from other people. In addition, wagering isn’t the same for all sports and, depending on the sportsbook operator, the Las Vegas odds are different in many casinos.

The Best Sports Betting Apps In Nevada

Individual games have can have point spreads, moneylines, totals, various propositions, and even more wagering options during the games themselves. There are futures bets for championships and individual events. Sportsbook operators in Nevada are offering more opportunities to wager in a sportsbook every day which can add to the confusion. There’s a lot of information to take in when contemplating a sports bet.

Mobile sports wagering might actually be an easier way to wager on sports for gamblers who have bet with the best online sportsbooks before visiting a land-based casino. We’ll discuss how to bet in person at a Nevada sportsbook and how to bet online using a mobile device (phone or tablet). All bettors should know the basics before placing a wager in a Nevada sportsbook.

Choose the sport and pick a wager

Not all sports bets are the same. Most wagers for football and basketball are made using a point spread. Baseball and hockey use a moneyline and also offer run or puck lines, respectively. Other events might offer straight odds for a winning wager. Here are the basic ways to wager on games, matches and events for each major sport.

• Football: Point spread
• Basketball: Point spread
• Baseball: Moneyline
• Hockey: Moneyline
• Soccer: Moneyline
• Fighting (MMA and Boxing): Moneyline
• Golf: Odds
• Auto Racing: Odds
• Tennis: Moneyline
• Olympics: Odds

Point totals and alternatives are available for most moneyline and point spread sports. These aren’t the only ways to wager on each sport but this is the starting point for most sports bettors.

Choose the type of wager

Once a bettor chooses the sport they want to wager on, they will need to choose how they want to bet. In addition to the basic wager types, a variety of wagering options could be available for each event.

• Point spread – Choosing the favorite to win by more points than the point spread or underdog to lose by fewer points than the point spread.
• Moneyline – Simply pick the winner of a game or event.
• Totals – Choosing that the total points scored will be over or under for the defined period or game.
• Propositions – A wager made that something will or won’t happen during a game or event. This could be individual players or teams.
• Futures – This is a wager on an event to happen in the future. The occasion can be in the near future or at the end of a season.

Placing the wager

It’s time to place the wager once the bettor knows which event they want to bet. Ticket writers in a Las Vegas sportsbook can usually understand any terminology they’re given. However, it makes their life easier when a bettor uses the basic information for the bet(s) they’d like to place.

1. The rotation number that coincides with the team or athlete for the wager. This is the 3 or 4 digit number to the left of each event.
2. Amount of the wager.
3. Listen when the bet is read back to make sure it’s correct.
4. Double check the printed ticket to make sure that’s correct.

For example, “I’d like #123 (team name) for $100.” The ticket writer will read back the wager to make sure they have the information correct. Once approved they’ll print the ticket and the bettor will exchange money for the ticket. Always double check the ticket – even if there’s a line – to make sure the wager is exactly what was asked for.

Getting paid for a wager

Point Spreads – Most point spread wagers pay -110. This means that for every $110 wagered, the bettor will be paid $100. Some games will move to -120 before the point spread changes. This requires a $120 wager to win $100.

Moneyline – The favorite for this game or match will be noted by the minus (-200) sign and the underdog by a plus (+200) sign. For example, the Yankees are -200 favorites against the Red Sox who are +190. In this example, the bettor will wager $200 on the Yankees to win $100. Likewise, the bettor may wager $100 on the underdog Red Sox to win $190.

Futures – These will be noted by a moneyline (+600) or straight odds (6-1). These numbers pay the same thing but may be confusing to someone new to a casino sportsbook.

When a bettor is paid they receive the amount of the winning bet plus the original wager. Using the example above, the bettor will receive $300 if they placed winning $200 bet on Yankees beat the Red Sox. The ticket pays $100 and the bettor receives the original bet amount of $200 back.

Where to bet in Nevada

All sportsbooks in Nevada are created differently. The space devoted to a sportsbook in Nevada casinos depends on the size and customers of the individual property. By nature, one would think that a larger casino would have a large sportsbook. That’s not always the case as sports betting is less of a focus for certain casinos in Nevada.

Finding a sportsbook that meets personal preferences is important when choosing where to bet. Some gamblers prefer quick access to restaurants while others prefer the best viewing screens. Some gamblers want to watch the games on the best TV screens while others just want a place to bet and grab a drink. Reading different sportsbook reviews will help casino guests find the most comfortable viewing experience.

Serious sports bettors always look for the best Las Vegas odds when choosing a sportsbook. Not all Las Vegas sportsbooks offer the same betting odds. Some sportsbook operators are known for having the best Las Vegas odds while others are noted for having odds that are less favorable.

There was a day when shopping for the best Las Vegas odds was easy. The city was small and it was easy to walk from casino to casino to find the best odds. That changed as casinos grew and different sportsbook operators became more spread out around Las Vegas. The internet has made finding the best Las Vegas odds easy once again. Plenty of websites offer live odds and bettors can now wager on sports anywhere in Nevada with a mobile sports wagering app.

Mobile sports wagering

Mobile sports wagering has taken Nevada by storm ever since being introduced. Sports bettors can wager on any games available from a sportsbook operator anywhere in the state. The convenience of betting on sports from anywhere means that someone on vacation can place a bet on a game from a pool or nightclub. Meanwhile, Nevada residents can place wagers from their house.

Sports bettors no longer have to stand in line waiting to place a bet. Mobile sports wagering is so popular that some sportsbook operators see more wagers placed via mobile sports wagering app than in the land-based casinos.

Wagering on sports with a mobile app is intuitive and may be less intimidating for a new sports bettor since bets are not made with other people around. Even though different sportsbooks may have their own software placing a wager with apps is easy and similar to the best online sportsbooks.

Sports wagering apps in Nevada must be set up at a land-based casino initially. Some sportsbook operators use software that will allow users to fund and withdraw from an account without returning to the sportsbook. The Las Vegas odds are the same on the app as they are in the physical casino.

Why you should bet on sports in Nevada

It’s possible to wager illegally with a bookie and online with an offshore sportsbook but nothing is better or safer than betting on sports in Nevada. Casinos and sportsbook operators in Nevada are billion dollar companies in a highly regulated industry. The Nevada Gaming Control Board might have the most strict gaming regulations in the country. Unlike an illegal bookie or sketchy offshore sportsbook the money used to place wagers in Nevada should be considered safe.

Colorado just became the 18^th state to legalize sports betting since May of 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to repeal a 26-year old federal ban on the industry everywhere but Nevada.

But even as sportsbooks – both of the brick and mortar and online / mobile variety – are thriving in far-flung locales like New Jersey, West Virginia, and Indiana, there’s simply no place like Sin City for sports betting enthusiasts. The bookmakers here in Las Vegas have been in business for 80 years and counting, and that experience makes them the best in the nation at what they do.

Between the big corporate casino-owned sportsbook operators like MGM Resorts and Stations, foreign bookmakers like William Hill, and independent bet shops such as the Westgate Superbook, the South Point, and the Wynn – Las Vegas is the sports betting capital of the world.

For that reason, bettors from all over American and abroad routinely touch down in this town to get their action down on the season’s biggest games.

Unfortunately, the average Sin City sportsbook is a highly insular community, one where regulars rule the roost and rookies can often find themselves feeling out of place. Between the complex betting boards that boil several sports and dozens of games down to a few numbers and letters, the ritualized system used to actually place a bet at the window, and those aforementioned regulars acting like they run the joint – when visiting Las Vegas, sportsbooks as a betting beginner can be disorienting to say the least.

To help you navigate the maze and bet like an experienced local, the following guide presents six things to remember before placing your first wagers with a Las Vegas sportsbook.

1 – Reading is Fundamental When It Comes to Scanning the Bet Board Correctly

First things first… unless you know how to accurately read the brightly lit board overhead that displays lines and betting odds, you’ll be in a world of hurt.

Modern sportsbooks display the day’s full schedule of games and wagers using a specially designed board that looms prominently above or near the betting windows. These betting boards need to display a ton of information – teams, bet types, and odds – in a relatively condensed space, so sportsbooks rely on a code of sorts to consolidate all of that data.

As you can see, the multicolored collection of numbers, words, and symbols combines to create a confusing array of data that bettors must interpret on the fly.

Fortunately, the coding system isn’t all that complicated once you get the hang of things.

The first thing to look for is the team or side you want to bet on. This might be an NFL or NBA team, a pro boxer or MMA fighter, or even one half of a binary prop bet like “Will the Patriots finish 16-0?” Every sport and wager group has been divided into its own section, so you’ll want to scan the board until you find what you’re looking for.

From there, you’ll want to look to the left of your team or side to find the three- or four-digit number that corresponds with your preferred wager. As an example of how this works, check out the faux betting board shown below:

NFL Betting Example

How To Bet On Sports In Vegas Online

To save space, sportsbook betting boards don’t label each individual column, so you’ll be left to figure out what these numbers actually mean.

In the case of our example betting board, we’ll start with the first two entries on the list. The Dallas Cowboys (coded as 101) are playing the New York Giants (102), and because the ‘Boys are a better team, they’re favored by six points (-6). That’s the point spread, so if you bet on Dallas and the spread, you’ll get close to even money odds on a wager that the Cowboys will win by at least 7 points or more. And obviously, if you back the Giants in this spot as 6-point underdogs, you’ll win your wager so long as the Giants don’t lose by 7 or more points (any 6-point differential results in a push for either side).

OK, but what about that -200 attached to the Dallas side? Well, that’s the currently moneyline price, which simply refers to a straight bet that doesn’t involve the point spread. Dallas could win by 1 or by 100, but as long as they wind up on top, you’ll win the bet.

The exact number you see reflects your moneyline odds or the payout odds you’ll receive on a winner. In this case, a -200 moneyline means you’ll need to bet $200 to win $100 in profit. Of course, you can bet any amount you like in Las Vegas, so the moneyline number is just a conversion rate of sorts. If you bet $50 in this scenario, -200 odds would produce a $25 payout, and so on.

If you’re a Giants backer, however, the moneyline of (+225) means you’ll get more than $1 back for every $1 you bet ($100 wager results in a $225 profit here).

Finally, that seemingly out of place 41 on the betting board refers to the game’s Over / Under total. In this case, you can bet that the final score will combine to equal 40 and Under, or 42 and Over, to take part in total betting. Many experienced bettors prefer to bet on totals rather than teams because the process removes much of the human element involved in injuries, coaching decisions, and officiating errors.

2 – Learning to Speak the Lingo Streamlines the Process When You’re Ready to Bet

Now that you know how to read the betting board, you’ll head to the betting window to place your wagers.

It’s always best to have cash at the ready (casino chips won’t work at the sportsbook), along with a mental note on the exact plays you’d like to make. All too often, inexperienced bettors wait in line and reach the window, only to fumble with their wallet or look back at the betting board to figure things out. This causes unnecessary delays for everybody else waiting to get their action down, and when a big game is about to start, you definitely don’t want to be the jabroni jamming dozens of fellow bettors up.

As for the actual process of placing a bet, you’ll typically be greeted by a smiling but gruff ticket writer who is trying to process as many wagers as they can in short order. A little chit chat is fine, but don’t dilly dally at this stage – just be ready to tell them your price point and preferred side.

Always remember to use the numbered code when relaying your bet. Sportsbook ticket writers rely on the codes to avoid any confusion between similarly named teams. If you say “I want the Jets and the points,” they can easily mistake that for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA – and vice-versa. By using a code – “Give me $100 on 101 moneyline please” – you’ll be speaking the sportsbook’s language.

For any bet, you’ll want to have three key items of information in mind – the wager amount, the numbered code, and the bet type (moneyline or point spread).

If you’re interested in linking several single bets together in a potentially lucrative parlay bet, be sure to let the ticket writer know that in advance (“I’d like a three-team parlay, all point spreads, on 101, 109, and 123 please.”)

3 – Verifying Your Ticket’s Accuracy Every Time is an Essential Safeguard

As you might imagine, the frenzied crowds and complex coding system that defines a major Las Vegas sportsbook can lead even seasoned ticket writers to make mistakes.

These employees are highly trained and have plenty of experience, for the most part anyhow, but errors can and will occur. And when they do, the onus is always on the player to point out any mistakes in a timely fashion.

If you see that the writer has you down for a point spread bet when you wanted the moneyline, the wrong team as your wager, or any other mistakes, your job is to politely inform them right then and there.

They’ll quickly take the ticket back and void it out, then print you out a new one that correctly matches your instructions.

For the most part, sportsbook managers are happy to void and replace an erroneous ticket within a few minutes of the bet being placed. So if you get to the nearby sports bar and find an error, just hustle back and let them know (a small tip to garner sympathy here doesn’t hurt either).

But if you wait any longer than that, then try to come back and change your bet, almost every sportsbook in town will likely refuse and consider your current ticket to be action. In other words, if that’s the bet you’ve had in hand for all this time, it’s simply too late to change it now.

4 – Sticking Around to Sweat the Action on the Big Screen Is Standard

A major part of the Las Vegas sportsbook experience involves parking yourself in a comfortable chair or booth and watching the game unfold firsthand.

Modern sportsbooks are designed to offer comfort and convenience, with plush seats and charging stations to keep your devices juiced up. Cocktail waitresses will roam the floor offering free drinks, and you can even place food orders to grab a bite while you sweat your bet.

If you’re a diehard fan, feel free to don your favorite team’s jersey and gear too. Sportsbooks are a motley scene on big game days, especially on weekends during football season, so expect to see plenty of folks sporting opposing jerseys amongst the crowd.

It’s all in good fun, so you can cheer for your side when they score, yell at the refs when they blow a call, and maybe even heckle other fans who are on the other side. Of course, you’ll never know how much money a stranger stands to win or lose though, so don’t go too far with your ribbing when the pivotal endgame plays arrive.

5 – Sitting Down in a Reserved Area Can Cause Headaches, So Stay Alert

Every so often, you’ll spot a prime piece of sportsbook real estate that seemingly offers empty seats and a great view.

But before you hightail it over there and take a seat, be sure to look for any “Reserved” or “VIP” signage signifying that this table is already taken. Las Vegas sportsbook operators tend to treat their high-rolling regulars like royalty, so reserved seating and roped off VIP areas are par for the course when it comes to perks.

And trust me, there’s nothing worse than getting all settled in to sweat your big bet, only to have a rough and tumble regular roust you from the area.

How To Bet On Sports In Vegas Online

6 – Having Fun Should Always Be the Name of the Game

As entertaining and exciting as the Las Vegas sportsbook scene can be, you’ll definitely see some lowlights after the final buzzer sounds.

How To Bet On Sports In Las Vegas

Players who just lost a bundle are often beside themselves, bemoaning their bad luck and berating the players who failed on the big stage. Throw in a steady stream of complimentary cocktails – coupled with a high testosterone zone where hundreds of sports fans are huddled together in close quarters – and the atmosphere can turn from fun to frightening in the blink of an eye.

You can’t do anything about how other people react to losses, and you shouldn’t bother trying. But you can definitely control your own emotions after watching a bet go down in flames. Only wager money you can afford to lose, and never become so attached to the result that the wrong score sends you into a tailspin.

Instead, just sit back and have a blast betting on sports in Las Vegas – win or lose.

Conclusion

On a Sunday afternoon, with a dozen different NFL games beaming down from on high, there’s no place quite like a Las Vegas sportsbook. The atmosphere is simply electric, and when your wagers are hitting, the feeling can be close to euphoric. But you can’t enjoy everything these world class bet shops have to offer until you know the lay of the land, so I hope this list of tips helps you acclimate easily during your maiden voyage to the sportsbook arena.