Feb 2, 2021 | Features Articles, Gaming News, Sports Tips
23.2 million Americans plan to bet a total of $4.3 billion on this year’s Super Bowl LV matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to new American Gaming Association (AGA) research. Among Super Bowl bettors, a record 7.6 million will bet with online sportsbooks this year, up 63 percent year-over-year.
“This year’s Super Bowl is expected to generate the largest single-event legal handle in American sports betting history,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “With a robust legal market, Americans are abandoning illegal bookies and taking their action into the regulated marketplace in record numbers.”
Since last year’s game, 36 million more American adults have gained the opportunity to safely bet in legal markets in their home state with seven new jurisdictions now live: Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
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Jan 11, 2021 | Features Articles, Gaming News, In this Issue, Sports Tips
With online gambling legislation loosening up, it has never been easier to wager on sporting events – especially professional football. With the biggest game of the year- the Super Bowl, is the vast array of proposition bets available. Propositions are bets that go beyond the game itself and are designed to get even the non-sportsperson in on the action and excitement of the big game!
Proposition bets, referred to as prop bets, are the type of bets that can cover the entire spectrum of just about everything in the game. It can be as basic as which team scores first or which quarterback throws more touchdown passes, to old standbys such as the start of the game coin toss, or the length of the National Anthem. If you can think of a bet, odds are pretty good there is an option for it.
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Jan 31, 2020 | Features Articles, Gaming News, Property Reviews, Southern Gaming Reviews: Wine, Bourbon, Cigars and things we love!, Sports Tips
With the Super Bowl kicking off this weekend and March Madness right around the corner, there has never been a better time to be a sports bettor than now. With the expansion of sports books at casinos around the region, and online sports betting more available than ever, the hardest part decision you’ll have is deciding where to watch, and wager! We are excited to give you a quick run down of some of our favorite casinos to watch, and wager, on your next big game. We hope you like our suggestions.
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Sep 24, 2019 | Features Articles, Gaming News, In this Issue, Sports Tips, Winning Tips
As the summer winds down, football talk ramps up. Teams are in full-scale practice mode and working to tweek their playbooks for the first games in August. This season is sure to be filled with some magnificent match-ups both at the college and professional level, so we wanted to offer you our suggestions for which casinos have the best set-ups to take in the action, and even make some wagers. Several of the Mississippi casinos offer full sports betting, while others offer great places to watch games, grab some suds and grub and cheer on your favorite teams.
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Jul 31, 2019 | Features Articles, Gaming News, In this Issue, Sports Tips
As mandatory minicamps come to an end and the new NFL season can be seen on the horizon, we are excited to bring you a our insight on a few teams who are bound to make some noise this year, a few that will come up short, and a little fantasy insight along the way.
We hope you have a successful season of fun filled sports action at your favorite casino sportsbooks or other optimal viewing spots!
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Dec 6, 2018 | Gaming News, Sports Tips
“You can lay a small amount of money to win a large amount of money in return.”
Jay Rood is MGM Resorts Vice President of Race & Sports Book Operations and provides strategic direction, management and oversight of daily operations for all Race & Sports Books across MGM Resorts properties that offer sports wagering. Jay began his career with MGM Resorts as a Sports Book Ticket Writer at MGM Grand Las Vegas on the resort’s opening day in 1993. He believes sports betting is a fun and engaging way for experts and newcomers alike to enjoy a game or sporting event. Matt Villano caught up with him to answer some of the basics of betting questions that are applicable to all skill levels.
Matt Villano: For first-timers, what’s the most important thing to know about a Race & Sports Book?
Jay Rood: The Sports Book can be intimidating, but it’s critical to remember that the staff is there to help you get comfortable. Don’t be afraid to come to the counter and ask a ticket writer for directions. If you have questions about how to make a bet, they can help.
MV: The odds board has a lot of numbers. How can novices make sense of it all?
JR: It’s just like looking at a newspaper in that it’s laid out in columns. In each column, the matchups are on the left, odds are on the right. Lines scroll through depending on the number of games each day. You can find the odds on the video display boards in the Sports Book. We also print hard-copy sheets with all the lines clearly labeled with headers; these are organized by sport. If you don’t see the sheet you are looking for, ask one of our friendly staff.
MV: What are some basic dos and don’ts at the betting window?
JR: It’s very helpful when bettors use the Bet Numbers associated with each wager listed on the odds boards. That makes the transaction both faster and clearer. The ticket writer knows exactly what you want to bet and there’s less confusion. It’s also important to be aware of what’s going on around you. If you come to the window at a busy time – thirty minutes before kick-off on an NFL Sunday – there are going to be longer lines of people trying to get a bet down before the game. That’s probably not an ideal time to ask detailed questions. But if you come up at noon on a Tuesday, you can ask all the questions in the world.
MV: What should bettors look for in placing bets?
JR: We usually say that bettors should seek “value” in bets, but everybody places value on different things. Someone might think a line at -7 is great value over an overrated opponent; someone else might think that line isn’t big enough. Look for what you like and the teams and odds that make you comfortable.
MV: What are the benefits of betting a parlay?
JR: People like parlays because of the compounding factor. You can lay a small amount of money to win a large amount of money in return. Are the odds against you? Absolutely. It’s hard enough picking one game correctly, much less multiple games. But if you hit, the payout can be substantial. For example, 12-teamers pay 2,000:1. Two- and three-team parlays are much more common. Those usually pay 13:5 and 6:1 [respectively].
MV: When a game ends, how should bettors go about cashing out?
JR: There aren’t any protocols for this; it all depends on your personal style. If you need to leave the book in a hurry, you want to be at the counter when the final score gets loaded into the computer – usually about three minutes after the game ends (though sometimes it’s a 10- or 15-minute wait, especially during big events). Otherwise, it’s fine to come back later in the day. There are a lot of people who enjoy the experience of waiting in line – everyone’s usually high-fiving and cheering a win. If you’re cashing a ticket, you’re happy. Why not soak that up? But be aware of the expiration date on your ticket. Make sure you collect your winnings before it expires.
MV: How can I cash my winning ticket if I am not in town to go to the window?
JR: If you’ve won a future bet you placed back before the start of the season or just had to race to catch a plane before the end of the game, we’re happy to cash your winning ticket by mail. Follow the instructions printed on the back of your ticket.
Want more? Jay Rood offers more insights from his 25 years of industry experience in his video series, #BehindTheBook. Follow @Jay_Rood on Twitter for an insider’s look at sports betting.
By Matt Villano
