USA Today: Sports Books 0.17 per hour

USA Today touts Las Vegas Sportsbooks as offering a player an expected loss of seventeen cents per hour. When comparing an average three hour sporting event to attending a movie, the article points out a thirty times difference. Also mentioned is that a 22.00 Bet to Win 20.00 would generally merit a drink ticket so total expenditure rises one dollar for the free drink.

The article advises using non-strip casinos and considering specialty casinos known for ultra low VP, low BJ, etc. Alamo Truck Stop mentioned for ultra low BJ, also mentioned: Eureka and El Cortez.

If you make the minimum $5 wager and the hockey/basketball game goes to OT, sure...lol

My g/f got turned on to sports bets this last trip (and she bet the $5 minimum each), she went above 0.500. LOL

Quote: tringlomane

If you make the minimum $5 wager and the hockey/basketball game goes to OT, sure...lol

Well, most analyses of "opportunities in Vegas" start out by focusing on the minimum bet amounts at various games to determine likely costs. Quite Frankly, I would be interested in hearing a "more realistic" experience in a sports book.

Unfortunately, I have an idea that whatever might be "a realistic day" in your entering a sportsbook is going to be a bit different than in your girl friend's "realistic day" inside a sports book.

So how about a general summary of what might be considered a reasonable person's activity level in an average sports book.
If I went there and made two lousy five dollar bets.... I would be start raving mad by the end of the day even if both of those bets won quite handsomely and I got several comped beers. What sort of "action" would be available for her to choose from, what sort of action would be a reasonable expectation rather than a "two five dollar bet" activity. What sort of comps are available to a reasonably active sports bettor?

If I was going to sit in a sportsbook and watch a game I would otherwise not care too much about - I would probably need to put around $25-$50 on it, depending on the sport and my interest.

(Of course, I'd probably be betting horses to keep me entertained)

Quote: FinsRule

If I was going to sit in a sportsbook and watch a game I would otherwise not care too much about - I would probably need to put around $25-$50 on it, depending on the sport and my interest. Of course, I'd probably be betting horses to keep me entertained

Precisely. However, just about all such articles that address the issue of tourists "getting a bargain" in Vegas address the same points: house edge, speed, time at table, minimum bet, etc.

MiniBacc always gets a real nice score but it generally also gets a mention of sheer boredom.

I expect it is the same way with Sports Books. Seventeen cents an hour is a really low house edge but if you are bored out of your skull by the various events, that one free drink will never be enough. I could trek all the way to Vegas and avoid that 5.26 roulette percentage by going to a Sports Book, but I'd be dang certain to make the whole thing a really short trip!

So its not really that Sports Books are The Winner, but that they are merely a potential candidate for those interests involves several different games to be bet in that time.

I can't see anything less then a full table of very slow blackjack "fun". If going to a casino was an entertainment thing I would feel like I want cards, dice, or slots/video poker involved. Low minimums, 3:2, and other favorable rules with less hands per hour seems to be the best bet.

Quote: FinsRule

If I was going to sit in a sportsbook and watch a game I would otherwise not care too much about - I would probably need to put around $25-$50 on it, depending on the sport and my interest.

Okay, that's fine. $25 to $50 wagered at the sportsbook. What does that rate you in Comps and what does that likely get you in money.

Quote: FleaStiff

Well, most analyses of "opportunities in Vegas" start out by focusing on the minimum bet amounts at various games to determine likely costs. Quite Frankly, I would be interested in hearing a "more realistic" experience in a sports book.

Unfortunately, I have an idea that whatever might be "a realistic day" in your entering a sportsbook is going to be a bit different than in your girl friend's "realistic day" inside a sports book.

Yeah, we didn't watch much of the games we wagered on. We would sometimes catch the end, but if we didn't, no big deal. If we forced ourselves to watch the games only at $5/game would bore us as well.

Quote: FleaStiff

Okay, that's fine. $25 to $50 wagered at the sportsbook. What does that rate you in Comps and what does that likely get you in money.

From what I have read, virtually nothing at CET and literally nothing at MGM. It's probably not even a big enough wager to get a drink ticket at most books on the Strip. Dunno what they would offer offstrip.

For me, gambling is so much more than exploiting the lowest vig. I'm right there with you on paying the lowest vig. After all, who wants to overpay for anything but at some point you have to enjoy the experience. I'm not going to have much gambling fun at a truck stop. El Cortez is about as cheap as I'll go.

Quote: tringlomane

From what I have read, virtually nothing at CET and literally nothing at MGM. It's probably not even a big enough wager to get a drink ticket at most books on the Strip.

During the Super Bowl weekend, Bills, Flamingo and PH were giving out drink tickets like candy at the sports book.

Quote: s2dbaker

For me, gambling is so much more than exploiting the lowest vig. I'm right there with you on paying the lowest vig. After all, who wants to overpay for anything but at some point you have to enjoy the experience. I'm not going to have much gambling fun at a truck stop. El Cortez is about as cheap as I'll go.

I am most definitely in favor of focusing on fun and enjoyment rather than penny pinching.

I tend to eat "fast food" when necessary if I'm around town but never in Vegas. Its a vacation. Its time to have fun!

I too am in favor of the most bang for the buck and do not want to over pay but I still want a "bang" that I will enjoy or atleast that I am likely to enjoy.

If all the slot players around me have wrist bands from the detention center, I am leaving and I don't care how good a bet is available at that casino.

I too have no desire to go to a truck stop just to get the ultimate deal from some Black Jack dealer. However, I do think its appropriate to look at house edge and time at table and calculate reasonable expectations. I prefer The Venetian due to its safety rather than El Cortez, even though the slots are set quite a bit tighter.

I fear however that others seem to have different values.

3X points at the Fiesta is the best sportsbook comp in the city I'm familiar with, equates to receiving $3 in cash or food comp for every $1000 wagered, if one is over 50, that would equate to $6 in food comp if dining on Wednesday's at any Stations property.

I guess this would add some value to any "lock" for Wednesday, but a grand in a sports book on one day is too rich for me! And I think anyone who bets a grand in one day, probably does not eat at a Stations property.