Category Archives: Gambling

Gambling

The History of Sports Wagering in Las Vegas: From the 1940s to Present Day

image of Las Vegas Strip at night
Las Vegas is a city that oozes glamour and presents countless opportunities for high-paced adventure

In the United States, the lucrative industry of sports betting has sure come a long way since its early beginnings. This is especially true for Las Vegas, the country’s premier destination for all things entertainment – a title the city has held for quite some time now. 

It all started back in 1949 when Sin City opened its first official sportsbook facility and quickly began accepting wagers on a variety of sports, such as horse racing and football. This groundbreaking achievement was largely thanks to bookmakers who pushed to have more regulated operations and services for their customers.

However, the government started to pay close attention as the activity became more popular amongst eager fans. Just a few years later in 1951, Congress imposed a 10% mandatory tax on all Vegas-based sportsbooks, making it harder for playmakers in the industry to successful run their wagering businesses.

It wasn’t until a little less than two decades later in 1974 when this number was reinstated at a lowered amount of only 2%, as lawmakers decided that a reduction in tax costs could benefit Nevada more than harm it. This decision was undoubtedly the right one, as it quickly led to an increase in licensed sportsbooks which meant an increase in revenue for the state.

These sports wagering sites then began to spread into casinos, with the very first opened by then professional sports bettor and business executive, Frank Rosenthal, who started it in 1975 in his own casino gaming complex known as Stardust Casino.

The only other potential bump in the road for the sports betting market in Las Vegas came in 1992 when Congress passed the Sports Protection Act or PASPA which overturned the legalization around betting throughout the U.S. However, Nevada jumped through the hoops on that one because they were already “grandfathered” in with their own regulations on the activity.

The Growth of Modern Sportsbooks and the Digital Era

Fast forward to today and it is not uncommon to take a stroll down the Strip to visit one of many casino-based sportsbooks. Aside from being home to a multitude of these physical structures which maintain their robust presence in Sin City and Nevada as a whole, the digital era has also opened doors for the possibility of online wagering in the state. Not surprisingly, Nevada was one of the first states to legalize sports betting from desktop and mobile devices. I’ve been using BetMGM on my phone for a few years now.

Nowadays, dozens of providers offer their services to fans for a variety of sports, as the market continues to mature and grow its target audience. Each year sees different deals for users such as free bet no deposit offers 2021 which connect customers to bonus codes and promotions in U.S. regions where the activity is fully regulated, such as Nevada.

Here, sports betting is accepted and recognized as a widely popular activity that involves a certain amount of skill and aptitude to succeed in it.

image of Las Vegas Strip sign
Modern day Sin City sees dozens of sportsbook facilities occupying space along the famous Strip

What Does the Future Hold?

Although online sports betting was legalized in Nevada early on, there are still a handful of U.S. states who have not approved its regulation. Some of these include the Silver State’s neighbor, Utah, and others such as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

In many locations, states have attempted to pass bills that would overthrow the inability to legally wager, but time can only tell if they will progress further.

As far as Las Vegas is concerned, the future is bright for the overall climate of the business both in-person and online. Just this past year the Raiders NFL franchise moved to the city after saying goodbye to their home in Oakland where they were based for over two decades.

This transfer means that football fans have another major team closer to home, adding to the list of professional sports organizations inside the Vegas metropolitan area that already includes NHL’s Golden Knights and WNBA’s Aces.

Not to mention that the Entertainment Capital of the World boasts everything from upscale dining options to guided museum tours and off-strip nature destinations like Red Rock Canyon. For sports fans and tourists in general, it is impossible not to fall in love with this ever-evolving, electric and glamorous city.

Entertainment, Gambling, Hotels, News Flash, Things To Do

Casinos loosening restrictions in Las Vegas – and abroad

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In 2020, land-based casinos all around the world were forced to shut down activities, to comply with lockdowns and social distancing measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19. After a few months, these venues were authorized to resume operations under severe restrictions, including limited capacity and distancing protocols. 

But now, as COVID-19 cases decline and vaccinations increase, several Las Vegas casinos are loosening these restrictions; casino floors are set to return to a 50% occupancy limit and many venues on The Strip returned to 24-hour operations.

In Canada, the Ontario provincial government allowed casinos to reopen, and gambling venues in Alberta are expected to do so by the end of March. European casinos and gambling venues also benefited from the rise in vaccinations, as countries such as Poland already restarted operations. In the United Kingdom, the largest gambling market in Europe, sports betting venues and casinos are expected to reopen in April and May, respectively.

Las Vegas

cleaning a table game

Casinos in Las Vegas had been operating at a limited 25% capacity since November, when they were allowed to increase the occupancy to 35% in February. But Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recently signed an emergency directive loosening the state’s health restrictions, allowing casinos to increase capacity from 35% to 50%. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, this led to big crowds flooding the Las Vegas Strip and casino floors in the first weekend following the announcement.

Continue reading Casinos loosening restrictions in Las Vegas – and abroad →
Apps, Gambling

Can Online Live Dealers Really Offer a Las Vegas Experience?

Live Dealers and the Casino Experience

There’s been a perpetual pattern of rising interest in online betting, accelerated by the global pandemic. But can online casino live dealers really rival the Las Vegas experience?

Things that Cannot be Replicated

There are certain aspects of the real world casino that online betting establishments cannot replicate, however hard they try. As with video games, sights and sounds can be reproduced pretty accurately, but smell is a crucial part of triggering memory and, as any lover of old books will tell you, the electronic version just isn’t quite the same. That does cut both ways, of course. You’ll never have passive smoking when you’re playing from the comfort of your own home. You’ll also never suffer the tedium of traffic woe, or have to go without a drink because you’re driving home.

Continue reading Can Online Live Dealers Really Offer a Las Vegas Experience? →
Comps & Players Clubs, Gambling, News Flash

Mlife Rewards Tier Status COVID changes

Today, October 1st, your MGM Resorts Mlife Rewards Tier Credits would typically reset to zero and your Tier Status would adjust to whatever tier you earned based from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. That isn’t happening this year due to the COVID closures and precautions. Mlife has also changed this moving forward.

Mlife Rewards is extending your current Tier Status through January 31, 2022 (another full year and then some). It has also extended the current tier earning period through the end of December 2020, so you still have a chance to get to the next tier level if you desire.

Continue reading Mlife Rewards Tier Status COVID changes →
Dining, Gambling, Hotels

COVID Precautions: Caesars vs MGM

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I was in Las Vegas last weekend and was surprised by the drastic differences between how the 2 companies approached the COVID precautions. Both companies advertise social distancing, reduced capacity at table games and slot machines as well as mask requirements. The approach each company takes on the casino floor is very different.

MGM properties have every other slot machine turned off or disabled. At table games, they have plexiglas dividers between each player space as well as between the players and the dealer. They have similar plexiglas barriers in the poker room. I still felt the poker room was too crowded.

View of tables games at the Bellagio with Plexiglas separating each player spot.
It may be difficult to see in the photo, but there is Plexiglas between each of the available player positions as well as between the dealer and the players at the Bellagio. Also true for other MGM properties.

Caesars on the other hand has every slot machine on. They are expecting players to not use a machine next to another player, but they are not being proactive. I saw multiple instances of players playing and sitting next to each other, so that isn’t working. Caesars doesn’t have barriers at tables or in the poker room, either. They have removed seats to limit the number of players at each game. Caesars seems to be taking a more staff oriented approach. They have dealers wearing plastic face shields in addition to masks, but there is nothing separating players..

An empty table game at Caesars Palace. Limited chairs, but no barriers in place.
An empty table game at Caesars Palace. Limited chairs, but no barriers in place.

MGM has also installed hand washing stations around the casinos and has stands with free disposable masks and hand sanitizer near the entrances. I saw hand sanitizer available at Caesars properties, but not to the same extent as the MGM properties.

Bellagio Mask and Hand Sanitizer kiosk as well as Hand Washing Stations.
COVID safety kit in Bellagio rooms with hand sanitizer, touchless door opener tool and reuseable masks.

Check in lines and hotel lobbies were also very different. The Bellagio had a lot of space available to keep distanced while in the check in line. MGM Grand also had a lot of space. Neither place was crowded when I visited. The Flamingo check in line was a mess. They did create some space to keep the waiting line away from the check in counter, but the line continued across the lobby and down the hallway. People in line were much closer than 6 feet. There were no markings to indicate where people should stand in the extended line. It was a hazardous situation. It also created a road block if you were trying to get from the casino to the Spa Tower.

We each have our own personal risk tolerances. The situations at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo made me very uncomfortable. I was happy that I was not staying at either place. It would have made for a very stressful trip for me. Unless things change, I cannot recommend staying or playing at a Caesars property in Las Vegas until things get better.

On the other hand, my stay at the Bellagio was really good and relatively comfortable given the situation. I would readily stay at the Bellagio or another MGM property during the pandemic if necessary.