[toc]Football surpasses all other sports in Nevada in terms of betting. As reported by UNLV Gaming, since 1992, football has been the leading sport in betting. Consequently, it is logical that this period is the most hectic for sports books in Nevada casinos.
Once upon a time, sports books were considered a customer amenity. These spaces were established to accept sports event bets from any interested parties. They also served as a relaxation zone for gamblers who needed a respite from the casino tables. However, this hasn’t been the case for several years now. Corporate casino managers view each square inch of casino space as potential revenue-generating property, and the sports book area is no exception.
Lagasse’s Stadium
In 2009, The Palazzo launched Lagasse’s Stadium, marking a new era of sports books. It was more than just a sports book; it was also a bar and restaurant. Upon its opening, it featured a small casino area with games like blackjack, craps, and slot machines.
Essentially, Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo is a bar and restaurant. Patrons looking to watch a game are typically seated at the bar, a table, or on couches and are expected to make a purchase.
Lagasse’s Stadium, with its unique combination of a sportsbook, bar, and restaurant, offers amenities like waitress service and couches, making it highly sought after for major sporting events. The demand to watch games here is so high, reservations often require a minimum spend for guests during peak events.
In the early days, each person was required to spend at least $25 or $50. Given the prices on the Vegas Strip, it’s never been challenging to spend that amount on food and drinks. Nowadays, the minimum spend to watch football at Lagasse’s Stadium is approximately $100. For events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, the spending requirement is even higher.
This bar, restaurant, and sports book previously held the distinction of being the only sports book that required a minimum spend to reserve a seat for game viewing. However, this is no longer the situation, regardless of whether the sports book provides a section of a restaurant or not.
Sports books today
The desire to watch live sports across the United States has reached an all-time high. Simultaneously, the experience at Las Vegas sports books has significantly improved, offering superior viewing and more comfortable seating. When these two factors are combined, it results in massive demand for viewing the most significant sports events in Las Vegas.
The weekend of the Super Bowl has consistently been the most hectic for sports books, as it attracts more viewers and bettors than any other game throughout the year. The initial weekend of March Madness has also expanded significantly, with the first four days of the NCAA Basketball Tournament now competing with Super Bowl Sunday for attention. Additionally, the NFL’s popularity continues to surge in tandem with the growing popularity of fantasy games.
Casino operators are constantly seeking methods to boost their income. Sports books, which remain relatively inactive about 85 percent of the year, often become extremely busy during some of the most popular events. In recent years, operators have leveraged this free service, turning it into a potential revenue source whenever possible.
Charging for sports book seats
Sports books often experience periods of slowness during quieter times. Consequently, watching the game is usually free, regardless of whether or not you place bets most days of the year. However, traditional sports book casino operators have recently started implementing charges for the privilege of game viewing. The amount spent can be utilized towards:
- A reservation fee
- Lowest amount bet on the particular event
- Food and/or beverage
- A VIP experience
Caesars Palace began charging for seats in their sports book during major events last year. This year, they’ve increased the number of football games for which they charge seating fees. They also offer a user-friendly website for reserving a seat in the sports book for Saturday college football and NFL games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights.
At Caesars Palace, the price for a reserved seat ranges from $50 to $100 per person, with two or three drinks included. There are also reserved VIP seats on a different level of the sports book that start at $250 per person. These VIP seats come with unlimited drinks and access to the shorter Seven Stars line for placing bets.
The majority of seats should be available to the public for Monday and Thursday night games. Seat reservations are only for the VIP section. As these nights host single games, they do not generate as much demand as the full game days on the weekend.
Caesars Palace is not the only establishment charging for football viewing in its traditional sports book. Numerous other sports books also impose a fee for reserved VIP seating which only takes up a portion of the sports book area. Some VIP seats are exclusively reserved for high rollers, so it’s advisable to verify with your host.
Most casinos still have a lot of general admission seats available. However, Caesars Palace seems to be adopting a different strategy, attempting to sell all seats before the games if possible.
Pay per seat isn’t going away
The practice of charging for reserved seating, including VIP, is not likely to disappear in the near future. For casino operators, levying a fee for the prime spots in the sports book is a simple method to boost revenues. While not a significant source of income for casino companies, it does contribute to their profits.
If there’s a method to increase casino revenue, the financial analysts will discover it. Besides reservation fees, you might see an increase in restaurants and bars associated with the sports book. Even if seating is free, the affiliated sports bar and restaurant could potentially boost sales of beverages and burgers.
Welcome to New Vegas, a place where a charge is levied for every customer request.
