The inaugural weekend of March Madness is essentially upon us, and Las Vegas is prepared. The men’s college basketball tournament was called off the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the tournament is set to transpire this year, it will present a slightly different experience for all participants.
The world is gradually returning to normalcy as the rate of coronavirus cases declines. Nonetheless, circumstances are not entirely as they were before. As is typical, several college basketball conference tournaments are underway in Las Vegas.
All of these tournaments were completely called off last year. Now, they’re happening but things aren’t as usual. No spectators are present at any of the basketball tournaments. The journey towards normalcy is slow but it’s in progress.
Casino, restaurant, and bar capacity increasing
In February, Nevada’s Governor, Steve Sisolak, announced increases in capacity restrictions. The slight increment from 25% to 35% in casinos, restaurants, and bars was hardly discernible. A second adjustment to the capacity limit was also declared during that announcement.
Whether by chance or not, capacity limits are set to rise from 35% to 50% on March 15th, which coincidentally aligns with the first week of March Madness. Notably, the initial four days of this tournament are some of the most bustling weekends in Las Vegas.
Sports fans and bettors will noticeably benefit from the increased capacity. Many Super Bowl watch parties got called off in February, which is understandable, given the challenges in making a profit with such a limited number of attendees.
The number of March Madness parties will not be reduced to the same degree. While there will be fewer March Madness viewing events than in 2019, numerous socially distanced venues will still be available for watching and betting on the games.
Vegas is returning to normal
Throughout this year, it appears that Las Vegas is gradually getting back to its usual crowd sizes each month, based on anecdotal evidence. During a recent earnings call, Tom Reeg, the CEO of Caesars, boasted that their Las Vegas hotels were at 95% occupancy over a weekend. To put that in perspective, the occupancy rate on weekdays has been roughly half of that.
Bargain hunters seeking a weekend getaway are attracted by lower than normal room rates. Nonetheless, the booking window is widening. Amid the height of the coronavirus, the majority of Las Vegas casino operators noticed that visitors were reserving hotel rooms only a few days prior to their visit.
The booking period at properties owned by Caesars and MGM Resorts is extending. These companies are witnessing an increase in the length of booking windows. This is usually an indicator of leisure and business travelers planning trips to Las Vegas. Soon, Las Vegas will be bustling with tourists from all corners of the world.
Based on recent visits to casinos on the Vegas Strip, gaming spaces, bars, and restaurants are already experiencing increased business. However, the crowds in Las Vegas for the first weekend of March Madness won’t be as jam-packed as they were in previous years.
That being said, numerous sportsbooks and watch parties will be filled up to the 50% capacity limits permitted by the government.
Nevada sports betting apps are different
In states where sports betting is legal, mobile sports betting apps are now commonplace. Nevada, despite being the first to introduce mobile sports betting, has lagged behind in terms of technology.
The process of registering and depositing money into a Nevada sports betting app differs from most states. The slightly outdated procedure of in-person account registration at a casino underscores the importance of doing so before the games begin.
All sports betting apps from Las Vegas casinos can only be used within Nevada. The versions of these apps accessible in Nevada are entirely distinct from the same brand’s versions available in other locations.
For instance, the BetMGM app in Las Vegas differs from its version in other states. The accounts do not link together and the odds, betting options, and promotions within the app might vary due to Nevada’s gaming regulations.
Nobody visits Las Vegas to stand in lines
To open and fund a Nevada sports betting app, players are required to visit a sportsbook within a physical casino. After that, they can typically make withdrawals and deposits via the app.
Usually, the signup process takes around 10-15 minutes. Typically, registering for a mobile sports betting account is a hassle-free task.
Signing up for an account during the first weekend of March Madness is not typical. Las Vegas sportsbooks will experience higher traffic than usual, potentially extending the registration process.
The queues of individuals making bets inside the sportsbook should be longer than usual. Typically, the process of account registration begins in these same queues.
Everyone must go through the same process of opening an online sports betting account to place bets via a mobile app, thereby avoiding the queues. While it may seem a bit monotonous, it shouldn’t be a distressing experience time-wise.
The already lengthy lines inside a sportsbook could be extended further due to the time-consuming signup process. No one travels to Las Vegas to spend their time standing in queues, waiting for their turn to gamble.
You can start preparing to register for a mobile sports betting account even before you visit Las Vegas.
Steps to sign up for a Nevada sports betting account
It’s not difficult to set up a sports betting account, and it only takes a few minutes.
Firstly, select a sports betting app to invest in. Although the ultimate aim might be the best odds, the casino offering them may not always be convenient.
At times, the sportsbook’s location is of greater significance than the odds. However, it’s up to the individual bettor to make that determination.
Almost every sports betting app in Nevada is linked to a casino loyalty program. This is typically a straightforward process that can frequently be initiated prior to a visit to Las Vegas. At most Nevada casinos, a player needs to possess the loyalty card before registering for sports betting apps.
You can begin the paperwork for various sports betting apps prior to visiting the casino. If available, each sports betting app review mentioned above has a sign-up link.
Bring your loyalty card and any pre-filled sports betting account paperwork to the sportsbook counter within the casino. The remainder of the process should only take a few minutes.
This is the procedure. After it’s finished, there’s no need to queue up to place a bet on March Madness. Once the account is set up, users can arrange for a pre-paid card to either withdraw or deposit funds using a mobile device.
It would be advisable to register for a mobile sports betting account well in advance of the games’ start. Ideally, if possible, you should set up an account the night before the games. This should result in fewer people queuing up to place bets and/or to open a mobile sports betting account.
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