Back From Las Vegas With Stories & Lessons Learned

I’m penning this as I contemplate on my yearly March Madness trip to Las Vegas.

If you didn’t catch my initial update from the desert, this is a yearly spring tradition for my dad and I. It’s a total thrill. Even though I faced one of the most dreadful predictions in sports betting history (Kentucky -18 over Saint Peter’s), I managed to pull through with a break-even day on Thursday.

It’s impossible to summarize the next three days as I did late Thursday night, in a succinct live-blog style. There are innumerable moments of sports betting in Las Vegas, along with numerous little stories and digressions I could delve into.

My editor will be relieved to know that I can summarize my biggest takeaway in four simple words: Sometimes, you just know.

The legend of Booboo

Friday was an average day for basketball.

The outright win of Iowa State was a positive outcome, securing point spread and money line tickets.

However, Wisconsin only defeating Colgate by six points, despite being 6 1/2-point favorites, was a significant disappointment.

Dad and I, having a craving for some blackjack, headed to Gold Coast, which is located next to the Rio where we were staying.

It may not be anyone’s idea of a popular place, but they offer $15 double-deck games with 3:2 blackjack payouts. Many other places don’t offer anything less than $25, which is simply too expensive for me.

As soon as I settled down at a table, players began referring to me as Booboo.

Please guide me on how to react if a bunch of unfamiliar faces suddenly starts addressing you as Booboo. I was left bewildered, which I believe would be the reaction of most people. However, it seemed to be a tradition at the table.

Bailed out by the cards

An older Chinese woman at third base, instead of memorizing names, simply referred to everyone as Booboo. This nickname became popular and stuck.

Furthermore, drinks were flowing freely and many fellow gamblers were already tipsy. This contributed to an easy-going and friendly atmosphere at the table that can sometimes be quite challenging to come across.

“I thought to myself, “This is good. It’s impossible for this not to be good.”

Depending on the action, Booboo was used in different tones.

A gentleman from Canada took a risk and hit on 17 against a dealer’s 4. The table was filled with uproar until he drew an ace, which turned out to be the table’s saving grace. Rather than the dealer drawing that ace to convert her 10 into 21, she ended up drawing two cards and busting.

To the immense relief of my new acquaintance from the far North, the mood at Booboo’s quickly became festive. After an hour (and numerous rounds at Booboo’s), I managed to recover from my basketball losses and retired to bed.

Cards saved me for the second day in a row. This wouldn’t be the final instance of such an occurrence.

The Champagne family rides again

Basketball was terrible on Saturday. I was rooting for Baylor, having a 5-point lead over North Carolina. However, the Tar Heels quickly took a 25-point lead. Even though the Bears managed to push the game into overtime, the current national champions eventually lost their momentum.

I also favored Middle Tennessee State with a -6.5 over Cal Baptist in the CBI tournament. The Blue Raiders had a 16-point lead with 10 minutes left, but the Lancers made a comeback and ended up losing by six. Just like the previous day, a significant play missed covering by only half a point.

Though some successful bets on horse racing salvaged my situation, we proceeded to the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. You need to book weeks ahead and it’s quite costly, but if you’re in Vegas, you should definitely visit.

Everything we consumed was of world-class quality, giving us an energized bounce in our steps as we made our way back to Bally’s for a game of poker.

Required background: Over the years, my father and I have participated in numerous tournaments. There have been instances where either of us has advanced significantly, but it’s been uncommon for both of us to enjoy success simultaneously.

Roughly ninety minutes into the tournament, my dad’s table collapsed and he ended up seated to my left.

As I practiced my “all-in” motion, the table erupted in laughter since I’d be making the first move in every round. Sadly, we never ended up clashing, but both of us performed well enough to advance to the last two tables, only to be separated again.

Champagne at the poker tables

Similar to Thursday, I found myself short-stacked with 12 players remaining across two, six-handed tables. The blinds were rapidly increasing, and every level escalation seemed more severe as the poker room sought to expedite the game.

I managed to double-up at just the right moment and observed my father expertly evading difficulties on the adjacent table. Unexpectedly, but favorably, a succeeding series of hands led to the elimination of two players. Shortly before reaching the final table, another round of hands resulted in the removal of three more players.

The tournament was set to pay out to seven spots, meaning against all odds, both members of the Champagne family made the cut. As far as we could recall, such an event hadn’t occurred in roughly five years. So, naturally, we celebrated with a flurry of fist-bumps and body language that screamed, “wait, all right!”

Even better, the leaders in chips began to clash.

Despite not winning many significant hands, we were able to advance. Dad eventually came in fourth when his Q-J was outmatched by pocket kings. I ended up in third place, after my king-high flush was beaten by a full house held by the chip leader, who had 9-2.

This tournament had 65 entries, so securing two top-four finishes earned nice scores. Fortunately, more were on the way.

Redemption, and a lesson on the gambling gods

I diligently prepared for March Madness.

I studied, watched films, and meticulously analyzed matchups.

The results had been very poor up until Sunday, aside from a nice first-round score on Iowa State.

Over the weekend, my last bets were placed on two ACC teams. I was partial to Duke, who were giving 6 1/2 to Michigan State, and I also favored Virginia, who were receiving 2 1/2 from North Texas in the NIT. The bulk of my betting activity on Sunday revolved around these two spreads, with my Dad also placing a bet on Duke. Interestingly, neither of us are Duke fans, making the situation somewhat peculiar.

Michigan State fought back to take a three-point lead late in the second half. As I was on my way to the restroom, I witnessed a Michigan State supporter shouting at the TV, “BYE BYE, COACH K!”

I paused and turned towards him. Luckily, I was wearing a mask, which concealed the wicked grin that crept onto my lips.

Sometimes, you just know.

Duke trailed by three with roughly four minutes remaining. This was hardly a one-sided game. I believed, if fairness existed, that the early celebration indicated the Blue Devils were due for a rebound.

Basketball bets finally cash

They did.

Duke did more than just rally to win the game; they also managed to cover the 6 1/2-point spread. After joining in a victory cheer in the sportsbook, I turned around to find that the intoxicated fan had apparently already hightailed it out of the bar. The tale of “BYE BYE, COACH K!” is one I’ll be recounting for many years. Hopefully, it will serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tempting fate.

Having been confident of a good day already, I shifted my focus to Virginia. The Cavaliers lost a lead in the second half at North Texas, resulting in the game going into overtime. It was broadcast on ESPN+, which implied that the video was not being shown at the Bally’s sportsbook.

Yelling “VIRGINIA BASKETBALL SCORE!” repeatedly into my phone yielded mixed results. Virginia was leading by six points halfway into the extra five minutes, but North Texas was slowly catching up, keeping me on edge. After what felt like forever, I finally received the final score.

Virginia triumphed with a two-point lead. My spread bet, money line bet, and the combined bet on Duke and Virginia all paid out.

After enduring three days of intense basketball, these two games resulted in my most profitable trip to Vegas ever.

After Kentucky’s surprising defeat to Saint Peter’s, I never would’ve bet on that result. Yet, I went home with a considerable lead and experienced a sort of euphoria that any bettor could relate to.

Deeper conclusions

I have knowledge on a variety of topics such as money management, the consequences of being dragged by gambling Twitter, among others. If you’re interested in discussing these topics, it’s quite easy to reach me.

However, none of those are the most crucial elements here.

The last two years have definitely taught us not to take anything for granted.

We called off our plans days before our scheduled flight in 2020. Meanwhile, our March Madness trip in 2021 turned out to be my most terrible experience in Vegas.

Casinos sought immediate recovery of the money they lost in the initial year of the pandemic. They initiated fees for seating, became more miserly with drink coupons, and consequently, the city’s atmosphere was drastically altered from the Vegas I had grown to adore.

While the pandemic hasn’t ended, this year definitely felt closer to normal. We managed to engage in activities that we love, and it was an absolute joy to do them with people who made the experience even more enjoyable.

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the team at Bally’s sportsbook. They were phenomenally welcoming and ensured we had seating arrangements for each day of the tournament. The room is set to undergo a revamp as part of the forthcoming Horseshoe rebrand. My heartfelt hope is that the responsible parties manage this transition without stripping the venue of its unique charm or the delightful individuals who make it such an enjoyable place.

Speaking of fun …

Ever since my relocation from upstate New York to California in late-2013, my dad and I have deliberately arranged to meet in Las Vegas whenever possible. These trips serve as a great opportunity for us to spend quality time together.

He is the catalyst behind my career in journalism. His reporting on local high school sports teams, coupled with my inclusion in his work, unveiled a career trajectory that I immediately adored.

His habit of taking me to Saragota every summer enabled me to learn how to read a racing form at a tender age. The constant availability of cards and board games also contributed to this. These experiences shaped me into an award-winning content creator and handicapper. The lessons he imparted played a significant role in my evolution.

Chase happy

A few months back, a friend of mine, who I genuinely hope is reading this, encouraged me to “pursue happiness.”

I don’t know if he’s aware of it, but that chat has been occupying my thoughts quite frequently recently. Pursuing joy in the world of gambling is no simple task. Victories often go unrecognized and losses are overly emphasized (hello, “I’m betting on Kentucky regardless of the spread!”).

That material can weigh heavily on an individual. It’s not indicative of insecurity, but rather, it’s a sign of being human and having a profound concern for one’s work.

This week, pursuing happiness was easy. I had the chance to spend a solid four days in Las Vegas with my dad. Our non-stop basketball viewing was interspersed with horse racing, poker games, and blackjack sessions, as well as mostly outstanding food. I also had the opportunity to write about all these experiences, hopefully providing enjoyable coverage for readers.

Thank you, Dad. Also, thank you to everyone for keeping up.