Las Vegas Already Feeling March Madness

Written By Marc Meltzer on March 2, 2022
Arizona could make deep run in NCAA Tournament

March has arrived, bringing with it the madness of college basketball! As numerous individuals anticipate the start of the NCAA basketball tournament, gamblers in Las Vegas are already participating in the action.

The initial college conference tournaments have already begun. Las Vegas houses only one major college basketball team, UNLV, and their tournament has not yet started.

One might naturally associate Las Vegas with hosting the Mountain West Conference for UNLV. However, it may come as a surprise to many that Las Vegas also serves as the venue for several other men’s and women’s college conference basketball tournaments in the weeks preceding the NCAA basketball tournament.

Despite the legalization of sports betting nationwide, no city has as many college basketball tournaments with legal sports betting as Las Vegas.

Even before March Madness kicks off, over a hundred games will be held in Las Vegas, offering bettors the opportunity to watch live and place bets. Moreover, across the country, over a thousand games will be happening, all of which bettors can observe and wager on in the sportsbooks.

Numerous ardent college basketball fans flock to Las Vegas for the conference tournaments. The week leading up to the NCAA basketball tournament is characteristically less crowded and costly.

However, the first weekend of March Madness is amongst the busiest sports weekends of the year. Despite having 48 games played over four days, college basketball is not the sole reason for Las Vegas’ bustling activity during this initial weekend.

The first weekend coincides not only with spring break at numerous colleges nationwide, but also marks the start of the pool season, leading to the reopening of dayclubs.

Dayclubs provide a venue for spring breakers and college basketball enthusiasts to party during the day, away from the sportsbooks. This year, visitors from California and Arizona will also join in the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

Although sports betting is legal nationwide, few places offer the unique atmosphere that Las Vegas provides both inside and outside its casinos.

Conference Conference Tournaments

The week of college basketball conference tournaments in Las Vegas is a goldmine of basketball activity. Contrary to most gambling cities, you can enjoy the games live or watch them on TV in the sportsbooks.

The following are college basketball tournaments happening in Las Vegas:

  • Women’s Pac 12: March 2-6 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena located inside Mandalay Bay.
  • March 8 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena inside Mandalay Bay for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
  • Women’s Mountain West Conference: Thomas and Mack Center, March 6-9
  • The Big West Conference will take place at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson from March 8-12.
  • Men’s Mountain West Conference: March 9-12 at Thomas and Mack Center
  • The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) will be held at the Orleans Arena inside The Orleans from March 9-12.
  • The West Coast Conference will take place from March 3-8 at the Orleans Arena, located within The Orleans.
  • Men’s Pac 12: March 9-12 at T-Mobile Arena

Aside from the thrill of watching games live, another advantage of attending conference tournaments in Las Vegas is that it’s less crowded compared to the initial weekend of March Madness.

The queues to place a bet in person are not as long as they are during the first weekend of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments happening a week or two later. Also, securing show tickets and restaurant reservations becomes easier as there are less people in town.

That being said, the first weekend of March Madness offers an unparalleled sports betting experience in Las Vegas.

March Madness Viewing

Diehard college basketball fans greatly enjoy conference tournament week. The first weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas, however, is intended for the general public.

The first weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas, initially popular among college hoops fans, is evolving into a larger and more exciting event. This is due to the onset of the pool season and day and night clubs booking top performers for entertainment.

This year, St. Patrick’s Day coincides with the first weekend of March Madness, which is set to elevate the festive celebrations.

Similar to the Super Bowl, Las Vegas is so crowded that it’s not as simple as strolling into a sportsbook, placing bets on games, and taking a seat to watch and wager on the games.

Consider the following when planning to watch the first weekend of March Madness games in Las Vegas.

Sportsbook Seats

During the first weekend of March Madness, the majority of sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip and even some popular ones off the Strip demand a reservation fee for certain seats.

However, many off-strip casinos offer general admission sportsbook seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nowhere in the US can you experience March Madness quite like being inside one of Las Vegas’s large sportsbooks.

Bar/Restaurant/Ballroom Parties

Similar to the Super Bowl, bars and restaurants across Las Vegas host watch parties for March Madness. Additionally, casinos offer these parties in their ballrooms.

These parties often come with food, adult drinks, and a reserved seat for a price. Although they can be entertaining, the experience they provide doesn’t match that of watching in a sportsbook.

Previously, numerous free watch parties were held off-strip. Regrettably, some of these events now require a nominal fee to cover costs. Parties located in casinos outside of the popular Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas are usually more affordable.

Fun In The Sun

The initial weekend of March Madness coincides with the opening season of many Las Vegas casino pools and dayclubs. Individuals who aren’t interested in watching all the games simultaneously have the option to rent a cabana. They can relish the games on a single TV while enjoying food and beverage service.

Pools with viewing screens that will broadcast the games are also available. Two options include Circa’s Stadium Swim and Sahara’s Azilo pool, both of which feature large video screens.

This experience, which can only be described as very “Vegas”, could be a fantastic way to shake things up. Given that reservations are made daily, an individual or group can hop from one March Madness viewing option to another in Las Vegas.

The Facebook group “March Madness In Las Vegas” is an excellent resource for those seeking specific viewing information. The members also engage in enjoyable discussions about college basketball.

March Madness Betting

During March Madness’s first weekend in Las Vegas, there are numerous ways to catch the games due to the influx of people in town. However, for the optimal gambling experience during busy sporting events in Las Vegas, there’s truly only one approach.

To fully enjoy the first weekend of March Madness, it’s essential to sign up for a Nevada sports betting app. After all, no one comes to Las Vegas to spend 15-30 minutes in line every time they want to place a bet.

Utilizing a sportsbook app reduces the time spent waiting to place a bet. Nevertheless, the process of registering for a new Nevada sports betting app account differs from most other states.

In Nevada, registration for a sports betting app account and the initial funding must occur at a full-service retail sportsbook located within a casino. Period.

When a person registers an account in person, sports betting becomes akin to being in a place with legal sportsbook apps. A player can now place bets, as well as withdraw or deposit money without the need to visit a sportsbook again.

It’s crucial to understand that sports betting apps outside of Nevada are not connected with those in Nevada, since some Las Vegas sportsbooks operate in other states.

For instance, a BetMGM app acquired in New Jersey will not be functional in Nevada. Therefore, BetMGM clients residing in other states are required to register for a Nevada-specific sportsbook account within a sportsbook at any of the listed casinos:

  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Mandalay Bay
  • MGM Grand
  • New York-New York
  • Park MGM
  • The sale of The Mirage to Hard Rock won’t be completed until later this year.

This also applies to sports betting apps from Caesars, William Hill, and Wynn from other states. However, in Nevada, sportsbook apps from certain operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel are not accessible.

The process of registering for a sports betting account in Nevada is quick, though it differs from other states.

You should register for a sports betting account well in advance of the NCAA basketball tournament tipoff. It’s probable that there will be extended queues when huge crowds descend on Las Vegas to relish the first weekend of March Madness.

Photo by AP / Marcio Jose Sanchez
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Marc Meltzer

Marc spent his formative years navigating the challenging streets of South Bronx. His unusual allegiance to both the Yankees and Jets contributes to his unique perspective. As a freelance writer and social media expert, Marc takes on the demanding task of penning articles on steak, alcohol, gambling and Las Vegas, embracing the difficulty of the job.

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