Back From Las Vegas With Stories & Lessons Learned

I’m penning this as I reminisce about my yearly March Madness trip to Las Vegas.

If you didn’t catch my initial report from the desert, my dad and I make this trip each spring. We always have a great time, and even though one of the worst sports betting predictions ever (Kentucky -18 over Saint Peter’s) occurred, I still managed to break even on Thursday.

It’s impossible for me to summarize the next three days as I did late Thursday night, in a concise live-blog style. The number of Las Vegas sports betting moments, minor stories and digressions I could delve into are countless.

My editor will be relieved to know that my biggest takeaway can be summed up 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 beneficial, securing point spread and money line tickets.

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

Yearning for some blackjack, Dad and I made our way to Gold Coast, which is adjacent to the Rio, our place of stay.

While it may not be everyone’s favorite place, they offer $15 double-deck games with 3:2 blackjack payoffs. Most places have a minimum of $25, which is just too expensive for me.

Once I settled down at a table, players began to refer to me as Booboo instantly.

Should you have experienced a situation where an unfamiliar crowd suddenly began referring to you as Booboo, I’d appreciate your advice on how to respond. Like many, I was baffled. However, it seemed to be associated with the table etiquette.

Bailed out by the cards

An elderly Chinese woman at third base simply referred to everyone as Booboo instead of remembering their names, and the nickname became popular.

Furthermore, drinks were constantly being served, and a number of the other players were somewhat intoxicated. This created the kind of relaxed, sociable atmosphere at the table that can occasionally be challenging to come across.

“I thought to myself, “this is good. There’s absolutely no chance that this isn’t good.”

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

A gentleman from Canada took a risk and hit on 17 against a dealer’s 4. Insults started flinging around until he drew an ace that ended up being the table’s saving grace. Instead of the dealer drawing that ace to convert 10 into 21, she drew two cards and bust.

My new friend from the Great White North was greatly relieved when the Booboo’s quickly turned into a celebration. After an hour and countless Booboo’s, I made up for my basketball losses and went to bed.

For the second day in a row, cards saved me. This wouldn’t be the final occurrence of this event.

The Champagne family rides again

Saturday’s basketball was terrible. I was a fan of Baylor -5 over North Carolina. However, the Tar Heels quickly gained a 25-point lead. Despite the Bears’ attempt to force overtime, the current national champions ultimately lost their momentum.

Moreover, I was really fond of Middle Tennessee State with a -6.5 advantage over Cal Baptist in the CBI tournament. The Blue Raiders were leading by 16 points with 10 minutes remaining, but the Lancers made a remarkable comeback and ended up losing by only six points. For two consecutive days, a significant play missed covering by just half a point.

My financial situation was salvaged by a few successful bets on horse racing, leading us to the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. It requires advance reservations of several weeks and is not inexpensive, but it’s a must-visit if you’re in Vegas.

Everything we consumed was of world-class quality, invigorating us as we made our way back to Bally’s for a game of poker.

To provide some context, over the years, my father and I have participated in numerous tournaments. There have been instances where one of us has made significant progress, but it’s been rare for both of us to experience success simultaneously.

Roughly ninety minutes into the tournament, the table my dad was at collapsed and he was relocated to a seat on my left.

The table roared with laughter as I rehearsed my “all-in” move, which I would be performing before him in every round. Regrettably, no confrontation occurred. Nonetheless, we both performed well enough to advance to the last two tables, where we were once again separated.

Champagne at the poker tables

Similar to Thursday, I was short-stacked with 12 remaining players spread across two tables, each with six hands. The blinds were fast approaching, and every subsequent level increase became increasingly severe as the poker room aimed to expedite the game.

I managed to double-up at a crucial moment and observed my father skillfully avoiding losses at another table. In an unexpected but pleasant turn of events, a consecutive series of hands resulted in two players being eliminated. In another instance, three players were knocked out just before reaching the final table.

The tournament was paying out to seven spots, and against all odds, both members of the Champagne family ended up in the money. As far as we could recall, such an event hadn’t occurred in roughly five years. There were many fist-bumps and expressions of surprise, along with a lot of “wow, this is awesome!” non-verbal communication.

Even better, those leading in chips started clashing.

Despite not winning many significant hands, we managed to advance. In the end, Dad secured the fourth position when his Q-J clashed with pocket kings. I was eliminated third when I ended up with a king-high flush, only to face a chip leader with a full house of 9-2.

This tournament had 65 entries, hence, achieving two top-four finishes translated to two impressive scores. Fortunately, there were more victories to follow.

Redemption, and a lesson on the gambling gods

I prepared intensively for March Madness.

I studied, watched film, and meticulously analyzed matchups.

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

The last bets I made over the weekend involved two ACC teams. I was a big fan of Duke, who were giving 6 1/2 to Michigan State, and I also had a preference for Virginia, who were getting 2 1/2 from North Texas in the NIT. All my betting activity on Sunday was focused on these two spreads, with my father also betting on Duke. Despite this, neither of us are Duke supporters, making the whole situation feel strange.

Michigan State fought back to take a three-point lead late in the second half. As I headed to the bathroom, I witnessed a Michigan State gambler shout at the TV, “FAREWELL, COACH K!”

I paused and cast my gaze his way. Fortuitously, I was wearing a mask, as my lips twisted into a wicked grin.

At times, you simply understand.

With about four minutes left, Duke was trailing by three. This was by no means a one-sided game. I believed, if there was any fairness, the early declaration implied that the Blue Devils were due for a comeback.

Basketball bets finally cash

They accomplished it.

Duke didn’t just pull off a win, they also managed to exceed the 6 1/2-point spread. After I joined in with the triumphant cheer in the sportsbook, I glanced back to see the inebriated fan had apparently already made a swift exit from the bar. The story of shouting “BYE BYE, COACH K!” is one I anticipate recounting for years to come. I see it as a cautionary tale to not tempt fate.

Having been confident of a good day already, I shifted my focus to Virginia. The Cavaliers squandered a lead in the second half at North Texas, pushing the game into overtime. The match was broadcasted on ESPN+, which implied that it was not being telecasted in Bally’s sportsbook.

Constantly shouting, “VIRGINIA BASKETBALL SCORE!,” into my phone yielded mixed results. Virginia managed to gain a six-point lead mid-way into the additional five minutes, but North Texas continued to chip away at the lead, keeping me on edge. At long last, after what felt like forever, I received the final score.

Virginia triumphed by two points. All my bets, including the spread bet, money line bet, and Duke-Virginia parlay, were successful.

These two games concluded my most financially successful Vegas trip ever, after enduring three days of strenuous basketball.

After Kentucky’s surprising defeat to Saint Peter’s, I wouldn’t have bet on that result. Nonetheless, I went home with a comfortable lead and a pure euphoria that any gambler would comprehend.

Deeper conclusions

If you’re interested in learning about money management, the consequences of gambling on Twitter, or any other subject, I’m your guy. You can easily find me should you wish to have these discussions.

However, none of those are even remotely close to being the most important things here.

The last two years have undoubtedly taught us to never take anything for granted.

We called off our 2020 plans days ahead of our scheduled flight. However, the March Madness trip of 2021 turned out to be the most terrible Vegas journey I’ve ever experienced.

Casinos were eager to recoup all the money they lost in the initial year of the pandemic right away. To achieve this, they began charging for seating, became less generous with drink tickets, and completely altered the atmosphere of the city from the Vegas I had grown fond of.

Although the pandemic isn’t completely behind us, this year definitely felt more like the norm. We were able to engage in the activities we love and we had an amazing time doing them with enjoyable company.

I would like to express my gratitude to the team at the Bally’s sportsbook. They were extremely hospitable, even ensuring we had seats for each day of the tournament. The venue is about to undergo a transformation with the impending Horseshoe rebrand. I truly hope that those in charge will handle it well without losing its unique charm and the people who make the place enjoyable.

Speaking of fun …

Ever since I relocated from upstate New York to California in late-2013, my father and I have established a tradition of meeting up in Las Vegas whenever possible. These gatherings provide an excellent chance for us to spend quality time together.

He’s the one who inspired me to pursue journalism. He used to cover local high school sports events, took me along, and introduced me to a career that I immediately adored.

Every summer, he would take me to Saratoga, which led to me learning to read a racing form at a young age. The ready availability of cards and board games also played a role. My upbringing shaped me into an award-winning content creator and handicapper. The lessons he imparted significantly drove my development.

Chase happy

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

I’m not certain he is aware, but that dialogue has been occupying my thoughts frequently these days. Pursuing joy in the world of gambling isn’t a walk in the park. Triumphs often go unobserved while failures are magnified (like when one says, “I’m wagering on Kentucky no matter the spread!”).

That material takes a toll on a person. It isn’t a sign of insecurity, but instead, it’s a sign of humanity and a deep concern for one’s work.

This week, however, finding happiness was not a challenge. I had the pleasure of spending four consecutive days in Las Vegas with my father. Our time was filled with continuous basketball games, interrupted only by horse races, poker games, blackjack sessions, and mostly, delectable food. I was also fortunate to write about our experiences, hoping that the readers enjoyed my coverage.

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