Get Used To Paying To Reserve A Seat At Sportsbooks On The Vegas Strip

If you’re planning a trip to a Vegas Strip casino and want to place a bet and watch football games in the sportsbook, be prepared to pay for your seat. The idea of Las Vegas casinos charging for seat reservations in a sportsbook isn’t a completely novel concept.

Finding free seating in sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip is increasingly difficult, though not every chair at all casinos comes with a fee.

Every year, there are fewer complimentary general admission seats available. This issue is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the rising prices and the growing number of casinos that are charging to reserve a sportsbook seat.

The habit of sportsbooks charging reservation fees originated from Vegas Strip casinos reserving seats for high-demand events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness.

Almost every casino on the Vegas Strip now charges a fee for reserving seats, especially on days when there’s a football game. As the football season is upon us, it’s time to start planning for the ultimate Las Vegas sportsbook experience.

Sportsbook seat reservation prices and policies

All casino operators have different policies for sportsbook seat reservations. At times, a reserved seat in a sportsbook simply means securing a spot to view the games. Some reservations also include food and/or drinks. In some cases, the cost of a seat is a minimum expenditure for any food or drinks consumed within the sportsbook.

The cost of reserving a seat in a sportsbook might also be influenced by the principles of supply and demand. Therefore, the prices could vary depending on the games being broadcasted on TV. Further adding to the complexity, prices and policies can differ even among casinos owned by the same entity. Casino operators such as MGM Resorts and Caesars offer varying sportsbook options in each of their casinos located on the Vegas Strip.

Finally, prices may vary based on the day and any televised football games. It is important for guests to ensure they reserve the correct time slot. Some seating reservations may be made for the whole day.

Reservations at a sportsbook might be restricted to specific segments of games. For instance, a reservation might only cater to the 10 am or 1 pm games, rather than both.

That being said, here are some instances of sportsbook seat reservation policies on the Vegas Strip from the day this piece was authored.

Caesars Entertainment

At Caesars Palace, the price for a single front-row NFL Sunday seat is $161.87, inclusive of three beers, while a couch for three costs $1,998.15, with unlimited drinks included. Prices vary across all Caesars casinos in Las Vegas. Detailed information can be found on each casino’s website.

Cosmopolitan

All seats must be reserved and come with a fee of either $400 or $600 for two, with an additional 20% tip included in the bill. You can make reservations through our website.

MGM Resorts

The Mirage sportsbook provides limited complimentary general admission seating. However, there is a charge for reserving seats and couches. The fee for the latter is applied towards a minimum spend on food and beverages. For specific availability, please contact each MGM Resorts casino.

Wynn Las Vegas

Complimentary general admission seating is available. However, a fee is applicable for reserving Luxury Box seats and couches. Reservations can be made in person or over the phone during the operational hours of Charlie’s Bar and Grill.

Outside the sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip, bars and restaurants may also necessitate a reservation. Similar to sportsbooks, regulations can vary even within the same casino. It’s important to inquire about minimum spend obligations and reservations’ time frames.

Sportsbook reservations off the Vegas Strip

Most sportsbooks outside the Vegas Strip only provide free general admission seating. However, reserved seating is available at two of the largest and finest sportsbooks.

The Westgate SuperBook provides free seating for individuals and premium seating for groups. Similarly, the sportsbook at Circa offers a restricted number of general admission seats and reserved seats for both individuals and groups.

Sports enthusiasts and bettors also have the opportunity to watch the games outdoors at Circa, specifically on the rooftop Stadium Swim pool deck. Please note that an admission fee applies to everyone at Stadium Swim. Daybeds and cabanas are available for reservation too.

Don’t anticipate the practice of charging for sportsbook seats to spread to all casinos not situated on the strip. Unparalleled sportsbooks are provided by the Westgate and Circa, incomparable to anything else in Las Vegas or anywhere else in the nation.

Why are there sportsbook reservation fees?

Sportsbooks in Las Vegas didn’t always serve as revenue generators. They were originally considered an amenity to keep guests within the casinos. Often, gamblers would visit the sportsbooks when they wanted to take a break from table games such as blackjack.

Over 20 years ago, gambling was Las Vegas’s primary source of revenue. However, changes began to occur in casinos after 1999, when the income from non-gaming activities surpassed that of gambling for the first time. Nowadays, non-gaming revenue is expected to account for 60% to 70% of the total revenue for casinos on the Vegas Strip.

Casino operators began exploring alternative methods of revenue generation that don’t necessarily rely on gambling. Sportsbooks in Las Vegas, which are a low-profit business for casino operators, only yield about a 6% win rate according to the UNLV Center For Gaming Research.

For the past twenty years, operators of casinos on the Vegas Strip have been exploring ways to boost revenue from retail sportsbooks within their establishments.

Vegas Strip sportsbooks begin charging reservation fees

Several sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip underwent renovations and remodeling to boost food and beverage sales. However, not all of these sportsbooks have distinct layouts, with some featuring identical arrangements. Irrespective of the layout, the majority of sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip require at least some customers to reserve and pay for a seat during peak days.

Casinos are essentially profit-making establishments. Normally, if an amenity within a casino is not profitable, it is substituted with one that is. About ten years ago, sportsbooks were experiencing a decline. However, this is no longer the situation.

These venues have now become valuable real estate due to the expansion of sports betting across the country. These retail sportsbooks can be a source of revenue for casinos. Additionally, they may also function as a platform for advertising national sportsbook brands such as BetMGM or Caesars Sports.

Simply put, if customers didn’t agree to pay the fees, the casinos wouldn’t impose them. That’s the final word — and it’s not because Stone Cold declared it.

Despite sports betting being legal in half of the country, the Las Vegas sportsbook experience is truly incomparable.

Why are people paying to reserve sportsbook seats?

Not everyone is inclined to pay for reserving a seat at a sportsbook. However, several reasons exist as to why individuals are prepared to pay for a guaranteed seat in Las Vegas sportsbooks.

Convenience

Booking a seat ensures that a guest will have a spot at the sportsbook regardless of their arrival time. While general admission seats are often offered free of charge, they’re subject to availability and operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. Therefore, anyone eyeing these free seats should aim to arrive at the sportsbook at least an hour before the game begins.

Plenty of Las Vegas visitors prefer to use their time eating, sleeping, or gambling rather than waiting in a sportsbook for an hour or more for the games to begin.

Complimentary open seating options are still available on the Vegas Strip, and many properties off the strip offer the same.

Fear of missing out

The phenomenon known as the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is certainly a reality, particularly in Las Vegas. When you reserve a seat at a Las Vegas sportsbook, you’re guaranteed a spot to enjoy the games. This ensures that you won’t miss out on any of the exhilarating highs and devastating lows that are part of the Las Vegas Sportsbook experience.

Experiencing the communal interactions within a Las Vegas sportsbook is distinct from watching the games in any other location. The unique energy amongst bettors, fantasy players, and fans present in the sportsbooks cannot be duplicated at a neighborhood sports bar.

Even though some people may not want to pay for a seat to watch the games at home, the fear of missing out on the Las Vegas sportsbook experience makes it worth the expense for certain visitors.

Location, location, location

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority states that in 2019, almost 75% of Las Vegas visitors lodged at a hotel on the Vegas Strip. Most casino-goers tend to gamble in the vicinity of their accommodations.

Indeed, casinos throughout Las Vegas offer free sportsbook seats. However, most visitors don’t allocate time for travel to these casinos, preferring to maximize their enjoyment of the city’s offerings. Typically, visitors in town for a couple of days don’t plan on venturing beyond the strip.

On the bright side, this opens up free general admission seats for those who are willing to travel.

VEGAS, BABY!

Welcome to Vegas, Baby! As a fantastic holiday hotspot, Las Vegas offers numerous unique experiences found “Only in Vegas”. The top-rated sportsbooks in Las Vegas serve as a haven for sports enthusiasts, offering exclusive events not found anywhere else.

Special moments can occur at any time in a Las Vegas sportsbook game. Some individuals are prepared to pay to secure a seat, ensuring they don’t miss out. Refer to the above FOMO section for more details.

Furthermore, visitors to Las Vegas are keen to form their own unique experiences. For some, this may involve a group of gamblers pooling resources to book a couch or VIP booth in a sportsbook. Casino operators are always striving to devise ways in which sports bettors can discover or create their own distinctive “Only In Vegas” moments.