Las Vegas Sports Betting

While sports betting was banned all across America back in 1992, Nevada got an exemption. Ever since there have been few things in life that are as much fun as Vegas sports betting. Each year, thousands of sports fans and bettors place bets in Vegas via Las Vegas sportsbooks, and there’s action at every turn.

If you’re wondering what the best Vegas sportsbooks and casinos are, as well as the legalities of Vegas sports betting, this article is here to help. I’ll be running down the top 5 Vegas sportsbooks, and I’ll be taking an in-depth look at sports betting in general. I’ll help you level-up your understanding of sports betting so that sports betting in Vegas is fun and less of a risk for you.

By the end of the article, you’ll have a better idea of which sportsbooks to sign up to, exactly how to place a sports bet, and how to grab the best bonuses and promotions.

Best 5 Sportsbooks In Las Vegas

Planet Hollywood

  • 100% match bonus when you make your first deposit
  • Intimate setting
  • Free drink ticket every time you place a $100 bet
  • Excellent seats

MGM Mirage

  • Brand spanking new VIP area
  • Prime location on the Strip
  • Free drink ticket each time you place a $500 bet

Venetian

  • Can watch 42 games at any one time
  • 118 betting stations
  • Huge screens

Caesars Palace

  • Very comfortable seats
  • Free drink each time you place a $125 bet
  • Awesome atmosphere

Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook

  • The biggest sportsbook in Nevada
  • More than 400 seats available
  • Poker room connects to the sportsbook

How Sports Betting Works In Las Vegas

Las Vegas Sports Betting Launch

Gambling is synonymous with Las Vegas, and sports gambling was launched way back in 1931 in this famous old state. In 1951, however, it was heavily regulated, with the government slapping a huge 10% tax on all bets. At this point, state casinos didn’t see the point of adding sportsbooks.

By 1974, the federal government finally relaxed its controversial sports betting tax, reducing it to a more manageable 2%. By 1983, it was cut even further, this time to just 0.25%. This was seen as a great move by Las Vegas casinos, who began opening up more sportsbooks. Ever since Las Vegas has been a mecca for sports betting fans up and down the USA.

How To Bet On Sports?

Betting on sports is a lot of fun, but it poses a more than a degree of risk if you don’t know what you’re doing. It can also be hugely daunting if you’ve never done it before.

The good news is that placing bets is easy. The first thing you need to do is choose a sportsbook. You can visit a land-based sportsbook in Vegas or sign up for an online sportsbook, such as Bovada.

Once you’ve created an account, you then need to make an initial deposit. This can be any amount you like, but it’s always a good to deposit enough money to trigger the welcome bonus.

Once you’ve triggered the welcome bonus, it’s time to take a look at the different lines, markets, and sporting events that are currently available before you place a bet. All the best sportsbooks, such as Bovada and MyBookie, offer a huge amount of lines and sporting events, so there’ll be lots for you to choose from. It’s always a smart idea to pick a sport you understand quite well.

Then, take a closer look at the current wagers available. What’s on offer? Once you’ve found a wager you like the look of (I’ll be covering the types of bets later in this article), check the betting odds. If Las Vegas odds are appealing and offer value, it’s time to enter your stake. This can be any amount you like. If you want to keep your risk low, it’s best to start with a smaller stake.

Bear in mind, though, that odds in Vegas differ from sportsbook to sportsbook. You might want to join more than one so that you can compare and contrast, with the aim being that you always get the most value.

With your stake entered, it’s time to take a deep breath – and place your bet! Now that that’s done, you can sit back and watch the action if live streaming is available.

Which Las Vegas Casinos Have a Sportsbook?

There are several Las Vegas casinos that have a sportsbook. They’re all arranged differently and offer different spaces and features. Here are the top 3:

Caesar’s Palace

Caesar’s Palace is a hotel, casino, and sportsbook. Located on Las Vegas Boulevard, it’s probably the most famous casino and sportsbook of its type in the world. It’s absolutely massive and houses a huge array of gigantic televisions where sports bettors can watch all the sporting action they’ve just wagered on.

Free drink tickets are available with sports bets worth $125+, and while the cocktail service is known to be on the slow side, there’s no doubt that the experience at Caesar’s Palace is quite literally out of this world.

Venetian

Another hotel-come-casino-come sportsbook, Venetian, is located right in the middle of the Strip. With a dazzling number of TV screens, the sportsbook can screen 42 games at any one time. This makes it ideal for sports bettors who are planning to place multiple bets at the same time, and thus need to keep up with all the action.

And with 118 betting stations, it’s hardly likely that you’re going to miss out on the opportunity to place a wager. Venetian is especially bouncing during March Madness (as you’d imagine).

Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook

One of the things the Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook does very well is food. Whether you want pizza, burgers or hotdogs to go alongside your sports wager, it’s got the lot.

It’s also got 400 seats and ginormous 4,488 sq. foot television screens. And because it was recently renovated, it now looks incredibly swanky. When the big games are on, the place is buzzing, which makes it one of my personal favorite places to go and place some sports bets in Nevada.

Las Vegas Online Sports Betting Partnerships

  • Circus-Circus and William Hill
  • Silver Legacy and William Hill
  • Downtown Grand and William Hill
  • Pizza Hotel & Casino and William Hill Alamo Casino and William Hill
  • Silver Nugget and William Hill
  • MGM Grand and playMGM Sports
  • Aria and playMGM Sports
  • Mandalay Bay and playMGM Sports
  • Monte Carlo and playMGM Sports
  • The Mirage and playMGM Sports
  • Planet Hollywood and Caesars Sportsbook
  • Paris and Caesar’s Sportsbook
  • Rio and Caesars Sportsbook
  • Boulder Station and STN Sports
  • Palace Station and Caesar’s Sportsbook
  • Red Rock Resort and Caesar’s Sportsbook
  • Treasure Island and TI Mobile Sports

What Can You Bet On Right Now In Las Vegas?

The A-Z of sports you can wager on right now is comprehensive. It includes all the big sports, such as the NFL, as well as more niche ones, such as handball.

The exact sports you can bet on depend on the sportsbook you sign up to. Sportsbooks offer different selections of sports, and the best sportsbooks – such as Bovada – offer more variety. Take a closer look at each sportsbook before you create an account so that you know for sure it’s got the sports you want.

Here is a full rundown of the sports you can wager on right now:

  • NFL
  • NHL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Motorsports
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Cricket
  • Volleyball
  • Handball
  • Netball
  • Horse racing
  • Greyhounds
  • Darts
  • Pinball

What Bets Are Available At Las Vegas Sportsbooks?

The top sportsbooks offer all different kinds of sports bets. If you’re new to sports betting, choosing a wagering option can feel overwhelming at first. Let’s take a look at the different types of bets you can place at Las Vegas sportsbooks:

  • Straight Bets – Straight bets are the most popular type of sports bet. The sportsbook sets a betting line (or point spread), and you have to then decide whether you want to back the favorite or the underdog.

If you bet on the favorite, it must win by more than the betting line. If you bet on the underdog, it needs to win either outright or lose by less than the line. If there is a tie, your bet is void.

  • Money Line – The money line bet is very similar to the straight bet, except there is no point spread. Instead, you just have to back either the favorite or the underdog to win outright. It’s the simplest type of bet you can place.

At Nevada sportsbooks, the money line bet for a favorite would look like this:

LA Lakers (+135)

At Nevada sportsbooks, the money line bet for an underdog would look like this:

Chicago Bulls (-120)

The favorite is always accompanied by a “plus” sign, and the underdog is always accompanied by a “minus” sign. Because 100 represents the stake, you will win whatever the plus amount is. For example, if you bet $10 at odds of +135, you will win $35.

  • Total Line Wagers – Total line wagers are a really fun type of bet that’s popular among sports bettors. The sportsbook decides on a combined final score for both participants in a sporting event. For example, if the Lakers are playing the Clippers, the sportsbook might decide that – combined – the two teams will score 205.

It’s then up to you to decide whether you think the real combined total points will be higher or lower. The odds for this type of bet tend to always be evens, but they adjust in real-time as the game goes along. You can place a wager before the game begins, or you can place an in-play wager.

  • Parlay – A parlay bet is when you group together 2 or more picks into a single bet. For example, you might pick the Lakers, the Bucks, and the Raptors all to win. Parlay bets are great fun because the odds adjust each time you add a new pick. And while your chances of winning are slimmer than if you were placing a money line wager, the amount you will win is much higher.

On the other hand, if just one pick fails to win, you lose the whole bet.

Taking Advantage of Bonuses and Rewards

One of the best things about sports betting is that each sportsbook rewards you with bonuses and promotions every now and then. Here are some of the most popular bonuses you should look out for:

  • Welcome bonus – The welcome bonus is usually triggered when you make the first deposit. For example, Bovada is currently offering a 50% match deposit welcome bonus. This means that if you make an initial deposit of $100, Bovada will top your account up with an extra $50. Sometimes, a sportsbook will offer a no deposit welcome bonus, which is even better
  • Free bets – Free bets are common in the world of sports betting. They’re usually small ($1), and they can only be used on specific sports. However, they’re still really exciting and completely risk-free.
  • Reload bonuses – Sometimes, a sportsbook will top your account up with free cash when you make your first, second, and third deposit. This is known as a reload bonus. And while the second and third deposit bonuses are never as big as the first, they’re still not to be missed. More rarely, a sportsbook gives you a bonus every single time you make a deposit. BetOnline currently offers this.
  • Loyalty rewards – The best sportsbooks have VIP programs (loyalty programs) that reward you with freebies, perks, and other exclusive promotions. To enter a VIP program, you just need to be a regular bettor. The more you bet, the more loyalty points you will accrue. Over time, these points can be redeemed for free bets or money.

Las Vegas Sports Betting Laws

You must be aged 21 or over to place a bet in Las Vegas. You must also only place a bet with a fully licensed sportsbook, either online or offline.

Vegas Sports Betting FAQ

Is Sports Betting Legal In Las Vegas?

Yes. Sports betting is completely legal in the state of Nevada.

When Can Las Vegas Residents Start Placing Bets?

You can start placing bets right now! All you need to do is sign up to a sportsbook, or visit a land-based sportsbook in Nevada and start placing bets.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Legally Bet In Las Vegas?

Is It Legal To Bet On Las Vegas Sports Teams?

Yes. You can bet on the Raiders, the Knights … whichever team you want.

Do I Have To Live In Las Vegas To Bet Online?

You can be a permanent resident, or you can be passing through.

Is Mobile Sports Betting Available In Las Vegas?

Yes. Many of the top sportsbooks, such as Bovada and MyBookie, offer mobile sports wagering.

Final Verdict

Vegas sports betting has always been one of the most fun things sports fans can do. Now that you know the in’s and out’s of it, as well as the best sportsbooks, the next step is to create an account at a sportsbook – and start gambling!

I recommend Bovada for its excellent sports variety and welcome bonus, but the choice is yours. Whichever site you join, just remember to gamble responsibly and stick to the sports you know.

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