In the United States, the only real place to bet on all sports legally is in Las Vegas. This means that many people want to have a great sports betting experience while they’re in the city, and seek out the best sportsbooks in order to catch a game while laying a few (or more than a few) dollars on the action.
There are two different ways to think about what makes a good sportsbook. On the gambling side, you’ll want a room that has good odds (i.e., a low “vig”), a wide variety of bets, and perhaps one that sets their lines independently – that way, they might have different offerings than the book next door, which could open up some interesting opportunities to lock in profits by betting on different sides at different books. When it comes to the room itself, you’ll want to be able to be comfortable when you’re watching the game, so a place with a lot of seats and plenty of televisions is always nice – especially when each seat comes with its own private TV!
Nearly every casino in Las Vegas has a sportsbook of some sort, but some are a lot better than others. Here’s our take on the best Las Vegas sportsbooks!
Las Vegas Hilton Sportsbook
The Hilton has a huge sportsbook, one that features over 50 different televisions. They’ll need them all, since they have around 300 seats, meaning a huge number of people can fit in here when it’s time for the Super Bowl or other large sporting events. A large section of the room is devoted to horseracing; around 200 of the seats have their own individual televisions just for watching races. For pure size, it’s hard to beat this massive room.
Palazzo Sportsbook
The sportsbook here – known as Lagasse’s Stadium – isn’t quite as large as the Hilton’s entry, but it’s extremely comfortable and has a lot of extra perks. For instance, there’s a sports bar located right in the room, and you can even bet from other locations using handheld devices. There are over 150 seats in total, with a lot of small televisions for viewing. One of the biggest attractions is the stadium seating around the largest television in the room, where 75 seats provide ample viewing opportunities for big games.
Bally’s Sportsbook
While it’s a little older than some of the mega-books that can now be found on the Strip, Bally’s is still one of the greatest sportsbooks around, and is a great place to catch a game – especially with friends. The room is really geared towards socializing, thanks to the bar and the large number of televisions spread around the room. There’s even a special VIP area for big gamblers if you’re looking for a swankier sportsbook experience.
Mandalay Bay Sportsbook
The sportsbook here is huge, with well over 300 seats in total, though the number of television sets is a little low for the number of people who can fit in here. However, the layout is perfect for watching a game; no matter where you’re sitting, you’ll be able to have a clear view of the action (though the seats aren’t all that comfortable). You can also get food right in the room (mostly sandwiches), which is always a big plus if you want to stay in the room for an entire game without losing your seat.
Red Rock Casino
While most of the best sportsbooks in Vegas are on the Strip, we wanted to highlight at least one excellent off-Strip book for those who want to get away from the touristy parts of the city. The Red Rock Resort is a popular hang-out for local sports fans, thanks to the fact that the room is clean, big, and has huge televisions for watching big games. There’s a nice café/deli that serves excellent snacks, and a separate VIP window for big spenders. This often overlooked book definitely deserves your attention if you want to get away from the Strip and still make some bets on sports or horseracing.
Honorable Mentions
Sure, most of the best sportsbooks in Vegas are on the Strip, but there are plenty of excellent options for sports and horseracing bettors all around the city. Here are some more great spots for betting on sports while you’re in Las Vegas:
The Strip
- Aria
- Bellagio
- Caesars Palace
- Mirage
- Wynn
Downtown Casinos
- Fremont
- Golden Nugget
- Plaza
Off-Strip Casinos
- Hard Rock Hotel
- The Palms
- The Rio
