Note: READ STORY HERE
Horrible news.
This is a disaster for all sports bettors.
While I’ve had my issues and criticisms with the Westgate sportsbook operations (previously the Hilton Superbook) over the years, nevertheless, for several decades it’s been one of the landmarks of sports wagering. For quite a while they were the epicenter of the world when it came to sports handicapping. If nothing else, they run a fair book and are very friendly with contests with no takeout and have a number of attractive perks that make me want to give them my action. Half-priced vig for football Thursday afternoons. Attractive prop numbers. Special events and attractions. Parking just a few steps away. Excellent online betting app. I know most serious sports gamblers feel the same way.
Caesars Entertainment, which I worked for as a contractor and consultant for over a decade, is an appalling company for consumers and customers looking for any kind of value. They are about as anti-gambler and anti-consumer as anything that exists in the gambling and resort industry, today. And–that’s really saying something considering the greed factor where they charge you $50 bucks to park a car on some weekends.
The sportsbook operation run by Caesars is well known industry-wide and throughout Las Vegas as a magnet for suckers. It’s a book for losers. The quickest way to know if someone’s a loser is if they have an active Caesars betting account. Many gamblers who have won money betting sports have been banned, or had their access severely reduced. The vig prices are a joke. And don’t even think about placing a futures bet, unless you like getting screwed with numbers that are almost as bad as keno. The idea that Caesars is going to bring their corporate numbers-driven, bean-counting, impersonal ad-bombardment mentality to one of the legendary former hangouts in sports gambling is an absolute travesty. I feel sorry for all of us gamblers–and I feel even worse for the employees. They’re the ones who will suffer. Caesars is known for “the squeeze.” As in, squeeze them for every nickel. Odds and customers and employees alike.
This is terrible news for anyone who enjoys casual sports betting all the way up to seasoned semi- and professional bettors who are discovering that the odds aren’t just stacked against us, they’re squeezing every bit of edge and fun and science out of sports betting and handicapping.
I’m devastated by this. A very sad day.