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Columnist Jeff Haney: 'Sports Loop' Features Home PC-Based Betting

12 July 2001

Let's get this straight: We are not talking online sports betting here.

That's not permitted in Nevada. Yet.

But while state gaming regulators grapple with the implications of an Internet wagering bill approved in Carson City during the recently concluded legislative session, Las Vegas-area gamblers can, in fact, bet sports from their home computers.

Coast Resorts' "sports loop" system allows local residents to bet into the Coast sports books' wagering line from home PCs.

Creators of the sports loop system -- which is unique among Las Vegas sports books -- go out of their way to eliminate any mix-ups or misconceptions with this message, displayed prominently on the betting screen: "This is a closed-loop system, not the Internet."

OK. Got it. Now that we have that out of the way, the following are among the benefits of the sports loop system:

  • If you have stayed up half the night Saturday -- probably working hard adjusting your NFL power ratings -- it's easy to roll out of bed and bet the early East Coast baseball games without leaving the house.

    Of course, you can do this with a phone account, too. But sports loop users do not have to ask a clerk for a rundown of the day's lines -- instead, upon logging on they are greeted by a complete betting menu that includes odds on sides, totals and run lines, along with an option to "list" starting pitchers in baseball.

  • The loop system's software is simple to install and convenient to use. The program tracks all bets and their outcomes, and gives customers the option of printing pages to keep for their hard-copy records.

  • Account activity, including all of the previous day's action, is updated by 8 a.m. daily.

  • Account deposits and withdrawals are made in cash at a local establishment. (Unlike in some other forms of computer sports betting, no wire transfers to Belize are involved.)

  • Parlays, teasers, money lines and halftime wagers are permitted.

  • Small minimum deposits ($100) and minimum wagers ($5) appeal to recreational bettors.

    The following are among the sports loop's drawbacks -- or at least aspects of the system to be aware of before getting involved:

  • As with Nevada sports book telephone accounts, bettors are limited to a total of $2,200 in wagers per day.

  • Accordingly, some of the sports loop's betting limits appear a bit low. Bettors are limited to $110 on baseball totals, for instance (man, they're not that easy to beat), $110 on hockey totals, and $100 on NBA, college basketball and college football totals.

    A sampling of other limits: $550 on NFL sides, $500 on NFL parlays, $220 on NFL totals, $200 on NFL teasers, $330 on college football sides, NBA sides, baseball sides and hockey sides, $220 on college basketball sides.

    While these figures are fine for casual bettors, clearly no wise guys are going to beat anyone's brains in betting on the loop system.

  • Future-book wagering is not available.

  • Although Coast Resorts sports books hang overnight lines for the next day's games, overnight wagering is not available on the loop system.

  • The software is not compatible with cable or DSL modems; a standard dial-up modem connected to a standard phone line must be used.

    Bettors can sign up for sports loop wagering at the Suncoast, Gold Coast, Orleans or Barbary Coast.

  • BRITISH OPEN: In golf's last major tournament, Retief Goosen outlasted Mark Brooks in a playoff round to win the U.S. Open -- although both players were part of the "field" (all others) in Las Vegas sports books.

    Goosen and Brooks have been rewarded with their own individual betting odds for next week's British Open (July 19-22). Brooks is a 125-1 long shot and Goosen is listed at 75-1, with Tiger Woods a 7-4 favorite to win the event, according to the Regent sports book.

    "I would have put Goosen up individually anyway (in the British Open odds), because I take his European tournament results into account as well," said Jeff Sherman, sports book supervisor at the Regent. "I didn't decide to take Brooks out of the field until he made the playoff at the U.S. Open."

  • PEPSI 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. went off at odds of between 6-1 and 10-1 before his stirring -- and, in some quarters, controversial -- victory in the NASCAR Winston Cup Pepsi 400 Saturday. ...

    Despite some wet conditions at Daytona International in the days leading up to the race, there were only three cautions, making winners of those who bet the "under" 3 1/2 in a proposition posted at Station Casinos sports books.

  • ALL-STAR GAME: In a marquee individual matchup from Tuesday night's All-Star game, Ichiro Suzuki and Luis Gonzalez "battled" to a draw in a proposition that asked which of the two would have more runs, hits and RBIs combined. At the Regent sports book, Suzuki was minus 140 and Gonzalez was plus 110. Each man finished with one hit but no runs or RBIs. ...

    Gonzalez, who won the All-Star home run derby Monday night, was a 9-2 shot to win the event, according to odds at Mirage properties. Bettors who played the "field" at 2-1, which included Jason Giambi, suffered a bad beat of sorts as Giambi had a record-breaking first round but could not keep up the pace in later rounds.

  • UNIQUE PROPS: Antigua-based Intertops.com has posted odds on which team Eric Lindros will play for next hockey season. The Maple Leafs are a 2-1 favorite, followed by the Rangers (3-1), the field, or all other teams (4-1), Red Wings (5-1), won't return (5-1), Blues (6-1), Capitals (6-1) and Flyers (10-1). ...

    Also on the board at Intertops is a prop asking how rap star Eminem will serve his community service sentence. Among the choices are a charity concert (3-2), rapping in hospitals (3-1), teaching kids to rap (4-1) and "sweeping the highway" (50-1).

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