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Las Vegas Ready for Final Four Bets

”Sports books are in the middle of what's arguably their biggest betting season as the single-elimination tournament prepares for this weekend's Final Four.

”Fans make their way to Las Vegas throughout March, crowding sports books and hotel rooms and filling trash cans with losing betting slips.

”…Unlike the biggest sports betting event of the year - the Super Bowl - the NCAA tournament is spread over three weekends, meaning more hotel rooms, meals and drinks, oddsmakers and hotel-casino operators said.

”`Overall, it's not bigger as far as the handle as the Super Bowl, but it's bigger as far as the volume of people and days and excitement,’ said John Avello, race and sports book director for Bally's and Paris Las Vegas hotel-casinos. Handle is the total amount bet.

”Avello said that betting interest seems to grow every year.

”…Neither state gambling regulators nor Las Vegas tourism officials calculate how much is bet on the games or the tournament's nongambling economic benefit for the city. By comparison, Nevada sports books saw more than $71 million in betting action on the Super Bowl.

”`March is certainly one of the city's strongest months for a combination of reasons,’ said Kevin Bagger, a senior researcher for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. `The weather is outstanding, there's the Winston Cup NASCAR event and March Madness.’

”Casino sports books use beer specials and a variety of proposition bets as well as special parties to lure bettors. Avello said collegiate basketball fans filled the 1,100-seat Paris showroom to catch the 65-team tournament opener.

”…The NCAA tournament continues to be a great event for Las Vegas, Avello said.

”`If you can't make it to the games themselves, this is the place you should be.’

”A college betting ban proposal backed by the NCAA pending in Congress could change all that.

”`It would probably make people bet more on pro sports, because they're not going to stop betting,’ said Andy DeLuca, sports book manager for the Sahara hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

”…Nevada sports books take in about $2 billion annually, and college games account for about a third of the wagers, compared with $380 billion in illegal sport betting, according to state Gaming Control Board figures…”

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