1) The percentages online are nowhere close to as lopsided as the action really is. Outside of California fans, I was the only person in the Hilton auditorium who had a California ticket. Similar for the Purdue game. I was the only person who didn't have an affiliation with Purdue to hold Purdue -4. Percentages showed 1 bet on Cal for 2 on Louisville, it was closer to 20-1.
2) M Resort and Hilton know what they're doing. Their numbers mirrored offshore and presented very little +EV opportunities. The only 2 +EV opportunities I saw at the Hilton were Texas A&M -2 and Tennessee -3, both numbers that moved.
3) No one else really has a clue what they're doing. Golden Nugget, Venetian, Harrah's group, Stations group, all these books had extra half points/points on the sharp sides. It was like betting at Sports Interaction or Bodog again. OK not that bad, something like WSEX without waiting months for a payout. The numbers were very bad.
4) If you want to make it as a pro, you have to be there. The offshore books clone everything. There's very little variation in lines. Only 2 books in Vegas (M Resort and Hilton) actually reflect offshore numbers while everyone else gives you the point on the dog. I had a 5 point middle on a CBB total in an CIT game. You will NEVER find that offshore where it's all within 2-3 points of each other at the MOST.
5) The typical bettor places $10/$20 wagers. I thought I didn't bet much when I laid $250-$500 wagers on games. I only had a bankroll that was big enough for that. Apparently in Vegas that's enough to be treated like a king. I had (and still have) tons of drink tickets at the Venetian for betting the amounts I was (BTW if anyone knows of a comp program for betting let me know, although then again I like the anonymity). At the Hilton, there was a line where I could walk up to the window and place the wager (although I never did this since their numbers were sharp) while everyone else waited 30 minutes.
6) Location is the key to everything. I keep saying to myself "I'm not going to walk as much this time" and still end up traveling for half my trip running for the numbers. Next time I will be staying at the Flamingo. They have horrible numbers (Harrah's) and are across the street from Caesars, and a $3 monorail ride from the Hilton (great sportsbook atmospheres). Also they have an awesome pool. And they're close to cheap eats (Bill's Gambling Hall and Ellis Island).
7) I don't like fat people. Sat next to a 450 pound gentleman on my flight home. Not pleasant. I'm glad people were staring at him. Was talking about how he couldn't wait to get back to IOWA. LOL!
8) Found that generally no one has a clue in Vegas. I asked several people who they liked and what their reasoning was. It's as if these people watch ESPN and think they can win at this. They don't understand the industry at all. Anything ESPN says they'll bet on. It's stunning. I didn't find one person who seemed to have a clue in a sportsbook. Yes, I knew there was a gigantic ratio of people who "get it" and those who don't, but I didn't know it was well over 99-1. And that's honestly the truth.
9) Once again, whenever a sportsbook says "we don't want you to do this", DO IT!!! It usually means it's profitable. I walked into Caesars and was greeted with a big "NO ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN THE SPORTSBOOK" sign. Why? Because they don't want tools like me to sit in their book with Pinnacle up ripping apart their weak numbers. The correct way to bet is to bet the way the book doesn't want you to. If you haven't been told by a book "Sorry, we don't want you betting this", change the way you are betting. Because you're not doing it right and if you claim to be winning, you're lucky.
10) I'm amazed at how I am on the book's side every single time. There wasn't a team I was rooting for that the book didn't have completely lopsided square action on the other side.
I know dozens of you guys were in Vegas. What were your experiences like? BTW Fremont Street was fantastic. Light show was killer. Had no idea there would be so many young people there. St Patty's Day was great. I would totally stay at the Nugget, great atmosphere, great numbers! Never staying at an MGM property again.
2) M Resort and Hilton know what they're doing. Their numbers mirrored offshore and presented very little +EV opportunities. The only 2 +EV opportunities I saw at the Hilton were Texas A&M -2 and Tennessee -3, both numbers that moved.
3) No one else really has a clue what they're doing. Golden Nugget, Venetian, Harrah's group, Stations group, all these books had extra half points/points on the sharp sides. It was like betting at Sports Interaction or Bodog again. OK not that bad, something like WSEX without waiting months for a payout. The numbers were very bad.
4) If you want to make it as a pro, you have to be there. The offshore books clone everything. There's very little variation in lines. Only 2 books in Vegas (M Resort and Hilton) actually reflect offshore numbers while everyone else gives you the point on the dog. I had a 5 point middle on a CBB total in an CIT game. You will NEVER find that offshore where it's all within 2-3 points of each other at the MOST.
5) The typical bettor places $10/$20 wagers. I thought I didn't bet much when I laid $250-$500 wagers on games. I only had a bankroll that was big enough for that. Apparently in Vegas that's enough to be treated like a king. I had (and still have) tons of drink tickets at the Venetian for betting the amounts I was (BTW if anyone knows of a comp program for betting let me know, although then again I like the anonymity). At the Hilton, there was a line where I could walk up to the window and place the wager (although I never did this since their numbers were sharp) while everyone else waited 30 minutes.
6) Location is the key to everything. I keep saying to myself "I'm not going to walk as much this time" and still end up traveling for half my trip running for the numbers. Next time I will be staying at the Flamingo. They have horrible numbers (Harrah's) and are across the street from Caesars, and a $3 monorail ride from the Hilton (great sportsbook atmospheres). Also they have an awesome pool. And they're close to cheap eats (Bill's Gambling Hall and Ellis Island).
7) I don't like fat people. Sat next to a 450 pound gentleman on my flight home. Not pleasant. I'm glad people were staring at him. Was talking about how he couldn't wait to get back to IOWA. LOL!
8) Found that generally no one has a clue in Vegas. I asked several people who they liked and what their reasoning was. It's as if these people watch ESPN and think they can win at this. They don't understand the industry at all. Anything ESPN says they'll bet on. It's stunning. I didn't find one person who seemed to have a clue in a sportsbook. Yes, I knew there was a gigantic ratio of people who "get it" and those who don't, but I didn't know it was well over 99-1. And that's honestly the truth.
9) Once again, whenever a sportsbook says "we don't want you to do this", DO IT!!! It usually means it's profitable. I walked into Caesars and was greeted with a big "NO ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN THE SPORTSBOOK" sign. Why? Because they don't want tools like me to sit in their book with Pinnacle up ripping apart their weak numbers. The correct way to bet is to bet the way the book doesn't want you to. If you haven't been told by a book "Sorry, we don't want you betting this", change the way you are betting. Because you're not doing it right and if you claim to be winning, you're lucky.
10) I'm amazed at how I am on the book's side every single time. There wasn't a team I was rooting for that the book didn't have completely lopsided square action on the other side.
I know dozens of you guys were in Vegas. What were your experiences like? BTW Fremont Street was fantastic. Light show was killer. Had no idea there would be so many young people there. St Patty's Day was great. I would totally stay at the Nugget, great atmosphere, great numbers! Never staying at an MGM property again.
