Enjoying college basketball tournament betting in Las Vegas has become a popular tradition. Thousands of sports bettors travel to Nevada each March for the wall-to-wall college basketball action.
The viewing and betting experiences have changed quite a bit over the past few years. Here at Winners and Whiners, we’ll offer a guide to what to expect and how to maximize your enjoyment while participating in the annual college basketball betting extravaganza.
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Disclaimer
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Heading to the Strip? Prepare to pony up for seats
In addition to flight and hotel expenses, there’s at least one other cost you should probably plan for ahead of time. Since 2021, many Las Vegas sportsbooks have started charging fees for seats during the college basketball tournament. This is a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic era, when seats were available to anyone provided you arrived early enough to grab one.
These costs can vary wildly from one Vegas Strip casino to another. Here is a partial list of the least expensive, single-day seats available on Thursday, March 21, as of this writing:
- Westgate: $45 (single seat, no arrival time specified)
- Luxor: $175 (single seat, half-day viewing from 9 am – 3 pm or 3 pm – 9 pm)
- Mandalay Bay: $250 (single seat, arrive by 11 am)
- Planet Hollywood: $250 (single seat, arrive by 11 am)
- The Linq: $250 (single seat, late window only, arrive by 4 pm)
- Paris: $400 (single seat, arrive by 11 am)
- Harrah’s: $1,300 (booth for up to four guests, arrive by 11 am)
If you don’t see a sportsbook listed, it may be sold out. Contact that property’s sportsbook for information on any events or watch parties.
Many casinos located off the Vegas Strip, however, do not charge for seats. If you’re looking for an older-school college basketball tournament betting experience, it’s still available. You just may need to look off the beaten path a bit.
Be aware of in-person registration
If you’re coming from a state without legalized sports betting, you may want to download online sports betting apps. You can do that in Nevada, but it requires an extra, time-consuming step.
Unlike other states with legal, regulated sports betting, Nevada requires customers to register for apps and make initial deposits at retail sportsbooks. If you want to use multiple sports betting apps, that means trips to several different properties.
There are pluses and minuses to this. The convenience of having some of the best online sportsbooks in the palm of your hand is definitely attractive. However, betting through a retail sportsbook offers different perks (including drink tickets) that could prove valuable if you’re staying in one place for most of the tournament.
Other tips and tricks
It’s worth noting that some properties have removed brick-and-mortar sportsbooks entirely. The Horseshoe, formerly Bally’s, took theirs out during renovations, and Flamingo just recently removed all seats from their sportsbook, too. They still have windows and kiosks, but you won’t be able to sit down and watch games in a sportsbook environment at those properties anymore.
If you’re interested in playing table games while you’re in town, know that minimums may be higher than you’d expect. In addition, most blackjack tables on the Strip pay 6:5, as opposed to 3:2. Most lower-limit tables in that part of town that pay 3:2 are located at Treasure Island, near the middle of the Strip.
Meanwhile, if there’s a particular restaurant you want to go to, be sure to make a reservation. Many popular eateries in town take reservations through OpenTable or Yelp. In fact, some (including the highly-renowned Bacchanal buffet at Caesars Palace) are reservation-only. With the crowd that will be in town during the week, you definitely want to plan ahead.
Finally, make sure you utilize the resources at your disposal to make sound wagering decisions. Emphasize responsible gambling behavior, bet within your means, and monitor your bankroll closely. There’s nothing worse than hitting town and blowing through a budget with two days of action still to go. Bet with your head, not over it!
