There have been a few changes to Caesars Las Vegas casino sportsbooks over the past few years. Some have been upgraded while others have been removed or neglected.
One of the great differences in Las Vegas sports betting is the sportsbook experience. Las Vegas is unlike anywhere in the US with legal sports betting.
Las Vegas sportsbooks provide the most energizing experiences in sports betting. There’s little that compares to being involved in watching big football games with fans, fantasy players, and other sports bettors. The energy is unmatched anywhere else around the country with legal sports betting.
Moreover, there might not be a better summer value in Las Vegas than placing wagers on baseball games and relaxing in the air-conditioned sportsbooks while watching the games play out on TV.
Caesars has eight Las Vegas casinos. A few years ago each casino had a traditional sportsbook. That’s no longer the case. Here’s a look at the sportsbook experiences at Caesars Las Vegas casinos.
The book at The Linq wasn’t exactly a game-changer
Las Vegas sportsbooks have been changing a lot over the past five years. There are many more options than the sportsbooks with rows of seats.
Caesars tried a different sportsbook model six years ago when the company experimented with a unique concept of The Book at The Linq. This was the second iteration of a sportsbook at the property formerly known as Imperial Palace.
It replaced a traditional sportsbook where it seemed as though more people were resting from walking the Vegas Strip than watching and wagering on the games.
Instead of a traditional sportsbook with open seating, The Linq offered “Fan Caves.” These were set up with VIP couches that had servers, personal viewing screens, video game consoles, and more.
This area has since closed. Sports bettors at The Linq can use a kiosk or the sports betting counter.
Guests can watch the games at the adjacent bar and the tables with chairs. There’s also a VIP space for special events like March Madness.
The space that was once devoted to Fan Caves is now occupied by slot machines.
This concept may have been ahead of its time as a full-scale sportsbook model. The concept still exists as VIP Fan Caves.
VIP sportsbook experiences for large events work for sportsbooks and guests. However, those days make up about 10% of the calendar.
Caesars swaps sportsbooks for counters at two more casinos
In 2022, Caesars removed the sportsbook at Bally’s as part of rebranding the property as Horseshoe Las Vegas in 2023. The traditional sportsbook space was transformed into an arcade.
Horseshoe now has a sports betting counter and kiosks in the hallway that connects with Paris Las Vegas. The counter is next to Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen, where bettors can watch the games.
Earlier this year, Caesars removed the chairs from the Flamingo sportsbook. The space has a sports betting counter and slot machines. Bettors can watch the games at one of the bars inside the casino or outside at The Linq shopping promenade.
Three upgraded Caesars Sportsbooks in Las Vegas
Caesars hasn’t closed the door on traditional sportsbooks. There are still five sportsbooks in Caesars Las Vegas casinos.
Last year, Caesars renovated the sportsbook at Paris Las Vegas. The new sportsbook occupies the same space but has much better viewing scenes and a more comfortable layout.
The new Versailles Tower inside Paris used to be part of Horseshoe. The connecting bridge will easily connect Horseshoe guests to this sportsbook for those looking to watch the games where they wager.
The sportsbooks at Harrah’s and Caesars Palace have also been modernized for today’s sports fans. I spent a couple of hours at Harrah’s a few weeks ago and had a great time as usual.
The future of two Las Vegas sportsbooks is in the air
The Planet Hollywood sportsbook feels like it hasn’t been updated since opening in 2000. There’s a lot of potential for the space that includes a bar and ample restaurant seating.
There’s a lot Caesars could do with this space. The company has used a betting counter outside of the main sportsbook for large events so there’s no telling how the company will reimagine the sportsbook.
The Cromwell has a small traditional sportsbook that works nicely for the size of the property. It probably doesn’t need to be changed much, if at all.
Having said that, if there’s a better way to generate revenue with that space, Caesars will find it.
PlayUSA reached out to Caesars (NASDAQ: CZR) to see if there were plans for either sportsbook. There are no plans at this time. I expect there will be an announcement about one or both of these sportsbooks later this year.
The dirty little secret about Las Vegas sports betting revenue
Last year 73.4% of Vegas Strip casino revenue came from non-gaming amenities, according to the Nevada Gaming Abstract. This is revenue derived from hotel rooms, food and beverage, entertainment, spa treatments, etc.
Gambling generated just 26.6% of revenue for Vegas Strip casinos last year. Non-gaming revenue has outpaced gaming in these casinos for more than two decades. This isn’t much of a surprise.
What might be a surprise is how little direct revenue sports betting accounts for at these casinos. Last year sports betting generated 3% of gaming revenue for Vegas Strip casinos.
For clarity, sports betting accounts for 3% of gaming revenue – which was only 26.6% of Vegas Strip casino revenue last year.
This isn’t exactly news. Vegas Strip sportsbooks have only accounted for around 5% of gaming revenue for years.
The raw numbers don’t tell the entire story.
Sportsbooks and sports betting inside Vegas Strip casinos account for indirect revenue.
Charging for seats 20-40 days a year helps these sportsbooks chip in toward the bottom of casinos.
Sports betting generates indirect food and beverage sales for guests wagering or just watching the games daily. Unfortunately, this number isn’t available in public documents.
This is why so many new sportsbooks are multi-purpose venues nowadays. The two newest Vegas Strip casinos – Fontainebleau and Resorts World – have sportsbooks combined with a bar and restaurant.
Traditional sportsbooks on the Vegas Strip aren’t entirely gone. The Venetian’s upgraded sportsbook kept a somewhat traditional layout that opened last year.