Building the Perfect Las Vegas Sportsbook

Building the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook isn’t as simple as it sounds. There isn’t just one type of casino, and visitors come from around the world with different preferences.

There’s no single perfect sportsbook for 40 million+ visitors to Sin City each year. That said, the very best all have a few things in common that create an experience unlike anywhere else.

Even though sports betting is legal throughout most of North America, there aren’t many great venues to watch the wagers. Sportsbooks elsewhere are, at best, smaller versions of those in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, most are just newer takes on local sports bars with a few kiosks added. There are no sports betting venues on par with the best in Las Vegas.

In building the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook, casino operators should consider two different types of guests. First, they should honor serious sports bettors with fair odds and limits. Second, they have to create a space for tourists who just want to watch the games and be part of the incredible atmosphere that forms when fans and gamblers collide.

We’re going to craft the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook, starting with the average visitor and working up to the serious sports bettor. Surprisingly, it’s not too difficult to satisfy both with a single venue.

🎰 Size and location

The perfect Las Vegas sportsbook should be large, non-smoking, and open to the casino floor. While online sports betting is always fun, there’s nothing like watching and wagering on games while surrounded by a swarm of people with the same passion.

This energy is what makes the first weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas so popular. Between food, beverages, and betting on the matchups, there’s plenty of money riding on the first 48 games of the college basketball tournament.

The sport is so beloved, and the Vegas experience is so intoxicating that it invites die-hard fans to watch their favorite teams in the sportsbooks. This adds to the great vibes.

A sportsbook that opens to the casino floor invites passersby to join in on the fun, too. The more the merrier.

This isn’t a groundbreaking concept. For years, Las Vegas casinos have made a name for themselves by being home to massive sportsbooks.

The Stardust paved the way for Caesars Palace, which led to The Mirage, then the Hilton (now Westgate), and most recently, Circa. Even the large suburban sportsbooks at Red Rock, Suncoast, Durango, and more are great places to watch the games.

👀 Easy on the eyes

All Las Vegas sportsbooks should have crisp video screens for fans. Everyone deserves a clear view of the action.

There’s not much more depressing than walking into a sportsbook and seeing video technology from the 1900s. Since the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook will be huge, it should have a massive video wall to match.

Nothing less than 120 feet wide will do!

The large screen serves two purposes. First, it should be easy on the eyes of sports bettors sitting and watching the games. Second, it should be big enough for guests nearby on the casino floor to see what’s happening without stepping inside the sportsbook. It will act as a calling card for sports fans and potential bettors.

The perfect Las Vegas sportsbook is inclusive and should appeal to serious bettors as well as casual fans who might place a wager just to get in on the fun.

A large video wall in a sportsbook is more than just a giant TV. It should be a flexible display that can show multiple games in different sizes depending on the crowd.

There should also be a large, easy-to-read odds board integrated into the video wall. Guests shouldn’t have to squint to find the line on a game.

The sportsbook should also have a live score ticker with odds running throughout both the inside and outside of the space. Everyone should be able to see scores and upcoming games, whether they’re watching or just walking by.

There should be a dedicated person on duty to operate the video wall during busy days to ensure there’s never a dead spot. It feels like a waste of time and space when a sportsbook doesn’t immediately switch to a live game as soon as there’s room.

Technology changes quickly, so the best sportsbooks should update their video walls every two or three years. This is an investment in delivering the best experience for customers through top sportsbook features.

🛋 Seating and comfort

Seating has surprisingly been one of the most controversial topics about Las Vegas sportsbooks over the past decade. That’s understandable, as both business and customer preferences change.

Sportsbooks can be wide or tall. Both can serve the same purpose of offering unobstructed views.

However, the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook will be on a single level to make food and drink service easier since there’s no walking up and down stairs. Not only is this useful for guests but it should generate more revenue, which increases the odds of a casino operator taking on such a project.

While a tall sportsbook allows for stadium-style seating, a wide sportsbook can also offer seats with minimal obstructed views. The betting window should be located off to the side or at the back of the space away from the main video wall.

There should be a variety of seating options, ranging from individual chairs to couches or booths for groups. Seats need to be luxurious, clean, and comfortable, with a wide range of choices such as recliners and lounge chairs. For those who have ever played at online casinos, you know comfort is key, whether you're betting from bed or from your couch. 

Ample open seating should be available alongside VIP options for everyday guests. Different types of individual chairs can be placed around the sportsbook based on demand. Additionally, booths with tables should accommodate groups both large and small who want to eat and drink while watching the games.

Since this is the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook, demand will be high, and there’s no reason to place a group of four at a table for eight. Maximizing revenue will keep an operator interested in keeping the space as good as can be.

There’s a segment of visitors who remember when Las Vegas sportsbook seats were open and free for all guests. They don’t mind waking up at the crack of dawn to get a seat for games that may not start for hours.

Some guests prefer paying to reserve a seat so they can sleep or enjoy other activities during their only trip to Las Vegas that year. 

There should be seating options for everyone, with a portion always reserved for open seating. The visitors seeking free seats often help create the amazing Las Vegas sportsbook vibe.

If the seating is comfortable and attractive, it will be easier to charge a reservation fee during busy games like the Super Bowl. The perfect Las Vegas sportsbook has to generate revenue so it can stay open for dedicated sports bettors.

Casino culture usually means high rollers are treated like they spend more money than the average guest, obviously. Give them a special area to sit, and allow some seats to be available for guests willing to pay. Casinos are businesses after all. Let the casuals pay for our everyday experience.

🍕 Food and beverage

The perfect Las Vegas sportsbook will make sure guests don’t have to go far for food or drinks. On busy days, guests should have the option for food and drink delivery so they don’t miss a minute of the action.

There will be an attached restaurant that overlooks the sportsbook and offers unobstructed views of the games. While guests can watch the games from the restaurant, to-go orders can be delivered to seats inside the sportsbook.

Since this is a non-smoking sportsbook, the restaurant will have an outdoor bar area. This will give smokers a place to keep an eye on the games while grabbing drinks and playing bartop machines outside.

Additionally, the sportsbook should be included in the casino’s cocktail waitresses’ regular rounds.

Like some of the best Las Vegas sportsbooks today, there will be a bar behind the main seating area. This would give fans and bettors another place to eat, drink, and gamble beyond the games.

Over the past decade, Las Vegas casinos have made it nearly impossible for the average bettor to get a complimentary drink ticket with their wagers. Some sportsbooks today require as much as a $500 wager for a single overpriced well drink or domestic bottle.

It’s a ridiculous policy since drinks are complimentary for other gamblers playing slots or exciting table games.

This sportsbook will offer complimentary drink tickets for both in-person and mobile wagers. Retail sportsbooks looking to draw mobile bettors into the physical space should seriously consider finding a way to do this as soon as possible.

🏈 The betting experience

It should go without saying that the perfect Las Vegas sportsbook will have fair odds. In addition to fair odds, bettors of all sizes should be welcomed.

Limits ranging from $5 to infinity should be available so everyone has a chance to wager an amount that fits their budget. This should apply to both mobile players on sports betting apps and in-person wagering.

If the in-person sportsbook experience is nice, there will be plenty of guests filling the seats during big games. This sportsbook is about creating a great experience for everyone.

Since food and beverages will be easily available, the operator should see an increase in revenue. The space should generate three streams of income: gambling, food, and beverages.

There should also be room for non-sports gambling with a view of the action. The bar in the back should have multi-game machines such as video poker, keno, and slots, along with an unobstructed view of the video wall.

The bar should be large enough so that seats with machines that are “reserved for players” shouldn't discourage the average bettor from stopping in. There should also be a space with a view that is free of machines, allowing everyone to enjoy the atmosphere.

Since we’re building a massive sportsbook, there should be room for electronic or live dealer table games for guests who want to play blackjack, craps, roulette, and more while keeping an eye on the big screens.

Poker generates less revenue for casinos than sportsbooks, but players love watching and wagering on the games. This sportsbook should have an attached poker room with a view of the video wall.

Technology is important, so there will be plenty of kiosks surrounding the sportsbook and throughout the casino. They shouldn’t impede those who prefer placing wagers with humans, but they should be easily accessible for the growing number of people who would rather place their own bets.