(We’ll wait for you to find a paper bag to breathe into. Go ahead…)
The reaction to this announcement by Hustler Club has been met with lots of jubilance as you’d imagine. Strip clubs in Las Vegas already cater to locals by showing football games and offering drink and lap dance specials for standalone games like Monday, Thursday and Sunday Night Football. Why wouldn’t they want to incorporate a business to take a share of any gambling revenue that may happen?
If the sportsbook is approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Hustler Club plans to offer straight bets, parlay cards and complimentary lap dances. Complimentary lap dances would be based on points earned from wagers made and the use of handheld devices so customers can make bets while receiving said lap dances. Free lap dances from sports bets sounds better than getting a complimentary cup of coffee from some of the local casino loyalty clubs.
Hustler Club insists that this isn’t a publicity stunt. They’ve gone so far to say that they will have dancers wear pasties, so they’re not actually topless, in order to have the sportsbook. Even though this isn't a publicity stunt Hustler says that their lawyers will take this case to the Supreme Court if they have to.
Regardless of the legitimacy of Hustler’s proposal, it’s not likely that this concept will be approved. The casino operators are powerful politically in Las Vegas. Last year they felt that sports betting kiosks in bars from William Hill and CG Technology were impeding on their business. They brought their concerns to the proper authorities and the kiosks were banned. If other non-casino environments are allowed to have a book, you can rest assured that the casino operators will make it an issue.
Even though this is a fun concept it’s not really necessary. About one third of sports wagers with William Hill and Station Casinos are made online via mobile phone, tablet or computer. CG Technology says that they’re receiving about 60 percent of their wagers via mobile. The locals market is embracing mobile sports wagering. Besides getting a lap dance, what’s to stop anyone from using their mobile phone to place bets at a strip club?
Bottom line with the Hustler Club sportsbook. It was proposed. There’s no timetable for approval. There is no sportsbook operator. My personal opinion is that it won’t happen, even though there's no reason that it shouldn't.
