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In this post, I will explain why Las Vegas sportsbooks have evolved--or, in the minds of many, devolved--into their current state.
Relative to this topic, a brief history of bookmaking in Vegas may prove enlightening.
Sam Brown, the venerable Stardust scalper/middler, had been around in Vegas long before me. According to Sam, for a long time baseball totals weren't even moved on a moneyline. If someone bet the limit on, say, over 7 flat, the BM would jump the total to 7-and-a-half flat. Well, Sam told me he made huge bucks siding 7. He would go over 7 all day and come under 7-and-a half. Back when baseball was low-scoring--before juiced baseballs, the shrunken strike zone, weight training, corked bats, and steroids--7 was a very common number for baseball totals. And 7 is worth more than the 20 cents in juice that Sam would risk on his siding attempts. Eventually, but not until Sam had more money than God, BMs figured out that 7 was worth more than 20 cents, and baseball totals were then moved on a moneyline.
Even though baseball totals were moved on a moneyline when I worked in Vegas, the moneyline served only as an adjunct to moving the number. Back in the 80s, you would never see, for example, 9 under 50. Once you got to 20 or 30 cents, the BM would jump the total half-a-run. Old school bookies--such as Monty at CRIS--still do this. New school bookies prefer to stay on the same total number and instead move the moneyline. I believe--and someone correct me if I'm wrong--that the new school style of moving the moneyline rather than the total number line was initiated by the Mirage (who I also believe introduced the concept of moving NBA totals on a moneyline).
Relative to baseball sides, until Gene Mayday of Little Caesar's introduced the penny line to Vegas, lines were always moved in 5 cent increments (except for Sam Brown, for whom the Stardust would move the line in 10 cent jumps to set up his scalps). Old school bookies--such as WSEX--still use the nickel line on their baseball sides. Many bookies are a combination of old school and new school methods of line movement. For example, the Hilton, still uses the old school nickel line on their baseball sides but the new school moneyline method on their totals.
Which of the methods is best? Relative to this question, I am a Taoist. In other words, he who knows does not speak. I have 100 goals in life that I hope to achieve before biting the dust. And, believe it or not, not one of them is educating BMs.
It is time for me to hit the sack. I'll continue this post within the week.
Relative to this topic, a brief history of bookmaking in Vegas may prove enlightening.
Sam Brown, the venerable Stardust scalper/middler, had been around in Vegas long before me. According to Sam, for a long time baseball totals weren't even moved on a moneyline. If someone bet the limit on, say, over 7 flat, the BM would jump the total to 7-and-a-half flat. Well, Sam told me he made huge bucks siding 7. He would go over 7 all day and come under 7-and-a half. Back when baseball was low-scoring--before juiced baseballs, the shrunken strike zone, weight training, corked bats, and steroids--7 was a very common number for baseball totals. And 7 is worth more than the 20 cents in juice that Sam would risk on his siding attempts. Eventually, but not until Sam had more money than God, BMs figured out that 7 was worth more than 20 cents, and baseball totals were then moved on a moneyline.
Even though baseball totals were moved on a moneyline when I worked in Vegas, the moneyline served only as an adjunct to moving the number. Back in the 80s, you would never see, for example, 9 under 50. Once you got to 20 or 30 cents, the BM would jump the total half-a-run. Old school bookies--such as Monty at CRIS--still do this. New school bookies prefer to stay on the same total number and instead move the moneyline. I believe--and someone correct me if I'm wrong--that the new school style of moving the moneyline rather than the total number line was initiated by the Mirage (who I also believe introduced the concept of moving NBA totals on a moneyline).
Relative to baseball sides, until Gene Mayday of Little Caesar's introduced the penny line to Vegas, lines were always moved in 5 cent increments (except for Sam Brown, for whom the Stardust would move the line in 10 cent jumps to set up his scalps). Old school bookies--such as WSEX--still use the nickel line on their baseball sides. Many bookies are a combination of old school and new school methods of line movement. For example, the Hilton, still uses the old school nickel line on their baseball sides but the new school moneyline method on their totals.
Which of the methods is best? Relative to this question, I am a Taoist. In other words, he who knows does not speak. I have 100 goals in life that I hope to achieve before biting the dust. And, believe it or not, not one of them is educating BMs.
It is time for me to hit the sack. I'll continue this post within the week.
) Lets face it, a bunch
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