Hilton’s SuperContest faces more competition
It’s not easy to become recognized as the king of NFL handicappers. For two decades, the winner of the Las Vegas Hilton SuperContest has been awarded that Elvis Presley-like status, minus the sequined suits and crazy groupies.
The SuperContest has always attracted many of the biggest gamblers and sharpest minds in football forecasting — and winning the title meant everything.
But Elvis is dead, and the SuperContest’s status is being challenged.
Where there used to be one high-end contest, now there are four. The Hilton still has the premier name, but the game is changing.
“We were the only game in town. We’ve got more competition now,” Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. “Because of the history and tradition of the SuperContest, I think it has more name recognition and is the most prestigious contest in Las Vegas.”
The Hilton contest, with its $1,500 entry fee, requires entrants to pick five NFL games against the spread each week during the regular season.
It’s a simple concept, and one that became so popular it is copied in some form by other Las Vegas casinos.
Art Manteris started the SuperContest in 1989, when he ran the Hilton sports book. Manteris said the idea was a takeoff from a contest the late Sonny Reizner staged at the old Castaways.
“There were the $25-type contests,” Manteris said. “Were there any serious contests for the serious sports handicappers? I’d say no.”
As vice president for sports book operations at Station Casinos, Manteris now oversees the $1,000-entry fee Gamblers Challenge, which has rules that differ slightly from the Hilton’s format.
The Hilton and Station Casinos got high-end competition last year from Harrah’s, which unveiled the Glory of the Gridiron contest, with a $2,000 entry fee. Harrah’s reduced the entry fee to $1,000 this year.
Now comes the South Point, which has raised the stakes with the Friendly Frank’s Pro Championship Challenge, a $2,500-entry fee contest that guarantees a $250,000 prize pool with a minimum $100,000 payout to the winner.
The Hilton drew a record 505 entrants in 2005, but the total dropped to 416 last year.
With more competition in the market, and with next season marking the SuperContest’s 20th year, changes could be coming.
“I think we will take a look at possibly enhancing it to stay ahead of the competition,” Kor- negay said.
CASINO CONTESTSA rundown of this year’s biggest Las Vegas contests:
COAST CASINOS
What: Pick the Pros Football Contest
Entry Fee: $25, limit four with fifth and sixth free.
Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly and season prizes; $1 million guaranteed, with $100,000 to seasonlong champion.
Properties: Gold Coast, Orleans, Sam’s Town, Suncoast, California, Fremont, Main Street, Joker’s Wild, Eldorado.
HARD ROCK
What: Fantasy Pick 3 Football Contest
Entry Fee: $20, limit one per person.
Details: Select a combination of 15 fantasy matchups and NFL games with no point spreads; also, in the Pick 3 portion, pick three games against the spread; weekly and season prizes.
HARRAH’S
What: Glory of the Gridiron
Entry Fee: $1,000, limit two per person.
Details: Select six NFL games against the spread each week; 100 percent payback with $50,000 added to prize pool; top 10 finishers paid, plus three in-season prizes.
Properties: Harrah’s, Bally’s, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Paris, Rio.
LAS VEGAS HILTON
What: Hilton SuperContest
Entry Fee: $1,500, limit one per person.
Details: Select five NFL games against the spread each week; 100 percent payback; top 20 finishers paid.
LEROY’S
What: College Challenge
Entry Fee: $250, limit three per person.
Details: Select seven college games against the spread each week; 100 percent payback with $100,000 guaranteed; top 40 finishers paid.
What: Pick’em and Win Pro Football Contest
Entry Fee: One free per person.
Details: Select Sunday NFL games only, no point spreads; $5,000 weekly first-place prize, divided equally for multiple winners.
PALMS
What: Pigskin Payoff Football Contest
Entry Fee: $25, limit three with three free.
Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly and season prizes, $300,000 guaranteed.
RAMPART
What: Fantasy Football Contest
Entry Fee: $25, limit two with third free.
Details: Select 12 NFL fantasy player matchups; $5,000 weekly prize for the top score, and additional season-ending payouts.
Properties: Rampart and Cannery.
SOUTH POINT
What: Friendly Frank’s Pro Championship Challenge
Entry Fee: $2,500, limit one per person.
Details: Select five NFL games against the spread each week; $250,000 guaranteed, with minimum $100,000 to the winner.
Properties: South Point and El Cortez.
STATION CASINOS
What: Great Giveaway Football Contest
Entry Fee: $25, limit two with third free.
Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly and season prizes, $1 million guaranteed.
What: The Challenge
Entry Fee: $1,000, limit three per person.
Details: Select five college or NFL games against the spread; 100 percent payback plus bonus prizes.
Properties: Boulder Station, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Red Rock, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station.
What: Last Man Standing
Entry Fee: $25, limit three with fourth free.
Details: Select one college or NFL game against the spread each week; winner guaranteed $50,000.
Properties: All Station Casinos plus Barley’s, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Gold Rush, Magic Star, Wildfire, Wild Wild West.
What: Football Frenzy
Entry Fee: $10, limit three for $15.
Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly and season prizes, $5,000 to seasonlong champion.
Properties: Barley’s, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Gold Rush, Magic Star, Wildfire, Wild Wild West.
TERRIBLE’S
What: Terrible’s Football Contest
Entry Fee: First entry free, additional entries $10, with limit of eight, and 10th free.
Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly and season prizes, $15,000 to overall champion.
Complete rules available at all sports books.
