One index prop that always gives the books a huge liability is for either team to finish with two points, which pays 10,000-1 odds.
Todd Dewey
Reporter: Sports betting
Email: tdewey@reviewjournal.com
Phone: (702) 383-0354
X: @tdewey33
Todd Dewey covers sports betting for the Review-Journal. Prior to taking over that beat in January 2017, he covered UNLV football, 51s baseball and a wide range of other events that come to Las Vegas. A native of Cambridge, Mass., and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Dewey joined the Review-Journal in 1999 and was the 2013 Nevada Sportswriter of the Year.
A late flurry of money poured in on the Rams and Patriots before Super Bowl LIII, including at least three $1 million-plus wagers, giving bookmakers reason to believe the total amount wagered in the state could eclipse last year’s record of $158.6 million.
The total opened at 27½, before quickly moving to 28 following the second lowest-scoring first half in Super Bowl history (the Steelers led the Vikings 2-0 at halftime of Super Bowl IX in 1975).
MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, the Westgate, Boyd Gaming, CG Technology and Station Casinos sportsbooks all need the Rams to cover.
Despite a late flurry of money on the Rams, including wagers of $2 million and $1.5 million, Las Vegas sportsbooks needed Los Angeles to cover the spread against the Patriots less than 24 hours before kickoff of Super Bowl LIII.
New England is 5-3 straight up in Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick but 2-5 ATS (the line on its 28-24 win over the Seahawks in 2015 closed at pick ’em).
The mystery bettor who beat Las Vegas sportsbooks out of millions of dollars on the 2017 World Series and more than $10 million in Super Bowl LII appears to be back in action on Super Bowl LIII.
Lem Banker picked the winner against the spread in 20 of the first 23 Super Bowls in newspapers across the nation, including the Review-Journal. From 1973 to 1985, he picked 13 straight winners in the game.
Legendary oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro has left Las Vegas after 44 years in the sportsbook industry to become director of sports relations for Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
Will the Patriots or Rams score in the first 5½ minutes? The no on this prop is 8-0 in New England’s eight previous Super Bowls, with four of them featuring scoreless first quarters.
The wiseguys especially love LA getting 3 points flat, which means bettors can wager $110 to win $100 on the favorite or underdog.
The state’s sports betting handle increased for the ninth straight year, climbing from $2.76 billion in 2010 to $4.23 billion in 2015 before eclipsing $5 billion for the first time in 2018.
Westgate sportsbook manager Ed Salmons estimates that about 80 percent of the Super Bowl betting handle will pour into the books Thursday through Sunday.
Three different Las Vegas sportsbooks made the Patriots 3-point favorites over the Rams over the weekend in Super Bowl LIII. But on Monday, William Hill was the only book still at 3.
In-play wagering is expected to eclipse pregame betting in the United States in four or five years.