What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, maybe not quite literally, but you get the idea. Whether you like to gamble or not, Vegas is the place to be. If you have a certain amount of money to risk while enjoying the company of others, then Las Vegas is the place to be. The lines in Vegas can get pretty funny. Here are a few examples.
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is one of the biggest events in sports. Two teams square off for the right to be named king or queen of basketball. Naturally, fans want to bet on which team will come out on top. The betting lines are very clear in the NBA finals. The Celtics are the favorite despite being underdogs in the series. The line for Game 1 is -140, the total is 7 points. This means if you bet $10 on the Celtics, you would win $14. Not bad for a game!
Superbowl
The most popular game in America is the Superbowl. It’s the big game that every American loves to watch. The betting odds for Superbowl are very popular as well. The Packers are the obvious favorites, but the Patriots are the team that many people are picking to dethrone the reigning champs. The line for the Superbowl is -110, the total is 43.5 points. This means if you bet $10 on the Patriots, you would win $110. Not too shabby for a game either!
The Masters
The Masters is another very popular American sporting event. It’s an annual golf tournament that draws large crowds and enthusiastic bettors. There are a few interesting things about the odds for The Masters. First off, the line for the first round is -130, the second round is -110, and the final round is -100. This essentially means that you would have to wager $100 on the green in order to win $130 (plus taxes and fees, of course). Not too bad of an investment, but it is a bit steep if you are playing the field as a whole. People who wager on the individual holes usually win more money, so it’s a bit of a gamble. You also have to watch out for weather conditions as well. If it’s raining at any point during the tournament, it can dramatically affect the outcome. It’s all about the golf course and the weather conditions on a particular day.
The Kentucky Derby
The most prestigious horse race in America is the Kentucky Derby. It’s the first of the American classics, which is why it draws such a large crowd and inspires such fierce loyalty. Naturally, people want to bet on which horse will come out on top. The betting lines are pretty straightforward for The Kentucky Derby, too. There is no favorite, as it is a 50/50 race. The favorite is the 2/5 favorite while the rest are all nearly a dollar underdogs. For example, the 2 favorite horses are priced at $7 and $12, while the rest are $2, $4, $6, and $8. This makes it easy for people to lay down exact amounts for each horse. The exact same betting lines can be found across the country. You can get the complete race card from any online sportsbook at any time. Derby is primarily a summer event, but tickets for the big race are always in demand.
The NCAA Football Championship
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the governing body that sets the rules for college football. It also hosts a huge bowl game every year that determines the national champion. Naturally, people want to bet on which team will bring home the gold. The line for the championship game is usually pretty steep. For example, the line for the championship game between Texas and Florida is 55 points, meaning you would have to wager at least $55 on Texas in order to win $100 (plus taxes and fees, of course). It’s essentially the state rivalry game. One team is from Texas and the other is from Florida. It’s pretty exciting. The game is usually a blowout, so there is little excitement around the lines. The game will likely end in a shutout, with neither team adding to their total. This is essentially the NCAA football postseason. It’s a grueling 16-game schedule that ends with one big game to determine who is the best of the best.
The MLB Postseason
Major League Baseball (MLB) is another huge sport in the United States. It’s pretty comparable to the NBA in terms of popularity. It, too, hosts a huge postseason that determines the best teams and best players. It’s extremely competitive and exciting, especially towards the end when the games start becoming meaningful. It’s natural for people to want to bet on baseball, so lines can become pretty steep. It’s never clear-cut, either, as each team is guaranteed to have one of the best records in the league at some point during the season. This guarantees there will be some competition throughout the year. The playoffs are very exciting, too, as teams gear up for a run at the championship. The same rules apply for the postseason as for the regular season. This means that if you bet $100 on a favorite, you would win only $55 (plus taxes and fees, of course). It’s another grueling 16-game schedule that ends in a glorious finale. It’s a very popular sport in the United States, and it’s easy enough to follow along and place bets as it unravels.
The US Open
The US Open is one of the four major tennis tournaments held every year. It’s the last major of the year and the last chance for tennis players to make their names stand out. Naturally, people want to bet on which player will win this year’s US Open. The line is usually very steep for The US Open as well. It’s the last tournament of the year, so the betting public is more interested in wagering on the winner rather than laying down a solid number. It’s also one of the few tournaments that actually pays out on the internet. It’s held every year in late summer/early autumn in New York City. It’s the Grand Slam event of the year, so it draws a large crowd. It’s one of the biggest games of the year.
The French Open
The French Open is another one of the four major tennis tournaments. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is also one of the most prestigious. The betting lines are very similar to those for the US Open. It is also a bit of a safety bet for those who like to wager on tennis. The French Open is usually the last major tournament of the year, so it closes out the season. Naturally, people want to bet on who will win this year’s tournament. The same rules apply as for the US Open, with the added bonus that they will be paying out. The total payout for the French Open is $14.76 million dollars! That’s more than the three other major tournaments combined.
So, you see, Vegas is a very interesting place. There are tons of funny betting lines, and it would be a shame to not take advantage of them. You should try laying down some casual bets on the games you know and love. You’ll have a good time, and you might even win a little bit of money. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but sometimes it’s good to go home with a little extra cash in your pocket. Who knows? Maybe the next time you go to Vegas you will even tell us about it. Go ahead and book your hotel now, we can’t wait to have you there.