Las Vegas racebooks

[kgonzales]

I am taking a trip to Las Vegas next week. Does anyone have any recomendations as far as racebooks go? Who has the best comps, workstations, contests, computer hookups, etc? I will be there Monday through Wednesday.

Thanks,
KG

[MikeH]

I would recommend the Stardust. The Race Book has very easy access off Industrial Road, and the Race Book is easy to work in. Plus, they are very supportive of Ken Massa's HTR group ( http://www.homebased2.com/forums/index.php ), and allow laptops.

Another nice book, off the strip, is their sister Casino: Sam's Town. Sam's Town has several places where you can plug in the laptop.

If you are using a laptop, avoid the Orleans. They don't allow laptops and are not very courteous about it. I have also been disappointed in the service at the Station Casinos, and the Green Valley Station Casino does not allow laptops.

[gillenr]

When you say places don't allow laptops, do you mean no power or phone line avail., or NO LAPTOPS?
I thought only the US Senate didn't allow them!

[Triple Trio]

Originally posted by MikeH
If you are using a laptop, avoid the Orleans. They don't allow laptops and are not very courteous about it. I have also been disappointed in the service at the Station Casinos, and the Green Valley Station Casino does not allow laptops.

Rather curious. I recall reading in an interview of Ernie Dahlman, supposedly one of the most successful players in the US, in which he said the racebook provides him with most of the tools he needs including computers. If a racebook is only too happy to provide Dahlman with all the stuff he needs to play, obviously it's because it hasn't hurt them. Why would a casino not allow you to use laptops?

[GR1@HTR]

It is illegal in vegas to have a cell phone in a racebook. Racebooks are afraid of wireless internet communications that might take place from a laptop.

[Rick]

Mike,

Stardust and Sam's Town are part of the same corporation? That's news to me.

Triple,

Ernie the whale has his own comped room so he doesn't have to worry about having power outlets in the race book. He probably never goes there. As usual, there are different rules for you than the "big player".

[sq764]

I will be in Vegas in September and have decided on The Orleans for us to stay at.. I have been told to make the trip to the Bellagio hotel and their sportsbook..

[MikeH]

Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD, www.boydgaming.com ) owns both the Stardust and Sam's Town, as well as several Downtown properties. They bought Delta Downs Racetrack in Louisiana last year.
==========

Laptops are legal in Racebooks in Nevada. Several years ago, the Nevada Gaming Commission published a proposal to ban them, but there was so much opposition that the proposal was re-worded, and finally issued as a regulation, stating that laptops are ok as long as they are not plugged into a modem. This is why Security will sometimes come by and ask you if you have it connected to a modem, although I have never been asked that question in the Stardust.

The Regulation is optional: the Casinos can ban laptops if they choose. That's why they are ok in the Stardust, but not ok in the Orleans.
==========

As to why a casino would care about laptops if they are part of the pari-mutuel pool??

I don't have a good answer, but the two companies that don't seem to want them (Station Casinos and Coast Hotel & Casinos, Inc., the owner of the Orleans, Barbary Coast, Suncoast and others) both cater exclusively to Las Vegas "locals." Between them, they have probably 90% of the "locals" market in Southern Nevada. And, they are inconsistent. Palace Station allows laptops while the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino does not. BTW, if you have the time and don't need to use a laptop, I would check out the Green Valley Ranch Casino in Henderson: it is about 15 minutes from the Strip and it is nice.

My best guess is that the "Locals" casinos consider anyone using a laptop a "Sharp", and they don't want to encourage Sharps to hang around, since they are winners. Just my guess though. The Stardust probably has smarter businessmen who realize the difference.

With all due apologies to the friends that I've made that live in Las Vegas, I've never been overly impressed with the service at any of the "Locals" casinos, so it doesn't say much for their customers. (Of course the friends that I've made in Las Vegas don't go to the casinos often, except for the restaurants and shows.)

[Mr. Blonde]

Does anyone have any experience with the laptop policy at any Reno or Tahoe race or sportsbooks?

[Rick]

Mike,

If the casinos are parimutuel they should want to encourage winners. Of course, if they're booking bets, they wouldn't but I don't think there are any of those around in Vegas anymore. There are still some in Reno/Sparks however.

[Lefty]

The Excalibur doesn't allow laptops either. For the life of me I don't understand this po;icy.
Sam's Town and Stardust: A few yrs ago the Stardust was involved in a skimming scandal and Sam's Town was court appointed to run the joint. Guess they acquired it from there as well as the Fremont.

[rrbauer]

Reno/Tahoe
I've used a laptop at the Reno Hilton and have never been bothered. (Limited availability of plugs....watch your step or you'll trip over an extension cord!) In Tahoe no problem at Caesars Palace.

LV-Orleans
I haven't been to Orleans this year, but last year I used a laptop there and nobody said anything.

LV-Imperial Palace
Never had a problem using a laptop there. Problem there is availability of plugs. (There is one on the backwall behind the very top row in the racebook and there is one on the stairway landing leading to the upper section.)

[Derek2U]

i was in LV on business 2 mos ago & i stayed at the alladin.
it stinks, but the Bellagio, across the street, is VERY good w/
comps. Get a slot card there & just ask for some comps after
you play for a awhile.

[yak merchant]

Didn't try the whole laptop thing when I was there two weeks ago. But the Race book at the Bellagio is real nice. And I think the MGM is still booking races. I know they are booking the one Greyhound track (Flagler) they offer. Hell I just about paid for my whole trip betting show tickets that paid about 3 times what they would have if my money had been in the pool.

[DeadCrab]

For the serious horseplayer, I recommend Bally's. They offer things like KD future wagering that many of the newer casinos do not. The layout of the race/sports book is very "businesslike" and it is a good place to go if you want some separation from the casino.

On the south end of the strip, I prefer Mandalay Bay. They will comp you drinks, and DRF's are discounted. Very comfortable.

Cannot recommend Luxor or Hard Rock. Caesar's is OK if you like darkness. Weird chairs at Bellagio-some people love 'em, some don't.

D.C.

[Rick]

Derek,

Didn't the Aladdin go out of business or bankrupt or something recently? Seems like I heard something negative about them recently.

[Derek2U]

yeah i think there in bankruptcy talks but you would never
know it being there. their pool was cool and their restaurants
ok .... i was there for 3 days but we just had a lotta business
meetings at there conference rooms upstairs & their service
was A+

[Bob Harris]

Originally posted by Mr. Blonde
Does anyone have any experience with the laptop policy at any Reno or Tahoe race or sportsbooks?

If you're a new face, some of the "by the book" security guards at the Reno Hilton will ask to see your laptop's card slots (looking for cellular modems). The Hilton really doesn't give a rat's ass about the modems but since it's against the law to transmit gaming information across State lines (people who want to call their buddy in Kansas with the latest point spreads), the Hilton needs to go thru the motions or risk being fined.

The last 2 times I played in Vegas I was at the MGM and Paris...Paris actually has electrical plugs at each work station...great if you want to play the west coast tracks and don't want to get to the book early just to guarantee some power.