For all the thousands of pages of content online covering Las Vegas, discussions of the city’s sportsbooks are quite thin. Only a few comparisons exist, and often contain ten or more sportsbooks. The 10th best sportsbook in town is not the “best’ and definitely not worth going out of your way for.
For some visitors a good sportsbook is a major factor in deciding where to stay when searching Las Vegas hotels. Note: This list is not composed with a pure betting perspective taken into account. For the casual player the differences in game lines and prop wagers offered is not enough to make any difference in deciding where to bet. Usually the best thing to do is bet where you’re staying so cashing is convenient if you leave the sportsbook before your bet is final.
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1. Circa Las Vegas
There’s a reason almost everyone will tell you Circa is the best sportsbook in Las Vegas. The theater style seating is a completely unique experience. It’s like watching a game in a movie theater that’s also a really fun sports bar. The vibe is extremely upbeat and there’s always plenty of seating for anyone dropping in casually.
With two levels of overhang seating, players can also find a barstool with a view of the screens and even play tabletop video poker during games. The ticket writers are very friendly and helpful and are clearly glad to be working at Circa Las Vegas. They also double as the players’ club desk.
Everything at Circa is top notch and when it comes to sportsbooks downtown the conversation starts and ends here. Nobody else is even close. But ironically everyone else is close by. Circa’s central location is the best of all sportsbooks. Walking in and out is easy and no matter where you’re staying downtown, you’ll want to play sports at Circa.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Circa Rooms for Your Dates
2. Westgate Superbook
If Circa is the consensus number one sportsbook in Las Vegas, Westgate’s Superbook is my personal favorite. The only knock against it is its location off the strip. It’s easy to reach on the Las Vegas Monorail and a quick rideshare trip can drop you off directly outside the sports book entrance. Players who do make the trip are rewarded with more than 4000 square feet of LED displays, the most comfortable seating in Las Vegas, and food and drink options galore.
There’s a growing trend in Las Vegas for sportsbooks to eschew horse racing and cater purely to sports players. Thoroughbred racing is still respected at Westgate with all the major tracks given prominent screen space. There’s even a statue of horse and jockey and restrooms built in the shape of a track’s clubhouse.
Players could literally spend all day in the Superbook. Start with brunch at the buffet that’s directly accessible and watch the horses in the morning. Have lunch in the sportsbook’s food court and play awhile in the slots area or poker room that are also part of the book. In the evening get a seat at the integrated bar while you wager that night’s events.
In my opinion the entire Westgate property is underrated and provides spectacular value for a Las Vegas stay. Any sports fan shopping hotels should give it serious consideration.
CHECK RATES: Rooms from $51 at Westgate Las Vegas
3. Mandalay Bay Sportsbook
Being the southernmost resort on the Las Vegas Strip means players have to go out of their way to reach the Mandalay Bay Sports Book. But if you’re planning to spend a good portion of your day on sports or racing it’s worth an effort to get there. All of MGM’s sports books are now smoke-free.
This location compares well with the Westgate Superbook, offering lots of racing action and a large area with comfortable seating. A full bar area gives way to tables, armchairs and rows of bucket seating. You can’t reserve a seat here, which gives the place a democratic vibe of being for the people and not for the Las Vegas whales.
The sportsbook has its own snack bar, and all the restaurants in Mandalay’s massive casino are easy to access. Players spending the day here should arrive at Luxor and have a buffet breakfast first. A walk through the promenade to Mandalay Bay will let you scope out some great casual options for lunch or dinner.
While the Bellagio and now Cosmopolitan are often seen as MGM’s premier properties, I think Mandalay Bay and Delano are the brand’s real top tier. If you can deal with the south strip location features like the Mandalay Beach and 64th floor Skyfall Lounge are outstanding amenities. This is a great stay if you want a taste of luxury without spending Wynn or Venetian money.
BOOK EARLY: Upcoming Availability at Mandalay Bay
4. Wynn Las Vegas
Speaking of the Wynn, it comes in at number 4 on today’s list. The top 3 are really elite and there’s a bit of separation between them and the Wynn. While it is large, it’s just a fraction of the size of Mandalay. The 1600 square feet of screen space is impressive to look at, but again, less than half the size of Westgate’s screens. The decor in the Wynn sportsbook is nice but it feels a little dated. It’s almost as if they scaled up the red leather interior of a C3 Corvette to massive proportions.
Perhaps the main thing the Wynn sportsbook has going for it is that it’s in the Wynn. Everything at Wynn and Encore is as good as it gets in Las Vegas. You feel like a high roller just walking through the place. If you’re not a high roller the Fashion Show Mall has cheap eats right across the street. The Wynn sportsbook does have its own restaurant but it features things like $18 chicken tenders and a $26 burger.
PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ: Explore Rates at Wynn and Encore
5. Mirage (Hard Rock) Sportsbook
I truly prefer the Mirage sportsbook over Wynn both for comfort and location. It’s very similar to the feel and comfort level at Mandalay Bay. You can pop in here just to place a bet or get off your feet for a few minutes, or you can stay and watch football all Sunday. Historically Mirage’s sportsbook has been very generous with the drink tickets.
Unfortunately it is impossible to say what the future holds for one of the best sports spaces in Las Vegas. As the Mirage transitions to Hard Rock and MGM gives up operations it’s impossible to know how this space will change. On my last visit they already appeared to be moving table games into a portion of the space.
Will they ditch horse racing? Start to allow smoking? Institute a minimum bet for a seat? Only time will tell. The Mirage was a fantastic resort that didn’t need fixing. I’m keeping my fingers crossed the sports betting experience here doesn’t degrade to the just-okay dark room lit by screens style space you’ll find at Caesars Palace or the MGM Grand.
SEE IT WHILE YOU CAN: Find rooms for your dates at the Mirage
Honorable Mention: Cromwell & Southpoint
Southpoint is a locals’ casino. As a non-local, I haven’t been there yet. It’s far off the strip. But if you’re a sports fan and your trip includes booking a rental car (starting at $49/day total) it could be worth checking out. Southpoint’s reputation is for generous lines and free flowing drinks. They provide touches like $1.50 hot dogs you’ll never find in a Strip resort. Vegas Advantage has a full overview of the place at their site.
The Cromwell sportsbook, pictured above, is small and not particularly notable for a hardcore sports fan. But it does have its virtues. There is no longer sports betting at the Horseshoe immediately south of Cromwell. The Flamingo sportsbook on the other side is not impressive, and sometimes charges a seat minimum to enter. That makes the Cromwell the best option for anyone staying at any of these 3 properties.
CENTER STRIP: Get the Current Prices for a Stay at Cromwell
Cromwell’s sportsbook is small, but the hotel itself is so small it’s never crowded. It has a large viewing area relative to its size. There’s no danger of feeling oversaturated here. It’s not open at all hours, but the screens remain on and machines are available to bet 24/7. Stools are available along the back row of the sportsbook even when it’s closed. This is my favorite place to have a cup of coffee in the morning, and go over what MLB games are happening that day, planning my betting accordingly.
