LAS VEGAS - MARCH 19: In this handout provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau, the Mirage Resort Race and Sports Book in Las Vegas is shown crowded with basketball fans during NCAA March Madness Tournament March 19, 2010. in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau via Getty Images)
With the home-team New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons not only pulling out victories Saturday but covering their spreads as well -- combined with the underdog, betting-friendly Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers winning their games outright on Sunday, several sportsbooks in Las Vegas (per ESPN) reported extreme losses and high paydays for the betting public.
Jay Rood, vice president of MGM race and sports:
"It's just colossal."
Westgate SuperBook assistant manager Ed Salmons:
"Awful. Can't be worse."
Bill Sattler, Director of specialty games for Caesars Entertainment:
"Seemed like a blue-collar betting day with public parlaying, teasing and pounding money lines on Packers and Steelers ... We salvaged the under in (the) late game, but another solid week for the public."
And finally, the William Hill sportsbook conglomerate:
William Hill, which operates sportsbooks at 108 locations throughout the state, reported suffering the worst day in the company's five-year history in Nevada. So much parlay liability had built up over the weekend, the book's "seven-figure" fate was sealed before the underdog Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16 Sunday night.
The towers in Las Vegas are tall for a reason -- despite losing the battle, you have to imagine bookmakers will win the war. But, for now ... YIKES.
The next major skirmish between bettors and the bookmakers will occur this Sunday, as the Patriots (-6, William Hill) host the Steelers and the Falcons (-4, William Hill) welcome Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
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