Earlier this week I was reading an online article in the Las Vegas Sun from Jeff Haney, an outstanding writer and consumer advocate who covers the sports gaming and poker scene here in Las Vegas. I have met with Jeff in the past, and he has actually written a few feature stories on me while also calling me periodically for my thoughts on golf, football and basketball contests. He’s diligent in his work and reporting, and I thought you might be interested in reading about his sports betting incident at Harrah’s last weekend. I’ve had a few incidents happen to me at Las Vegas sports books, and as a bettor trying to beat the house while also trying to support the efforts and industry in Las Vegas, nothing is more frustrating and disappointing than having the house ‘turn the tables’ on you.

I have formed some relationships with sports book directors in Las Vegas, and I e-mail and correspond with some of them throughout the year. I’m thankful that most of them send me information on betting lines and wagering interest on sporting events without me having to get in my car and drive to the various sports books to gather betting sheets and information. I specifically have good things to say about the Las Vegas Hilton, as the ‘Superbook’ is a leader in providing timely betting lines, numerous proposition wagers and acceptable betting limits. Hilton sports book directors Jay Kornegay and Jeff Sherman have both responded to me graciously and without incident when I have a question or request for information. I also support the local Station Casino’s and Coast properties, and no doubt enjoy the convenience of the Suncoast and beautiful Red Rock Resort, Station’s newest property just two miles from my house in Summerlin. However, I still bet at MGM properties and Harrah’s, and unfortunately it’s often due to convenience as I may be playing poker in their properties, meeting a friend to watch the games or just having a bite to eat. The fact that neither MGM or Harrah’s properties offers PGA golf match-up wagering is disturbing to me, as is the inability to ‘buy’ half-points and the lack of more propositions.

Jeff’s recent experience at Harrah’s provides the disingenuous disgust that periodically filters through the sportsbooks and the sports betting scene in Las Vegas. Essentially, Jeff made three bets on NBA games, provided payment to the clerk, and then the supervisor on duty took the tickets away and ultimately ‘voided’ the bets. And as Jeff noted in the article, the behavior is clearly unethical, but unfortunately not illegal in Nevada casinos. The casino was in effect dealing a "double line," or a "one-way line." In other words, casino officials were giving themselves the option of refusing bets on one side of the game while accepting bets on the other side.

Here is the story and his experience last Saturday night while trying to bet Sunday’s NBA games.  I'll 'bet' there are few problems making a wager on the NBA playoffs, and I hope you have better ‘fortune’ in your quest to beat the game and the bookmaker. 

For more analysis on the sports gambling industry by Fairway Jay, go to www.sportsmemo.com.