Author: Lindsay Griffin
Nowadays, when most people think of gambling, they think of the internet. Certainly, the internet has made making simple bets easier and faster, and the convenience of being able to place those bets from the comfort of one’s own home is quite appealing.
However, there are downsides to gambling on the internet. First of all, more complex- and potentially more lucrative- bets are not well explained to newcomers. The security of one’s information, particularly involving money, is also a major concern.
For these reasons, many people still prefer on-site, in-person gambling. Those near a local track may, of course, venture to the betting window. Somewhat surprisingly, racetracks at the famed gambling capital of America, Las Vegas, Nevada, have never risen to prominence; however, those in or near the city of Las Vegas have access to a few unique and potentially profitable horse racing experiences.
What does “Sin City” have to offer gamblers who love the racing scene? Can you visit some tracks and choose from the best free horse racing picks today? Let’s take a look.
Off-Track Betting Racebooks
There are many off-track betting locations in Las Vegas, known as “sportsbooks” or “racebooks,” where gambling on horse races can take place. Most of these locations feature more than one sport; however, the largest of these racebooks is South Point Race Book, which is exclusively dedicated to equine sporting events.
Punters choosing to spend their time and money at South Point will be able to view their chosen races from a personal television simulcasting racing, with listening equipment available upon request. Larger televisions are mounted above the betting windows, featuring some of the most highly anticipated races of the day.
Gaming And Racing: Simulated Races
The D Las Vegas Casino has a unique offering for gamblers who love the idea of horse racing but may not be able to attend races live. They host a horse racing game known as the Sigma Derby.
The game itself looks like a mechanical toy from another lifetime: five mechanical horses are mounted on small poles and pulled across the track, each staying in their own lane, unlike their rowdy living counterparts. However, in a similarity to live racing, the results are always different.
Each horse in the game is a betting entry for the simulated race, with its own separate odds. The odds range from 2-1 to 200-1. The catches with betting are threefold: all bets must be made with quarters, you must correctly identify the winner AND the second-place horse, and you only have thirty seconds between finding out the odds and the race actually begins.
Similar to the Sigma Derby, but updated, is the Fortune Cup, also available at the D. The Fortune Cup consists of eight horse entries, as opposed to five. Like the Sigma Derby, bettors may select a pair of horses to finish first and second, but they also now have the option to place single win bets and single place bets.
Updates in technology also make the game more realistic. Punters can bet with a bit more strategy, as information about the race itself and the entries is displayed on a large video screen prior to the race. After the race has finished, a virtual video is produced, allowing bettors to watch a simulated “instant replay.”
Some versions of the game also have jackpot systems in place. In these systems, a particular horse, usually a long shot, is featured. Should that horse win, any bettor who selected him would share a portion of the jackpot’s prize.
Through the use of off-track betting racebooks and simulated racing games such as the Sigma Derby and the Fortune Cup, Las Vegas gamblers can have a variety of horse racing experiences!
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