Most casinos will have a tiny section for people to wager on sports. Usually, it’s tucked away in the corner of the establishment. If you go to The Venetian or Aria in Las Vegas, for example, you will find this exact scenario. The floor is dominated with slot machines and table games but you will really have to search out the sportsbook.
Of course the rise in use of online sportsbooks has made it easier for sports fans to find a place to throw down. It’s as easy as opening an app on your phone. But you will also notice those same apps usually have a casino section too. Why is that?
One third of sports bettors will also take part in slots gaming. That is a pretty large crossover. Slots and table games are available 24-7 whereas sporting events are comparatively fewer and far-between. Not only that, but casino games are much more profitable than sports betting is for the house. They may have you betting on sports but they’d rather have you betting at the tables or pulling the slot handle.
The crossover isn’t higher simply because the vast majority of sports bettors are male and the majority of slot players are female. That really is the main difference. Regardless of what a sports betting writer might say, one-third crossover is a pretty significant number. The house would much rather collect their 40% profit on slot machines than the measly 2.6% for sports.
As far as table games goes, blackjack is your best bet. The house only has a 4% advantage over you if you play perfectly. They would much rather you play roulette or any number of other gimmicky poker or carps variation games than bet on sports or blackjack.
