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No, we’re not talking about that kind of segregation. Instead, we’re referring to the idea of a “race” and “sportsbook” being divided and housed in separate areas of a casino.
That’s how it is at South Point, a short drive away from the Las Vegas Strip, and it’s a welcomed reprieve for those of us who can’t stand sitting next to horse bettors on a college football Saturday or NFL Sunday.
As you can see in the photo above, every TV is tuned into football. The horse bettors (those who are losing hand-over-fist while annoyingly chanting, “Go No. 3! Come on No. 3! Let’s go! Mush!”) are 100 feet away in another room.
Where they should be.
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BETTING — South Point releases its own lines and has one of the lowest futures hold percentages in Las Vegas. If you’re in town and want to bet on a team in any of the four major leagues or colleges, there’s a good chance you’ll find a decent price.
Overnight lines are released early in the evening and are updated again in the morning. There are lines for every sport, including NASCAR, tennis and boxing. The sportsbook is open 24/7, and like most books that cater to a local clientele, South Point offers a variety of parlay and teaser cards.
The “ties win” parlay card pays 600-to-1 on a 10-teamer, and the “big teaser special” (also known as a mega teaser), pays 350-to-1 if you hit all 15 games. For those looking to bet bigger amounts, South Point is far more likely to take your action than some of their peers on the Strip.
DRINKS — We don’t know what the drink policy is, exactly, but we do know this: If you place a bet and ask for a drink ticket, there’s a good chance you’ll get one. Often times you don’t even have to ask. The more you bet, the more you’ll get, which is how it should be.
During a recent visit, we were offered drink tickets after placing modest-size bets and also had a few strangers offer them as they were leaving. The drink tickets entitle you to a free well drink, domestic beer, soft drink or coffee at the adjacent Del Mar Lounge or one of four other places inside the casino.
Even without a drink ticket, you won’t overspend on beer. Bottles and drafts can usually be had for as low as $2, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever have to pay more than $3 for a beer—even on weekends.
ATMOSPHERE — It’s pretty boring. And quiet. And the crowd is definitely older than one you’ll find on the Strip or possibly anywhere else in town. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing evening.
Are we suggesting that it’s a library? Of course not. But note that two exciting, down-to-the-wire games last Saturday—Florida State-NC State and Texas-West Virginia—drew minimal reaction from those who were watching.
The seating area is large, but the lounge-style seating that most other books have aren’t anywhere to be found. Every seat—all 150 of them—is exactly the same. It’s more like a dentist office waiting area than a living room. Which is fine.
The aforementioned Del Mar Lounge, however, provides a more comfortable viewing area and there are plenty of TVs near the bar to watch whatever game you want.
TELEVISIONS — There are two giant screens, one on each side of the book, and they measure roughly 6-feet by 12-feet. The picture quality is good but not spectacular, certainly not on the level of what you’ll find at the Venetian or other Cantor books.
Twenty plasma TVs are installed along the ceiling on the left side of the book and behind the counter. They are big enough that you can see halfway across the book, but many of them are too far away and out of view. It’s not uncommon to see people leave their seat and walk to the opposite side of the room to keep tabs on obscure games that aren’t being featured on the main screens.
Additional TVs (probably between 30 and 40) are found in the nearby lounge, and there are three small-screen TVs installed above the urinals in the men’s bathroom.
BOTTOM LINE — South Point is one of the nicest off-Strip books in Vegas and is a relaxing place to watch a game. There is plenty of seating, the book is well lit and easy to get to, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. With live betting options for marquee games—both in the NFL and college—there’s not much the book doesn’t offer to the typical out-of-town visitor.
