For decades, the first weekend of March Madness attracted standing-room-only crowds to Las Vegas sportsbooks, with college basketball fans wagering, drinking, hooting, hollering, and hanging on every shot. And doing so from just past sunrise until well past sundown.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then came Thursday.
For the first time in three years, Las Vegas sportsbooks hosted bettors for the start of the NCAA Tournament with no capacity restrictions and no mask mandate.
The 2020 NCAA Tournament was one of the first major sporting events that fell victim to the pandemic. And while fans trickled back to town for last year’s Tournament, they did so in casinos that were restricted to 50 percent capacity. And those who were allowed in had to wear face coverings.
But on Thursday, there were no rules, just fun.
Props.com toured multiple sportsbooks on the opening day of March Madness 2022 and captured all the sights and sounds.
Welcome To The Party
8:30 a.m.: Bettors line up to place their wagers at Circa Sportsbook in the heart of Fremont Street downtown. March Madness always brings out novice bettors, and that is already on display about 45 minutes before tipoff of the first game.
“Give me Murray State plus the points,” one bettor tells a ticket writer.
Just one problem: Murray State isn’t getting points. It is laying 2 against San Francisco in one of the late games. (Despite not really knowing what he was betting, the customer would eventually collect when the Racers pulled out a 92-87 overtime victory.)
8:45 a.m.: Circa has watch parties in multiple locations. In addition to the massive three-tier sportsbook, there’s a third-floor auxiliary room that resembles an airplane hangar where fans gather en masse.
The real party, though, is at Stadium Swim, Circa’s year-round pool with huge TV screens on the south end that are viewable from all angels. Admission to this party comes at a cost: General admission is $100, and cabanas and other reserved seating are a lot more.
9:05 a.m.: The first game — South Region No. 6 seed Colorado State against No. 11 Michigan —tips off in 10 minutes. The Wolverines are 2-point favorites at Circa, and everyone in line has an opinion.
“Colorado State money line,” one bettor says.
“That game could go either way,” another warns.
Meanwhile, a Circa team member is selling huge breakfast burritos from a handheld cart, like someone selling hot dogs at a baseball game.
Already famished bettors — many sporting green in tribute to Saint Patrick’s Day — are quick to buy what he’s selling.
And Away We Go …
9:15 a.m.: Colorado State-Michigan tips off, and March Madness 2022 is officially underway.
11:20 a.m.: We have our first winner. Michigan rallies from a 15-point first-half deficit to beat the Rams 75-63 and — more importantly for many — covers as a 2-point favorite. It would be the start of a disastrous day for the Mountain West, which would see all three of its remaining teams eliminated by day’s end — this after another conference member, Wyoming, lost in the First Four on Tuesday.
12:15 p.m.: About five miles down the road, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook is a madhouse, with bettors packed elbow-to-elbow in the sportsbook, and another 1,500 gathered in the Westgate’s sold-out International Theater.
Smiles abound, none bigger than the one sported by SuperBook vice president Jay Kornegay.
“It’s very exciting,” he said. “I don’t think we’re to the same level as we saw pre-pandemic, but we’re very, very close.”
Kornegay said many guests expressed thanks that the mask mandate had been lifted before the Super Bowl. He added that having a March Madness that’s even close to normal is gigantic — not only for his property but all of Las Vegas.
“If you go by ticket count, March Madness destroys the Super Bowl,” he said. “If you go by handle, the first four days are very comparable to the Super Bowl.”
By the time the entire Tournament is over, the handle will almost double that of the Super Bowl, Kornegay said.
Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito echoed his colleague’s feelings.
“Crowds, atmosphere and overall hype have been tremendous!” Esposito said via text message. “Reserved seat requests are off the charts. Guests were camped out early to get one of our prime seats at center court of the book.”
Let The Chaos Begin
2:28 p.m.: Favorites open the day 5-0 SU/ATS, this after the First Four matchups went all chalk. Finally, though, we have an upset: Midwest Region No. 12 seed Richmond takes down No. 5 Iowa 67-63 as a 9.5-point underdog, cashing as a +400 pup on the moneyline.
3:05 p.m.: Is a giant about to fall? No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga cannot shake West No. 16 Georgia State in West Region clash, and the score is tied at 54 seven minutes into the second half.
Bettors at Caesars Palace are locked onto the game, including those playing at one of the 14 poker tables in action adjacent to the sportsbook.
3:26 p.m.: Gonzaga’s not in trouble anymore — but Georgia State spread bettors are. In about five minutes of game time, the Bulldogs’ lead has increased from four to 24, putting Gonzaga outside the number (-22.5) for the first time all game.
3:40 p.m.: We have our first “gambling moment” of the Tournament. Gonzaga leads by 23, but the Bulldogs foul Georgia State’s Evan Johnson on a rebound with 26 seconds left. Johnson steps to the line and sinks both free throws, getting the Panthers back inside the number.
Gonzaga inbounds the ball and casually dribbles it upcourt. The Zags are running out the clock. And their backers at Caesars aren’t happy.
“Shoot it!” some yell. Others boo.
Gonzaga wins 93-72, but Georgia State covers +22.5, deflating Bulldogs bettors while keeping Panthers supporters from suffering a bad beat.
All Hail St. Peter’s
5:50 p.m.: After favorites owned the first half the day’s action, the upsets start to flow. First, West No. 5 seed Connecticut never gains control in a 70-63 loss to No. 12 New Mexico State. And now a titanic upset looms.
6:15 p.m.: East Region No. 2 seed Kentucky — the third favorite to win the title at most sportsbooks — is heading to overtime against No. 15 Saint Peter’s. Bettors in the South Point’s sportsbook are riveted.
6:42 p.m.: And now some of them are mad. The Wildcats fall 85-79 in overtime, blowing up brackets and moneyline parlays across the country.
One Kentucky fan or backer (or both) has no sympathy for a Wildcat player who displays his emotion after the loss.
“You deserve to cry,” he yells. “That was terrible.”
8:50 p.m.: Crazy finishes galore in the final set of games. West No. 4 seed Arkansas survives No. 13 Vermont 75-71, but the Catamounts cover +4.5 when they are unable to foul the Razorbacks after a missed shot in the final seconds.
9:05 p.m.: East No. 4 seed UCLA is getting all it can handle from No. 13 Akron. One South Point bettor who needed the Bruins to cover a halftime line of -7 is disgusted when Akron converts two offensive rebounds into a basket, cutting the Bruins’ lead to 55-53 in the final minute.
The bettor doesn’t even want to see the finish now that his -7 is cooked.
“That’s over, Brian” he tells his friend. “That’s over.”
He walks away, but quickly comes back to see UCLA finish off a 57-53 victory. (Akron still easily covered the 13.5-point spread.)
And So It Ends …
9:44 p.m.: East No. 7 seed Murray State survives No. 10 San Francisco 92-87 and covers -2 in an overtime classic. Seconds later, Midwest No. 1 seed Kansas caps the action by finishing off an 83-56 victory over No. 16 Texas Southern, cashing as a 21.5-point chalk.
9:45 p.m.: The day is done. March Madness in Las Vegas is back. Time for bettors to rest up and get ready to do it all again Friday.
Though not everyone in the casino has been playing close attention.
“Wait,” one man says as everyone starts to file out of the South Point’s sportsbook. “Saint Peter’s beat Kentucky?”
