LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A new wave of enthusiasm is washing up on Lake Las Vegas. Casino MonteLago reopened in May. Thursday, the casino unveiled its new sportsbook.
"I think it's fantastic for the economy," said Casino MonteLago Head of Business Development Scott Walker. "For a long time, nobody was working. The casino was closed. The hotel was closed. It opened."
"I am invested in this community. I am a homeowner in this community," said sports bettor Brad Hagen. "I love gambling. I love sports. This is a monumental day for me."
"I think it's really, really exciting," added sports bettor Tonya Roedell. "I think it's good for the community, and I think it's good for the city overall."
The timing couldn't be better for the sportsbook's debut. Thursday night marked the beginning of the college football season. The NFL season kicks off next week.
"This place is crazy about the NFL, and they're loving the fact that we're open for the NFL," Walker said.
One of the benefits of the new hi-tech MonteLago sportsbook is the self servicing wagering terminal.
"Anytime, anywhere, somebody can come into the sportsbook and place a wager, Walker said. "They can also cash the wager at anytime at our cash cage."
Bettors are experiencing relief at the opening of the new sportsbook, knowing the NFL lockout is old news.
"Everybody's happy. The games are going forward, and it's going to be a great season," Walker said.
The new sportsbook boasts 36 different monitors, 16 odds board and a progressive points system. All of the features have the potential to pump money back into the economy.
"Places in the village are opening here all the time. We're getting more and more people, more and more events. The fall is going to be a fantastic, fantastic time for Lake Las Vegas," Walker said.
For an idea of how much money NFL betting brings, the Super Bowl alone generates $87 million for the Nevada economy.
