The Bowl game between LSU and Alabama was super for college football fans, but it pales in comparison to the truly biggest football game of the year. If ever there was an excuse to visit Indiana, Sunday February 12, 2012 would be it. For the rest of us, we have the luxury of flying (or driving) to Las Vegas to watch the division champions meet.

Vegas always has a lot to offer any football fan. Especially for fans who enjoy plush leather seats, gourmet food, a full bar and a cozy room upstairs.

Top Five Recommendations for Watching the Big Game in Vegas

#1 – Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo

BAM! Lagasse's Stadium is our numero uno spot for Big Game action

Huge, plush couches. A 9’x16’ big screen. Great food. Some of the cutest referee’s serving drinks this side of sports heaven. This upscale venue will fill up VERY quickly. Reservations STRONGLY recommended so call 702-607-2665 now. Otherwise, don’t even bother to look for parking unless you plan to arrive early and tip the host/hostess a Benjamin just to put you at the top of list. To help make up your mind, check out their menu here.

[adsense size="468"]

#2 – Ravello Lounge at the M Resort

This is another luxury sports book with limited seating that aims for quality instead of quantity. It also attracts a good mix of regular locals and visitors from out of town. Last year there was free entry into two prize drawings, $10 buckets of Bud, $3 margaritas, $2 shots of Cuervo along with burgers, dogs, cheese steaks and wings starting at $1.50. Although under new ownership, management roughly stayed intact so look for them to serve a close repeat to last year’s offerings. More info about the M Resort here.

#3 – The super sportsbook at the new LVH (formerly the Hilton)

This is the granddaddy of Vegas sports books. Huge. Loud. The array of championship propositions is the best in Vegas because it goes far beyond who will win the coin toss. Over 300 seats, over twenty giant screens including one 40’x30’ HD monster. NO RESORT FEES and great room rates mean you can afford to take Monday off! More info about the new LVH here.

#4 – Bally’s Sportsbook

That’s right. Bally’s. It’s big. It’s comfortable. It’s classic Vegas right on the corner of Flamingo Road and the Strip. If it’s full, look for the spill over party in the Indigo Lounge. Click here and book a great NO RESORT FEE room deal!

#5 — Crazy Horse III Gentleman’s Club

This is on the list because it is so quintessentially Vegas. If you’re in Vegas with your golf buddies dodging the endless snowstorms in the Midwest or on the East Coast, what better place to watch the biggest sporting event of the year than inside the cozy confines of a premier gentleman’s club? The giant HD screens are even big enough to keep your attention! $30 at the door includes a catered buffet, an OPEN BAR during the 1st quarter, a raffle for prizes (one of which is a 46″ flat screen TV), free limo transportation and many other perks too obvious to mention. Call (702) 673-1700 for more info or to book a free limo.

Other Venues

The sports books at the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace and Wynn are top-notch premium viewing venues too. They are guaranteed to be packed with celebrities, retired sports stars and famous high-rolling poker stars. Getting a good seat might take a little grease, but who knows who might end up sitting next to you.

Some good spots off the Strip that may not be packed by noon (kick-off is at 3:30PM Vegas time) are the newly remodeled sports book at the Southpoint where they will be hosting free, live-feed spill-over parties in the Grand Ballroom and Napa Showroom; the 125-seat book at the Orleans; and the roomy, local’s friendly Sunset Station.

There’s nothing like being at the game, but for visitors and locals Vegas offers some real pleasant alternatives to being crammed in a stadium with 65,000 other people. Single malt scotch anyone?

Related posts:

1. March Madness in Las Vegas Every year in March, College Hoops fans from across the...
2. Best Sports Books in Las Vegas Whether it’s hockey finals, basketball finals, the Kentucky Derby, the...

Every year in March, College Hoops fans from across the nation make their annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for March Madness. If you are planning a getaway to Las Vegas for March Madness in 2011 and want a great place to watch the games here are a few options:

Great Atmosphere at the Sports Book

For the ultimate March Madness experience, the best atmosphere is usually found in the sports book. The problem is that each race and sports book has limited seating, so if you want a seat you have to get up early. Our best advice is to scope out a couple of options the night before and then plan on sending 1 or 2 people before 7am to grab some seats.

Any of the Sports Books at the major Las Vegas Hotels will provide a great experience, but some of the larger (and nicest) Sports Books on the Las Vegas Strip can be found at Mandalay Bay, Aria, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Mirage and Wynn. Even these mega-books fill up quickly on game day so be sure to get there early. Other recommended smaller sports books can be found at Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo and if you are willing to make a short trip off the Strip the Hard Rock Hotel. Check our gaming section for a more complete guide to the Best Las Vegas Sports Books.

Another relatively new and excellent off the Strip Sports Book can be found at the M Resort and Casino. This state of the art sports book was voted ‘Best Sports Book for Watching March Madness’ by ESPN Insider in 2010.

Las Vegas Sports Bars

There is nothing better than great bar food and beer to accompany March Madness and guests lucky enough to get a seat at Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo can enjoy a full bar and menu designed by Emeril Lagasse. Another Sports Bar to enjoy the Buzzer Beaters and Bracket Busters at, is the The Sporting House Bar & Grill in NYNY. Opened in October 2010, to replace the ESPN Zone, this bar features 130 high-definition televisions and a decent selection of beers and bar food. Plus it’s just a short walk to the Sports Book.

Other good Sports Bars in Las Vegas include Blondies, located inside the Miracle Mile shopping mall at Planet Hollywood and, if you are willing to make the short drive South on Las Vegas Boulevard, The Yard House at Town Square provides a great selection of draft beers and food to accompany the games.

If all else fails just head for a March Madness Viewing Party

Many of the hotel/casinos will open up special event rooms with food and drink specials to try and pull in the crowds. If you sleep in and can’t get a seat at the Sports Book, or want to avoid some of the hustle and bustle generally found in the Sports Books, then these viewing parties usually have plenty of space. Keep in mind that if they are not full, the atmosphere may not be as lively and fun.

Planet Hollywood is hosting Hoops On The Mezz offering an all you can eat buffet and open Miller/Coors Light beer bar. Prices start at $49/day (plus tax/fees) for regular seating.

Located off the Strip, the Las Vegas Hilton boasts one of the largest Sports Books in town with over 300 seats and 28 giant screens. If you can’t find a seat at the Sports Book then head for the Las Vegas Hilton’s Hoops Central Viewing Party at the smoke free Hilton Theater with over 1,500 seats and food and drink specials.

Want to enjoy March Madness at The Wynn? Click for details on their Get in the Game Viewing Party in the Encore theater. Claiming “the largest HD screens in Vegas” this party includes giveaways, betting stations and more. Prices start at $30/day and include 2 beverage vouchers.

The Stratosphere is opening its showroom this year and is offering a four-day wall-to-wall marathon of all the big games. The TI has also announced that it will open it’s ballroom for a viewing party March 17th through March 19th.

Recommend your Favorite place to watch March Madness in Las Vegas

If you know of any other good options for March Madness this year, or if you have been to Las Vegas for March Madness before, just leave a comment below to recommend your favorite Sports Book or Bar.

Related posts:

1. Best Sports Books in Las Vegas Whether it’s hockey finals, basketball finals, the Kentucky Derby, the...
2. Where to Watch the Big Game in Las Vegas The Bowl game between LSU and Alabama was super for...
3. Getaway to Las Vegas for Spring Break 2011 Although March is Spring Break month for most colleges and...

Whether it’s hockey finals, basketball finals, the Kentucky Derby, the World Series, or the Super Bowl there’s no place like Las Vegas to enjoy watching your favorite team. This year, we can even include soccer’s once every four-year championship series the World Cup into the mix.

High End Sports Books on the Strip

If you’re coming to Las Vegas for a special sporting event or to watch your favorite team compete in the play-offs, it’s important to realize that not all sports books are created equal. Some are smoky old school, some are swanky hi-tech marvels, some get packed with exuberant fans and others are a quiet oasis tucked away from the casino’s other attractions.

The sports book at Caesar’s Palace was one of the first to go hi-tech and it became famous for attracting high stake gambler’s who wanted to be pampered in between placing their large wagers. It started with heavyweight fights and the Super Bowl. Now every play-off season in every sport comes with it’s own food, drink and special wager offers. Caesar’s is still one of the #1 places to go to rub shoulders with sports celebrities, models and other sports fans during the big games. It’s big and modern and often attracts standing room only crowds, so get there early if you want a seat.

The sports book at the Wynn is another classy, high-tech sports mecca that attracts the rich and famous as well as the serious, high stakes gambler. But its refined elegance and generally subdued clientele don’t attract, or even tolerate, the rambunctious crowds of heavy beer drinkers found at Caesar’s or many of the other sports books on the Strip. The Wynn often has some of the best odds and most generous lines available on the Strip too. Plan ahead and take advantage of some of their great room rates for a memorable and affordable stay.

Bally's Race and Sports Book is back and better than ever.

The Bellagio, Mirage and Aria also compete in the high-end sports book category. All three carry the exact same, fairly generic odds, parlays and proposition bets because they’re each owned by MGM/Mirage. A surprising contender in the high-end category is the sports book at Bally’s (owned by Harrah’s). Re-modeled from their old stadium style movie theater a few years ago, it’s large and high-tech with multiple flat screen TV’s and an awesome sound system. It also includes a glassed-in VIP area. The clientele is mixed since it serves as the sports book for guests staying at Paris Las Vegas too. (After cashing in your ticket, stop by the Indigo Lounge to relish in your victory!)

Other Sports Books on (or right off) the Strip

The sports books at Harrah’s and Imperial Palace are old school, no frills affairs, popular with cigar chomping gaming pros. Relatively smaller in scale than many other resorts, they offer a glimpse into a bygone era of sports gambling in Las Vegas. If you want to avoid the crowds and the distraction of trying to watch a dozen big screens at once, but still enjoy a modest amount of amenities, check out the sports book at Monte Carlo. Since this resort generally attracts a decidedly international crowd, I expect this will be a particularly fun place to enjoy a few key World Cup games.

The Palms, Rio, Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock are hands down the best casinos to visit if you’re more interested in special cocktails and people watching. All are hi-tech venues and generally attract a majority of twenty and thirty year old guys and gals. These places are exciting, crowded and loud! (Note: the Palms does NOT offer any bets on any NBA game because their owners own the Sacramento Kings. However, because they are independently owned, they offer some of the best lines and odds in Vegas for other sports. Looking for an extra half-point on your wager? Go to the Palms!)

The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook

For the serious sports bettor though, the best odds and largest number of proposition bets (side bets on individual player performances, coin toss results and other fun, intangible elements of any game) the sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton cannot be beat. It’s huge, it gets crowded, but there’s few other places that can match the excitement and special guest appearances at the Las Vegas Hilton.

For World Cup fans, there is probably no better place to get your soccer-hooligan on than the Hofbrauhaus on Paradise (across from the Hard Rock). This is not a casino, there is no sports book, but since it is an authentic recreation of the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany it’s got an international flair, great (cheap) food and giant steins of quality beer. In 2006 the walls were adorned with every national flag of every soccer team competing in the World Cup that year. The décor consists of picnic tables and folding chairs. There’s one giant flat screen TV that features the game of the moment by direct satellite feed. You absolutely will get to know your neighbors and I know it’s going to be the same great soccer party spot in Vegas this year!

Best Off-Strip Sports Books

The sports book at the M Resort is arguably the best sports book in all of Las Vegas. Independently owned, they consistently offer some of the most generous lines and lowest “vigs” (the house hold on straight bet wagers) in Vegas. Opened in 2009, it even features the latest mobile gaming technology on the market in case you want to take a dip in the pool at half-time. All the seats are plush and comfortable, even when it turns into a double overtime game. The food available at the Vig Deli next to the sports book is fast and delicious. The only drawback to the M Resort sports book is its size. It’s small and there’s not even much standing room. If you’re betting $500 or more you can get into the VIP area, but even it isn’t very big and when there’s a big game on, it fills up too. So, whether you’re planning a trip to Caesar’s Palace or M Resort to enjoy a big game, the key is to get there at least an hour early, especially if you’re with three or four people.

Other good off-Strip sports books are at the Red Rocks Resort on the western edge of the city and the Green Valley Resort on the southeastern edge of the city heading towards Lake Mead. Both are large and offer both console (individual screen) and leather chair seating along with hi-tech, multiple screen viewing. They each attract an upscale, 50/50 mix of tourists and locals, even on the week-ends. The only downside is that both properties are owned by Station Casinos and pretty much offer the same tight lines and higher “vigs” generally carried by MGM/Mirage and Harrah’s properties on the Strip. You won’t get a “local’s insider line” at Red Rocks or Green Valley but you will get a level of service and quality consistent with the higher end Strip properties, except without the crowds.

Some other off-Strip casinos with appealing sports books are Sunset Station, Fiesta Henderson and the Orleans. Not flashy, not extravagant, lots of big screens, lots of seating, lots of friendly locals.

So the next time you want to watch your team compete, if you can’t be there in person, consider catching them in an exciting Vegas sports book that matches your style!

Related posts:

1. March Madness in Las Vegas Every year in March, College Hoops fans from across the...
2. Where to Watch the Big Game in Las Vegas The Bowl game between LSU and Alabama was super for...