By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com reached out to US Bookmaking to respond to current issues in the sports gambling world. Responding for US Bookmaking is Robert Walker, head of risk management and considered one of the top bookmakers in the US sports betting business.
Walker, with his risk management team, oversees the daily sports wagering product and risk management operations for US Bookmaking. He has managed some of the largest sports book operations in Nevada, including MGM/Mirage Resorts, Mirage Resorts, Boyd Gaming and Genting’s Caribbean sports book operations.
LVSportsBiz: MGM Resorts and Caesars are becoming partners with major league sports leagues and teams. What impact will this have on sports gambling in Las Vegas:
RW: I think it’s too early to understand the exact impact that this may have. We look at it as strictly a marketing deal right now, but it could be more with data feed implications.
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LVSB: NHL teams, for example, are very secretive and not exact about player injuries — how will sports betters be able to make wagers if they do not have full info on players? Is there an integrity issue?
RW: We would like to see real-time injury information for all sports. Hockey gives very generic injury reports. Right now hockey is a niche sport compared to the others. We think it would be in their best interest to be more user friendly.
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LVSB: What impact has the Supreme Court ruling last year on sports gambling had on Las Vegas?
RW: We don’t currently operate in the Las Vegas market. My understanding from talking to other operators is that it has not had an effect yet. However, there is little doubt that larger states will surpass Nevada in terms of handle.
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LVSB: Many gambling advocates say in-game betting helps teams and leagues grow their sports by cultivating interest among fans — do you agree?
RW: In-game wagering will see significant growth in the legal sports market. It is something that is relatively new in Nevada. We think it will explode along with mobile wagering in jurisdictions that allow it.
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LVSB: When college basketball fans come to Las Vegas for the first weekend of March Madness, to what extent is sports gambling the reason for their visit to Las Vegas?
RW: I would think a majority of fans that come to Las Vegas for the tournament do so because of the ability to wager on all of the games, including first and second half and now, in-game wagering. It’s an event. Clear and simple.
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