Sunday marked the last super bowl for the historyladen stardust sports book, which opened amid much fanfare in 1975 a priceless photo of a pair of showgirls pulling a horse through the hotel to mark that occasion is nailed to a wall near the mens room. Hes told hell get his hearts desire, which in this case means shacking up with an exoticlooking slave woman. Race and sports books werent always staples on the strip. The race and sports book in the movie was not the actual stardust book but was filmed in an unopened venue in the jockey club. Beautiful book, but definitely different from the film. The money was counted at the writers stations and then put in heavy canvas bags and padlocked. The casinos iconic sign went through many changes over the years. It also had its own race and sports book, which was considered one of the best on the las vegas strip. Apr 11, 2011 the bettorturnedbookmaker once operated gary austins race and sports book on the corner of las vegas boulevard and sands avenue. He began a weekly television show which aired live from the stardust in 1977. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of game. While college and professional football are the shows primary focus, major boxing matches. Led the sports book at the stardust, which helped set the standard in vegas in the 1980s.
Larry horton and loren horton picked up the cleanup efforts after the conclusion of the 1969 nhra stardust national open. Legalized sports betting has a much shorter history than wideopen casino gambling. The stardust has been razed like most of the hotels that paved the way, erased from the strip but not forgotten. In the united states a sportsbook or a race and sports book sometimes abbreviated as book is a place where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, including golf, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, horse racing, greyhound racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. What happened to the stardust international raceway. Las vegas sportsbook director recounts life story in new book las. Potential bidders signed up in person and through the auctions web site at participants buying on the internet were able to bid live against buyers at the stardust.
The stardust opened in 1958 at 3000 las vegas blvd south. Rather was impressed with the book operation, the customers, and an atmosphere he said, hollywood couldnt create. South point sports book director chris andrews will soon release a book titled then one. They showed select live televised ball games and added a local tv show once a week. Captain stardust thoroughbred horse profile, next race, formguide, stats, breeding, news, jockey and trainer information for race horse captain stardust from racing and sports. A look at 6 legendary las vegas sports book figures las. Gary austin was a selfproclaimed wiseguy who started making sports bets in his mid20s while working as a sales rep, then manager, for continental can in southern california.
Shortly after the resort opened, the defunct nearby royal nevada hotel and casino opened in 1955 was converted to become part of the stardust, and a 32story tower was added in 1991. Used stardust hotel and casino las vegas nv for sale in henderson stardust hotel and casino las vegas nv posted by denise spair in henderson. Stardust harness runner profile, next race, formguide, stats, breeding, news, driver and trainer information for race runner stardust from racing and sports. The resort and casino contained 1,552 rooms and a 85,000 square foot casino. Velocity says the show offers insights into the inner workings of nevadas race and sports book industry. The stardust brought vegas sportsbooks to the masses. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read stardust.
Linemakers examines how sports book odds setters operate. Popular turf clubs include the derby club, saratoga club, and hollywood horse and sports book. However, i like them as separate things, and both have their own merits. Stardust harness runner profile next race, form, stats. Twenty year patron joyce lindsay from manitoba, canada asks bill boyd, chairman of boyd gaming, to autograph a souvenir sign in the stardust race and sports book shortly before the resort closed. Stardust raceways colorful past recalled in new book. Scott schettler, manager of the race and sports book at the stardust, estimates that 40% of his horse betting is on the california tracks. Las vegas gambling invaded by a different sort of organized crime 100% sign up sportsbook bonus. Stardust international raceway book videos facebook. Enter the night the stardust opulent stage extravaganza. Everyone seems to get more on edge as the clock gets closer to 6 and you can feel the excitement.
Responsible for setting the betting line for the stardust resort. His vision would completely transform the landscape of sports betting. The stardust race and sports book was the standard to which all others in the las vegas vicinity were compared. Gambling was legalized in nevada in 1931, but race and sports betting. Dunstan thorn lives in the tiny town of wall, and when hes eighteen, he crosses through the wall to attend the onceeverynineyears faerie market. A look at 6 legendary las vegas sports book figures. Jul 02, 2006 in terms of more lasting innovation, rosenthal is credited with being the first, in 1975, to put a race and sports book inside a las vegas casino. Twelve years ago wednesday, the stardust resort and casino on the las vegas strip was imploded. The stardust on the las vegas strip was imploded 12 years ago. History of sports betting in las vegas vsin exclusive news. Enjoy the finest view available of the las vegas strip from five picture windows or the balcony off the 21st floor. Never a trace, former sports book manager at the stardust richard saber said. Las vegas oddsmakers leave very little to chance chicago. Choose from a wide range of major league baseball betting markets and members of sportsbook.
Stardust operation taken over by john factor and his wife. The stardust sportsbook features six giant screens and seating for 300, which becomes the inspiration for following sportsbooks. Terrace bar, which overlooks the new swimming pool. Lefty, a master handicapper, moved from his hometown chicago to miami. The standalone operation offered high limits in every sport. Bob scucci learned much of what he knows about the sports betting industry at one of the most unlikely places. The stardust sportsbook features six giant screens and seating for 300, which. Mar 07, 2018 another significant regional casino operator with racetrack properties and as much sports betting knowledge as anyone else in this race, boyd is another company that could place popup sports books in numerous venues. Everyone seems to get more on edge as the clock gets closer to 6, and you can feel the. Ive watched the film stardust countless times, so did not anticipate that it would be a whole different thing to the book, but yeah, they are worlds apart. At his stardust casino, rosenthal created the very first glitz and glamor sportsbook, the stardust race and sportsbook.
Rosenthal was the innovator of the prototypical race and sports book, said las vegas. Robert walker sports book operations usbookmaking usf. What used to be standalone shops in the shadows grew up in the 1960s, came. For anyone who has an interest in las vegas history, especially the deeply buried past, or the history of motorsports in general, stardust international raceway motorsports meets the mob in vegas, 19651971 is a real find and worth every penny. It was arguably a hit piece except for the stardust race and sportsbook. Stardust race sports book wagertalk to air new bet on it podcast. The final super sunday at the stardust sports book. This is the place to be for serious race and sport gamblers. The stardust s modern casino and 32story tower were built in 1991.
The stardust race and sports book is the home of the famed las vegas line. The cultural war between bookmakers and their adversaries is a recurring theme, as bookmakers were often. The race and sportsbook in the movie was not the stardust but was actually an unopened book in the jockey club on the north end of the strip. We use cookies and other technologies to analyze site traffic, understand patterns of use, and. Whether youre holding a meeting, conference, or special event such as a birthday party, the stardust suite at the orleans is the answer to your needs.
The lv sun has a great story about the final super bowl sunday at the stardust before it closes to make way for echelon resort. One season, three gamblers and the death of their las vegas, by chad millman, chronicled a year in the lives of stardust race and sportsbook manager joe lupo and assistant manager bob scucci, as well as professional sports bettor alan boston and wannabe sports bettor rodney bosnich. The stardust comes complete with a rich and colorful history, much of it. Captain stardust thoroughbred horse profile next race. At the stardust i was juiced in by warren nelson, who i worked for previously. It was a busy evening at the stardust casino sportsbook in 1992 when metro police say cashier william brennan put his plan into action. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type. Scotty schettler real life las vegas, nevada linkedin. With seating for 125 people, new generation led reader boards, and the latest highresolution giant screen televisions, the race and sports book makes all major race and sports events instantly available. The word nostalgia is not often incorporated into a description of sports betting, but there was a melancholy mood early super bowl sunday at an otherwise busy stardust race and sports book. A recognized leader and trusted name in sports handicapping since 1971.
Aug 12, 2009 the stardust race and sports book was the standard to which all others in the las vegas vicinity were compared. Celebrity golf, stock betting, and soccer italian fa cup president to use sports betting revenue to save clubs ballin out at the ballina cup. By the time he quit the race and sports book business he. The race book provides betting windows for parimutuel wagering, while the sports book features seven betting windows. Used stardust hotel and casino las vegas nv for sale in. At the end of the regular season, we had the jazz at 5to1 to win it all, said stardust race and sports book supervisor bob scucci. A saturday afternoon in 198485, with me in charge of the stardust racesportsbook, the hostess from our palm room resturant. Discover the history and future of las vegas sportsbooks and join us for sports. The stardust hotel and casino has had a long run on the las vegas strip. He chronicled the business in his book we were wiseguys and didnt know it booksurge 2010 and runs the. The stardust resort and casino was a casino resort located on 63 acres 25 ha along the las vegas strip in winchester, nevada the stardust opened in 1958 and operated continuously for 48 years. History of sports betting in las vegas vsin exclusive.
Lang provides a sweeping overview of legal and illegal sports and race betting in the united states, from the first thoroughbred meet at saratoga in 1863 through the modern day. The race book at caesars palace is a las vegas sports betting institution, with 65 private booths that offer las vegas race bettors comfort. Gaming today writer richard saber, who was the former stardust race and sportsbook manager recalled, he was basically a total complete. For anyone who has an interest in las vegas history, especially the deeply buried past, or the history of motorsports in general, this book is a real findlas vegas advisor. The stardust line was a term wellrecognized by legal and illegal bookmakers and players. The stardust on the las vegas strip was imploded 12 years. Sports bettors used to be a real small segment of the betting public, says bob scucci, race and sports book director for the stardust resort and casino in las vegas. Saber is now a race and sports writer for gaming today, but he was the sports book manager at the stardust, and knew brennan.
The race book features 65 private booths equipped with individual 12 flatscreen tvs, and a custom built 143 hd led display overhead simulcasting live horse racing from around the country daily, and betting windows available for your convenience. The stardust resort and casino was a casino resort located on 63 acres 25 ha along the las. Stardust resort and casino casinocyclopedia fandom. The theme was las vegas, and it was not very complimentary. The stardust suite features seating for up to 60 and 11 plasma tvs with. The history of sports betting in vegas golden gate casino. The large stardust race and sports book is where the odds and point spreads are set for the entire nevada gaming industry. I spoke with mccoy during a random meeting at the stardust race and sports book. Online baseball betting, mlb betting and all all in sports. Mar 17, 2003 by rod smith nevada over in back at the stardust race and sports book, where the sun never shines, theres a new manager. Its like the academy awards, says scott schettler, director of the stardust race and sports book.
By the time he quit the race and sports book business he had. The short and colorful history of stardust raceway is chronicled in a new book by randall cannon, a freelance author from henderson. The entire late night half hour was all stardust sports betting and booking. Oct 30, 2006 the stardust has had many milestones, one of which involves its race and sports book. Scott ran the largest legal race and sports book on the planet.
Our remote betting consisted of two phone stations where we quoted current odds and wrote tickets by hand till computer stations were installed in 1987. We still refined phone betting into a smooth machine in the 80s when the stardust ruled las vegas sports betting and influenced most of the rest of the country. Caesars and the stardust rank 12 in town in overall. Rosenthals life was the inspiration for the movie, casino, and he was one of the major players in vegas at the time. The authors have uncovered voluminous sources and written about stardust international raceway in astonishing detail. It was also known for its iconic roadside marquee, which stood at 188 feet and was designed by bob miller of adart. Robert bob scucci is the vice president of race and sports for boyd gaming corp. That got the major casinos into the bookmaking business led by the stardust race and sports book. I spotted him near the back of the book where the betting sheets for the horse races were displayed. Although the stardust name is largely mothballed presently, it was synonymous with sports betting in nevada for decades.
The suite offers 2,500 square feet of comfort and style. They took pride in putting out the opening lines for. What is the history of legal sports betting in nevada. Professional sports bettors will be creating a podcast all about wagering on the nfl. Bob scucci works behind the tellers and the computers and the technicians in the dimly lit, poorly vented bowels of the venerable sports book. Many people stopped by the sports book for the last time on sunday, hoping to go out a winner. The stardust was chosen due to its status at the time as the home of the opening line. When we opened the series betting for the finals, utah was a.
820 420 1269 1156 592 900 939 1547 688 1221 431 1341 358 218 1291 86 906 843 1600 792 1359 1563 1277 845 139 542 843 1142 379 772 920