Casino football contests give fans the chance to score big

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

Each year at this time, sports bettors devour the opportunity to test their skills, catch a little luck and win some money by entering the football handicapping contests offered by Las Vegas casinos.

Because many of these contests are used as promotional tools to attract gamblers to the casino, there's one for everyone from free-rollers to wise guys to casual fans.

At Palace Station hotel-casino, for instance, sports book director Rob Terry looks out his office door and sees a group of tourists making their NFL picks -- for every game in the entire season.

"They live in Cleveland, and they might not be back (in Las Vegas) for another year," said Terry, talking up Station Casinos' "Great Giveaway" football contest. "That's one of the great features of this contest. You can make all your picks in advance, or you can do it week-by-week, so people from out of state can participate just as easily as locals."

A Hail Mary or two away, at the Stratosphere, sports book director Nick Bogdanovich is targeting a much different audience: professional handicappers willing to ante up a $1,000 entry fee.

"Compared to the other contests, this one is the most like pro gambling," said Bogdanovich, who built a sterling reputation by going mano a mano with the smart money as boss at Binion's Horseshoe for the past nine years before taking over at the Strat.

With its modest $25 entry fee, Station Casinos' contest is designed to take on all comers -- sharps and squares, Vegans and visitors. Entrants pick straight-up winners (no point spreads) in each week's NFL games.

"One aspect of the contest people really like is that you can win quarterly prizes," said Terry. "We break up the season into four quarters -- weeks 1-4, 5-8, 9-12 and the final five weeks of the season, and award cash prizes to the winner of each quarter in addition to weekly winners."

The contest also features $20,000 in total prizes each week and cash prizes for the seasonal winner and anyone who goes exactly .500 for the year.

A $1,000,000 bonus cash prize will be awarded if one person wins all four quarters of the season.

Registration is available 24 hours a day by touch-screen computer at each Station Casinos property: Palace Station, Boulder Station, Texas Station, Sunset Station and Wild Wild West.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Stratosphere's "Pro Football Handicapping Contest" for serious bettors.

The $1,000 entry fee gets entrants a theoretical bankroll of $100,000, from which they must wager between $1,100 and $11,000 on at least three NFL games each week, against the spread. The bettor with the largest bankroll at the end of the season wins the $100,000 first prize.

The rest of the $200,000 guaranteed prize money is distributed among the second- through 10th-place finishers. Bogdanovich expects 200 entries.

"It's great because you can bet more on the games you like and less on the others," said Bogdanovich, who accepted six-figure NFL bets without blinking an eye while at the Horseshoe. "Any time you can weight the bets, the contest is going to be better. It proves who truly is the best handicapper."

The Stratosphere, which has a newly remodeled sports book this year (its old one was managed by Leroy's), is also offering "Nick's Football Free-for-All," a free contest with $5,000 in weekly prizes and T-shirts to the first 2,000 who sign up.

Here's a rundown of contests being offered around town this season:

* ARIZONA CHARLIE'S: In "Mary's Free Football Frenzy," contestants compete for a $5,000 weekly prize by selecting NFL winners straight-up.

* BALLY'S: For a $50 entry fee, entrants in "The Eliminator" choose one game against the spread each week, either college or NFL, and continue playing until they lose. Winner takes all.

In the "Ladies Free Football Contest," women contestants pick each week's NFL games straight-up for weekly cash prizes and a grand prize of a trip to the Super Bowl.

* BARLEY'S: The "Gridiron Growler" carries a $200 entry fee. Entrants pick 10 NFL and five college games each week, chasing weekly and seasonal cash prizes.

* COAST RESORTS: The 22nd annual "Pick the Pros" contest costs $25 for the season. Coast properties Barbary Coast, Gold Coast and The Orleans will jointly give away a total of $1,000,000 in cash. First prize for the season is $100,000, second is $50,000, third is $25,000, fourth is $10,000 and fifth is $5,000. The next 300 finishers each receive $1,000. An additional $30,000 will be distributed in weekly prizes. Selections are made in NFL games, straight-up.

* LAS VEGAS HILTON: Billed as the "ultimate pro football handicapping contest," the venerable "SuperContest" challenges serious handicappers with a $1,500 entry fee and $337,500 in prize money based on 250 entrants, who select NFL games against the spread.

"College Football 101" carries a $50 entry fee and features $50,000 in total prize money. Contestants pick college games against the spread, and can also sign up at other Park Place properties, including Bally's and the Flamingo Hilton.

* RESERVE: The Henderson resort plans to offer a football contest, but has not yet released details.

* SANTA FE: The weekly "Free for All" is free to play and offers $10,000 in weekly prize money. Games are chosen straight-up.

* STARDUST: The enormously popular "All American Football Contest" boasts a $15,000 weekly prize this year. Contestants make their selections straight-up from a list of 15 or more college and pro games chosen each week by contest officials. Participants can also sign up at the other Boyd properties: Sam's Town, California, Main Street Station, Fremont, Eldorado and Jokers Wild.