Station Casinos re-launches phone wagering service

Friday, Sept. 8, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Station Casinos Inc. said it re-introduced a telephone sports wagering service for Las Vegas residents.

Called "Sports Connection," the service allows residents to place wagers via phone at all four Station properties in Las Vegas. Participants must enroll at one of the four properties and present a Nevada driver's license, proof of residency and a Station Casinos "Boarding Pass" players card.

Accounts must be established with a minimum deposit of $100. Bets may be placed with an automated telephone system from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, with winning bets being credited to the player's account. Cash withdrawals can be made at the Station property where the player registered. Participants can also receive daily faxes of game lines and scores.

The service is the first time Station has accepted telephone wagers since eliminating a "live" phone wagering service three years ago. Rob Terry, director of the race and sports book at Palace Station, said this service was eliminated because of constant busy signals as telephone lines jammed up. That won't occur here, Terry said, because Sports Connection has 196 incoming lines.

"It's like an extension of our counter, going 196 windows deep," Terry said.

Since telephone wagers from outside Nevada are prohibited by federal and state law, Terry said the company plans to aggressively ensure that calls are coming from only the Las Vegas Valley. Ten percent of calls will receive callbacks to ensure the caller's location, and calls from cellular phones and caller ID-blocked numbers won't be accepted.