Sports books idled by terrorist attacks

David Strow

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 9:42 a.m.

With the sports world paralyzed through at least this weekend, Las Vegas sports books find themselves almost completely devoid of business during what is usually their busiest time of year.

But though there are few games or events to bet on, the books have taken on a central role in the Strip's casinos -- the dissemination of information to guests during one of the most severe crises in the nation's history, through their banks of television screens. Instead of ESPN, the network of choice in sports books this week has been CNN.

Andy Maiden, spokesman for Bally's/Paris Las Vegas, described the books as "a nerve center" of information. Other major sports book operators share that view.

"For the most part, we are focusing on using that venue as an information source, and we'll continue to do so until the country returns to some level of normalcy," said Michael Coldwell, spokesman for Caesars Palace. "People want information about the situation locally and on a national scale, and the sports book is providing that service."

"We have major news networks on all our TVs, and it's enabled the public and tourists a chance to keep up to date on all the events," said Joe Lupo, director of the race and sports book at the Stardust hotel-casino. "The structure of the sports books has created an environment where people have congregated, and felt comfortable talking with strangers.

"It's not much of a sports betting place, not until Monday, anyway."

Professional sports, including the National Football League and Major League Baseball, have been suspended since Tuesday's tragedy. Many college games were available on the boards until Thursday, when all Division I-A games scheduled for Saturday were postponed. Lupo said there hadn't been much action on those games anyway, as many bettors figured the games would be cancelled.

About all that's left are horse races and futures bets. The books will take these bets, but thatt hasn't been enough to sustain much business.

"Employees are mostly answering questions about cancellations, refunding money (on bets on cancelled games)," said MGM MIRAGE spokesman Alan Feldman. "If someone does want to transact a wager, they'll still be able to do it."

But few want to do so.

"At the Mirage (sports book), during a normal day, there would have been close to 100 (customers)," Feldman said. "I counted six (today)."

That has affected sports book employees.

"I've had to send many people home," Lupo said. "I've had to make big adjustments, cut my staff by maybe two-thirds."

On a normal Saturday at the height of football season, the Stardust book would have anywhere from 25 to 30 employees working. This weekend, it will have only 10.

But Lupo said, even now, there are signs that normalcy might be returning to the sports books of Las Vegas.

"There was absolutely nothing going on (Tuesday and Wednesday)," Lupo said. "(Thursday), people were looking forward to getting back to normal, just keeping busy. So we've had some activity.

"It's just temporary, obviously well-warranted. If you come back next week, it will be, almost, business as usual."