 Hitting the Books
Picks and Predictions from Robert Walker
Race- and Sportsbook Director for MGM Mirage
Nevada remains the only state in America where major individual sporting events can be legally wagered on. As Las Vegas and its casinos have evolved and grown in spectacular fashion, so have its sportsbooks. No longer smoke-filled gambling dens populated by wiseguys and sharpies, these are high-tech betting arenas that draw a diverse cross-section of bettors—from hardcore pro gamblers, to hard-partying tourists, to sports fans who want the added excitement of having cash on the line.
Casino Player recently asked Robert Walker, director of MGM Mirage’s race- and sportsbook, to update us on the gaming empire’s sports betting operations—and to get the scoop on some of his personal picks.
CP: Your Super Bowl pick is the Colts over the Panthers. How’d you come to that conclusion?
RW: I think it’s now or never for the Colts. They’ve been knocking on the door for some time. At 4–1 odds they perhaps don’t represent the best value, but I still think they’ll get the job done.
What are the other powerhouse teams this season?
I believe the NFC is wide open. The Eagles have too many off-the-field problems right now, and at 5–1, I would have to pass. I like the Panthers and the Vikings. The Panthers are currently 12–1, while the Vikings have been bet down from 30–1 to 7–1. That’s a huge move this early and surprising, with no Randy Moss. I think the Lions and Cardinals will be vastly improved and it will be no shock if either team, or both of them, make the playoffs.
Did you pick last year’s Super Bowl champ?
I actually did not pick the winner, as I predicted the Eagles over the Colts. Last year’s Super Bowl was outstanding. It was our second best Super Bowl ever, in terms of win. The state of Nevada had a record year in terms of handle, and a record win overall.
 How do the sportsbooks differ within the various MGM Mirage properties in Vegas?
We currently run 14 sportsbooks under the MGM Mirage umbrella. I think each is unique and caters to their respective casino customers. Bellagio is probably the most comfortable book in the world, with plush seating everywhere. MGM Grand has the only sportsbook I know of with skyboxes, which offer unbelievable views of the book and its high-definition TVs. Mandalay and the Mirage are two of the largest books in Nevada and two of the best places to watch a sporting event. It would be hard to list all of the attributes of our race- and sportsbooks individually. Collectively, I believe they’re among the finest anywhere.
It’s been announced that Vegas will host the 2007 NBA All-Star game. What does this mean for the city?
I believe this is a nice event for Las Vegas. Let’s face it, people want to come here anyway and this is just another reason. I have mixed emotions, however, due to the fact that for the first time we will not be able to offer wagering on the All-Star game. I believe some people like to wager to enhance their enjoyment of the game. It’ll be difficult to explain to our customers that we cannot accept bets on the game. In reality, only 20,000 or so will be able to attend the game in person, while tens of thousands of people may want to place a bet. ´
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