Leroy's
Horse and Sports Place received preliminary approval Wednesday from
state gaming regulators to increase its presence throughout Nevada with
four more wagering locations.
The sites -- at the Parker's Model T Casino in Winnemucca, Pioneer
Crossing in Fernley, the Longhorn Casino and the Bighorn Casino -- will
house Leroy's kiosk betting terminals, which let customers bet on
sporting events and certain horse races 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
Leroy's, which is operated by American Wagering, will have 62 locations
if the Nevada Gaming Commission approves the recommendation Jan. 27.
The control board also approved Leroy's proposals to offer live horse
race wagering at three locations where it now operates sports
wagering-only sites -- Mahoney's Silver Nugget, the Silver Club in
Sparks and the Avi in Laughlin.
American Wagering Chief Financial Officer Tim Lockinger told control
board members the sites have a large enough customer base and interest
to support a live race book carrying the daily posting from 20 tracks,
although the individual wagers per player may be smaller than at other
locations.
The kiosks, which gaming authorities approved in 2002, allow Leroy's to
bring sports wagering to areas of the state where it doesn't make
financial sense to operate a staffed sports book.
The company has more than 30 of the gaming devices in small casinos,
primarily in rural Nevada, but the kiosks could also be used in larger
sports books to help accept bets during heavy wagering periods, such as
weekends when there is a full slate of college and professional
football games.
"We're counting on the fact that younger gamblers, who are much more
computer-savvy, will use the kiosks because they are familiar enough
with this type of equipment," American Wagering Chief Executive Officer
Vic Salerno said.
The kiosks accept currency and give customers a voucher that can be
cashed at the casino cage or be used to make additional wagers. Betting
lines are updated on a real-time basis and reflect the posted odds at
all Leroy's betting locations.
A table-top, sit-down version of the kiosk, which is used primarily in
race books so customers can also wager on sporting events, have small
television monitors as part of the system.
All sporting events posted at Leroy's sports books are offered to gamblers using the kiosks.
The only horse racing events available on the stand-alone devices are
Breeders Cup races and the Triple Crown events -- Kentucky Derby,
Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
The machines allow gamblers to wager up to $3,000 in cash per day,
though an unlimited number of vouchers and winning tickets may be
placed back into the machine for additional play.
Salerno said the kiosks are being tested at several Strip locations,
including the Sahara and the Riviera as well as the Silverton, to see
if there is customer acceptance. He said the devices could be modified
to accept ticket in-ticket out vouchers from slot machines if
agreements could be struck with major equipment manufacturers.
Review Journal
