LJWorld.com / Sports books big winners Super Sunday

Archive for Monday, January 29, 2001

The Associated Press

January 29, 2001

Las Vegas — Las Vegas' sports books came up nearly as big as the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.

"We did great. We came out on the plus side this year. Overall most places did well," John Avello, sports book manager for Bally's and Paris-Las Vegas, said after Baltimore's 34-7 victory over the New York Giants in Tampa, Fla.

The Ravens were a 3-point favorite, but they started out as low as a 1-point favorite.

Most gamblers took the Ravens early and the Giants over the weekend, Avello said.

"From Friday it was all Giant money and that's when the money shows up," he said. "The public was in love with the Giants and they were wrong this year."

But at the Stardust hotel-casino down the street the most popular bet was the Ravens and under a total of 33 points for both teams, said Joe Lupo, manager of the resort's sports book. The over-under total ranked among the lowest in Super Bowl history.

"The over saved us, so it was more of a break even situation," he said. "We also did well on the Baltimore future bets because there were a lot more bets on other teams. It will still be a profitable Super Bowl."

Baltimore started out about 30-1 to win the title at the beginning of the season.

Lupo said his sports book also did well on propositions, which included bets on how many times the quarterbacks would get sacked and how many interceptions would be thrown.

Long lines of bettors formed after the game because there wasn't a clear favorite this year, oddsmakers said.

"It was a great year to book a future book," Avello said. "There were 10 teams that could have won it (Super Bowl)."