Las Vegas Books Nearly Hit Record But Green Bay’s 2-Point Conversion Denies Huge Profits Because Of Push
This city’s legal bookies were a two-point conversion away from their biggest Super Bowl win ever.
As it turned out, there weren’t too many winners on either side of the betting window after a Super Bowl that ended exactly how Las Vegas bookmakers predicted - with Green Bay a 14-point winner.
“If it wasn’t for that two-point conversion it would have been the biggest win in Nevada bookmaking history,” said Michael “Roxy” Roxborough, who sets the lines for Nevada sports books. “We would have won $20 million at least, maybe $25 million.”
Instead, most bettors lined up after the game either to get their original bet back or to collect, if they were lucky enough to get the game either at 13-1/2 or 14-1/2 points.
“We have the world’s largest lines in front of the cashier’s window,” Roxborough said after the game. “You are either getting your money back or you won.”
Before anyone starts feeling too sorry for bookmakers, however, Roxborough said they were likely to end up with a small profit overall because bettors lost big on the so-called “prop” bets and parlay cards.
xxxx You bet A sampling of Sunday’s winning bets: Point spread: For most, a push at 14 points. Coin toss: New England. Payoff usually 11-10. Money line: Green Bay minus 550. Total points: over 49.5. Total points, first half: over 25.5. First score: Green Bay minus 220. Last score: Green Bay minus 175. Last score of first half: Green Bay minus 185. First touchdown: Andre Rison, payoff 12-1. Margin of victory: 14, payoff 3-1. First scoring play: Packers touchdown pass, payoff 2-1. Last scoring play: Packers kick return, payoff 18-1. Touchdown passes thrown: Favre two, payoff 5-2; Bledsoe two, payoff 2-1. Total field goals: Two, payoff 7-2. Total interceptions: Four, payoff 6-1. Ben Coates receptions: Six, payoff 7-1. Keith Jackson and Mark Chmura receptions: Three, payoff 6-1. Money line, first quarter: New England, plus 180. Money line, second quarter: Green Bay, minus 170. Money line, third quarter: Green Bay, minus 200. Money line, fourth quarter: Push. Total points, first quarter: over 11. Total points, second quarter: over 14.5. Total points, third quarter: over 11. Total points, fourth quarter: under 14. Source: Roxy Roxborough. Intended for news matter only.