March Madness in Las Vegas: A Story of a Future Ticket

Story time from the book:

March Madness is finally here. Games all day & night.

Being in a sportsbook in Las Vegas for it is quite the experience. Working in one is another level.

There have been stories over the years. Here is one about a future ticket that lives on and.. pic.twitter.com/H5ZSPH7hBz

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

is forever brought up by friends in the business.

It’s 6:15 am Sunday morning in the book. We’ve just worked the first three days of the tournament.

14 hours Thursday, 16 hours Friday & 12 hours Saturday.

Non-stop, three days in a row, lines of people 100 deep, ticket..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

after ticket, and just enough time to go home & take a nap in between. In all my years in the business, have never seen it as busy as it was these three days.

Back at it Sunday morning, hoping to just get through this day and not snap.

Second customer of the day comes up and..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

asks “Do you have odd to win it all?” because of course he can’t find the sheets.

Keep in mind, I just put 100 sheets with these odds in the enormous display case maybe 50 feet away from him..

But we all know he can’t see the case & no way he can’t bet without a..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

a sheet 🤦‍♂️..

My legs stopped working the day before, and my patience was gone sometime Thursday afternoon..

No chance in hell I am walking over to the case & getting him a sheet, yet telling him to get one himself was not an option.

The goal this week is to get the people..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

what they want & get them on their way from the counter.

Especially if there are people behind them doing the Bob and Weave, wondering what the hell is taking this person so long in front of them.

So, in that mode, I say “we have odds to win the whole thing. Who do you want..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

to know?” (Both anxiously & nervously awaiting his response)

Overjoyed, he steps to the counter. Here we go!

“Wisconsin?”

30-1. He shakes his head. Apparently, not high enough.

“How about Ar-KAN-sas?”

250-1.

“Oh, give me $5 on them!”

He looks down at his piece of paper..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

in his hand that I cannot see.

“South Ca-RO-Lina?”

200-1.

“Give me $5 on them.”

Then, there is a pause. It’s not long, it’s not short, just a noticeable pause.

He then says “How about OX-fer?”

WHAT? I think I misheard him.

I ask “who did you say?”

He looked right..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

at me & asks again, “the odds on OX-fer?”

I swear, I know I am dead tired & literally physically fatigued, but I know I heard him.

There are only 24 teams left in the tourney at this point, but I sure as hell have no idea who he is talking about.

I scan the odds screen..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

hoping to find this alleged OX-fer.

I got nothing. The look of frustration on my face. Another pause.

He then pulls out a sheet from Caesars.

I ask again “Who??”

He points at the sheet.

OH YEAH!! There it is..

XAVIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deadpanned, “Oh OX-fer!! They..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023

are good. They are 90-1”

He literally jumps with excitement and says “give me $5 on them.”

I can’t help it. I reply “you want $5 on OX-Fer?”

He says it again. “Yes, give me $5 on OX-fer!” like we found gold!!

My supervisor was standing next to me.

To this day, if he..

— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) March 16, 2023