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HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF! That’s what they say, but Art
Manteris doesn’t believe it, especially when the subject is Nevada’s
unique race and sports book industry.
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“I’m tired of hearing
people say things aren’t what they used to be . . . They’re better,”
Manteris told us.
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The Super Bookie,
as he is known, has now brought his expertise to Station Casinos and its
nine-location network. He is set up at Palace Station where 20 years of
experience is working for him and the many customers he has served across the
years and across the board. The name Super Bookie follows after
publishing “SuperBookie.” It’s an insider’s handbook of Nevada’s
bookmaking business and it was written by a guy who spent the last 20 years
gathering data.
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“When I came to Las Vegas
in the late 1970s, I attended UNLV and helped pay my way with a job in the
betting parlor at the Fremont hotel.
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“Hotels were few and far
between when it came to race and sports books. The Stardust and Union
Plaza led the way with the Fremont. The legends of the day were Bob
Martin, Bobby The Tower Barrent, Lefty Rosenthal, Jimmy the
Greek, Jack Franzi, etc. My mentors were guys like Jimmy Vaccaro
and Richard Klamian. They gave me some education.
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“There was nothing fancy
about betting parlors in those days; they were plain vanilla. All that changed
in the early 1980s thanks to the efforts of certain people ”” the late Sen. Howard
Cannon and you, Chuck.
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Cannon convinced the
government to ease the federal excise tax, which at one time was 10%. It dropped
to 2%, but Cannon was influential in getting it down to a quarter of one
percent. That got the hotels interested.
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“Then you came along with
live racing on the video. At about the same time, sports programming across the
country got a big boost from cable and broadcasting companies like ESPN.
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“In those days, tickets
had to be handwritten. Security was limited. And, what one player can bet today
is more than what could be wagered throughout the town in the good old days (?).
That’s a fact.
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“In my opinion, a sports
book will always be at risk. But, if proper bookmaking philosophy is maintained,
the house can win more than it loses in the long run. If proper procedures are
followed, things should work themselves out.
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“You’ve got to have
stomach to be a good bookmaker. And ”” don’t forget ”” you also have to have
deep pockets.
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“I certainly can’t deny
that I respect certain players. There are a number of wise guys
that are very tough to beat. Some of the best in the business all congregate
here.
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“Yesterday vs. today?
There’s no comparison in terms of sports betting. The menu has expanded
greatly, so have the limits, parlay card payoffs have gone through the roof,
payouts are available instantly and service and comfort are superior. Today’s
customer is much better off than he ever was before.”
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Manteris quickly cited
Station Casinos’ Great Giveaway football contest with more than $1.5 million
on the line.
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“And, don’t forget two
other Station properties ”” Fiesta and The Reserve ”” that are
introducing a $250,000 free football contest. How can you beat that? A shot at
$250,000 as a comp,” Manteris added.
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“The Great Giveaway has a
buy-in of $25 per entry. There are three ways to win ”” most winners, least
winners and the fiddle in the middle! That goes to the player or
players who fall directly in the middle between the most winners and the most
losers.”
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In his new assignment,
Manteris will oversee all the bet shop operations at all nine Stations Casinos
properties, which will soon number 10 when the Green Valley Ranch opens
before the end of the year. The count includes Palace Station, Boulder
Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, Santa Fe,
Fiesta, The Reserve, Barley’s, Wild Wild West and ”” coming
soon ”” Green Valley Ranch.
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With the Super Bookie
at the helm, it figures to be a great year for Station Casinos.
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And, it says here, what the Fertitta
family’s string of local casinos has won, Caesars Place and Las
Vegas Hilton have lost ”” Art Manteris.
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