Las Vegas before.....

Re: Las Vegas before.....

Lefty had a unique talent. He could spot a winner a mile away. I remember once walking thru the Stardust Casino with him. We walked up to a crap table, and there was this girl rolling the dice. Lefty knew tht this was not going to be good for the house. He just knew it. That little girl held the dice for over 27 minutes. While she had no clue as to how to play the game, everyone around her did. She just kept hitting numbers. When she would roll a "natural", it was alwasy on the come out roll. Lefty knew that she was going to get red hot. He also knew that most of the gamblers would give every cent back, and thensome, because they thought the table was hot, and not the roller. After the gal crapped out, the table went ice cold, as all tables do. The table recovered most of it's losses within 10 minutes. This is why Lefty was so good. He knew the odds. He realized that craps, like any other game, was a series of streaks. He knew that very few players had enough sense to "hit and run". He was a little irked at me, because I picked up my chips and moved on after she crapped out, but I was the only one who did so.
 

Scotty S

EOG Addicted
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Lefty had a unique talent. He could spot a winner a mile away. I remember once walking thru the Stardust Casino with him. We walked up to a crap table, and there was this girl rolling the dice. Lefty knew tht this was not going to be good for the house. He just knew it. That little girl held the dice for over 27 minutes. While she had no clue as to how to play the game, everyone around her did. She just kept hitting numbers. When she would roll a "natural", it was alwasy on the come out roll. Lefty knew that she was going to get red hot. He also knew that most of the gamblers would give every cent back, and thensome, because they thought the table was hot, and not the roller. After the gal crapped out, the table went ice cold, as all tables do. The table recovered most of it's losses within 10 minutes. This is why Lefty was so good. He knew the odds. He realized that craps, like any other game, was a series of streaks. He knew that very few players had enough sense to "hit and run". He was a little irked at me, because I picked up my chips and moved on after she crapped out, but I was the only one who did so.

So true. The key to a sucessful gambling joint. He didn't sweat.....
 

newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Las Vegas before.....

I remember the oohs and aahs at the old Stardust Race and Sports Book when Oklahoma played Kansas in the 1988 NCAA men's basketball title game. Oklahoma was as high as an 8.5-point favorite in the game, but then the late money started pouring in on Kansas. I distinctly recall three line moves off the old Stardust board in the final hour of wagering: from OU -8.5 to -8 to -7.5 to -7. The money was on the right side as KU upset OU, 83-79. Danny Manning carried his team to victory with 31 points and 18 rebounds. Always loved the nickname, "Manning and the Miracles."
In 1988, I had a small "group" in Vegas who followed me on Big Eight and Southwest Conference basketball games. I can honestly say without a doubt that we beat Billy to the +8.5 ane some +9 that Monday. I was in the stands at Kemper Arena watching my alma mater lose that night. The first half(50-50) might be the best half in NCAA basketball final history. Larry Brown used his whole bench that first half and it paid off. Kansas was a #6 seed who caught fire and played the final two games(Duke--semi-final) at home(38 mile drive). I had a good feel that the Arizona(Steve Kerr-Sean Elliott) game took a toll on OU. Billy Tubbs refused all season to use his talented depth. It caught up with him that night. The next day I left for Augusta where I had Sandy Lyle(26-1 ??) to win the Masters. It was quite a week to say the least.
 

rainbow

EOG Master
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Scotty, I work with a guy that knows you well and was working for Roxy back then.. is initials are S K. he's good people and he spoke very highly of you, he did say sometimes you was a little hard on him and you fired Roxy 3 or 4 times......... he said you are as HONEST as they come in this BUSINESS.... if you can't figure out the initials I will pm you... what a pleasure it is to be working with good people like this guy is, we get along as good as it gets, we both have a lot of respect for each other, last night was a prime example, I could see BW set a few games up last night and he agreed with me once I pointed to him what took place, but anyway its a small world.
 

Ace

EOG Veteran
Re: Las Vegas before.....

In 1988, I had a small "group" in Vegas who followed me on Big Eight and Southwest Conference basketball games. I can honestly say without a doubt that we beat Billy to the +8.5 ane some +9 that Monday. I was in the stands at Kemper Arena watching my alma mater lose that night. The first half(50-50) might be the best half in NCAA basketball final history. Larry Brown used his whole bench that first half and it paid off. Kansas was a #6 seed who caught fire and played the final two games(Duke--semi-final) at home(38 mile drive). I had a good feel that the Arizona(Steve Kerr-Sean Elliott) game took a toll on OU. Billy Tubbs refused all season to use his talented depth. It caught up with him that night. The next day I left for Augusta where I had Sandy Lyle(26-1 ??) to win the Masters. It was quite a week to say the least.
kemper arena---what a dump
 

Scotty S

EOG Addicted
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Scotty, I work with a guy that knows you well and was working for Roxy back then.. is initials are S K. he's good people and he spoke very highly of you, he did say sometimes you was a little hard on him and you fired Roxy 3 or 4 times......... he said you are as HONEST as they come in this BUSINESS.... if you can't figure out the initials I will pm you... what a pleasure it is to be working with good people like this guy is, we get along as good as it gets, we both have a lot of respect for each other, last night was a prime example, I could see BW set a few games up last night and he agreed with me once I pointed to him what took place, but anyway its a small world.

Know him well and I can vouch for every good word you said about him. He's top shelf.

I fired Roxy and always hired him back. Kinda silly now that years are between us and I can look back. Roxy is my friend and we have had correspondence a few times over the years. Roxy had a hard job to do and did it VERY well, even after I thrust the Added Games to his workload. Tell SK hello for me and ask him how his dogs are.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Re: Las Vegas before.....

In 1988, I had a small "group" in Vegas who followed me on Big Eight and Southwest Conference basketball games. I can honestly say without a doubt that we beat Billy to the +8.5 ane some +9 that Monday. I was in the stands at Kemper Arena watching my alma mater lose that night. The first half(50-50) might be the best half in NCAA basketball final history. Larry Brown used his whole bench that first half and it paid off. Kansas was a #6 seed who caught fire and played the final two games(Duke--semi-final) at home(38 mile drive). I had a good feel that the Arizona(Steve Kerr-Sean Elliott) game took a toll on OU. Billy Tubbs refused all season to use his talented depth. It caught up with him that night. The next day I left for Augusta where I had Sandy Lyle(26-1 ??) to win the Masters. It was quite a week to say the least.

Thanks for more details of the OU-KU game. I did not realize OU had nothing left after the win over Arizona. Interesting.
 
Re: Las Vegas before.....

It sure ain't the old Vegas now. Cantor has been buying up several books in town and has built downright jaw-dropping, impressive structures. But those books are dead. I have no idea what they are thinking. At the Trop, maybe three old-guy horse players and a couple of air traffic controllers dozing off. The English have bought CalNeva and Leroys. Riviera is kicking Leroys out ahead of the move and putting in Luckys.. Why? We don't have enough Lucky's?

(The Riviera and Planet Hollywood and Cosmopolitan have got to be the three worst parking beatings to place a bet in Las Vegas).

As the consolidation continues, we are heading toward five outs in town.
 

FISHHEAD

EOG Master
Re: Las Vegas before.....

It sure ain't the old Vegas now. Cantor has been buying up several books in town and has built downright jaw-dropping, impressive structures. But those books are dead. I have no idea what they are thinking. At the Trop, maybe three old-guy horse players and a couple of air traffic controllers dozing off. The English have bought CalNeva and Leroys. Riviera is kicking Leroys out ahead of the move and putting in Luckys.. Why? We don't have enough Lucky's?

(The Riviera and Planet Hollywood and Cosmopolitan have got to be the three worst parking beatings to place a bet in Las Vegas).

As the consolidation continues, we are heading toward five outs in town.


2938u4ji23
 

Almost Allright

GO Bucks!!!
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Thanks Kinger. All the knucklehead stuff aside..which i am a big fan of...i have always felt this was the best thread.
 
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Main thing I learned in this thread:

Nevada gaming control board is a joke. It is awesome to read about these storefront independent books. Today, the gaming control board does not allow competition so we have joke books (William Hill) all throughout the state.
 

George753

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Las Vegas before.....

I loved that place with all the goofball toughguys that hung around there.

What a place
 

Happy Time

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Las Vegas before.....

great thread...memory from early 90s.
Bob Stupak gave / lost a rocket style 3 wheel motor cycle to sit outside little Caesars in the strip mall ...across from the dunes..where the Paris Casino now sits....
 

Almost Allright

GO Bucks!!!
Re: Las Vegas before.....

Six years since this thread originated. Great thread about the Vegas characters of days gone by. Enough times passed to ask what happened to some of the posters as well.
 

ouch

EOG Dedicated
Just bumping this thread along with thanks to Almost Allright for reminding the board of its existence. I cannot believe I missed this the first time around. This is terrific stuff!

I know a lot of the younger guys here probably roll their eyes at some of this, but I can remember back in the 1970's listening to old guys talk about gambling and sports betting from the 1940's in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, and feeling I couldn't hear enough of their stories even though I hadn't been born yet.
 
Top