If you think you know who teams are selecting, there’s money to be made on prop bets in Vegas
One year ago, the NFL Draft represented an oasis to bettors thirsty for something other than Belarussian table tennis or Nicaraguan soccer for action. More than a month into a pandemic that nearly halted all sports on the planet and would shutter the city’s hotels and casinos for 11 weeks, unprecedented attention engulfed that virtual draft. The physical draft, and the thousands of visitors and millions of dollars it generates annually to fortunate hosts, had been scheduled for Vegas, where the Raiders’ landing in a shiny new dome was to be feted in grand fashion. All of that being canceled, however, socked the city with another gut punch. “It was definitely a double whammy,” said Circa Sports operations manager Jeffrey Benson. “A lot of books were closed, and people were trying to get money in and bet these props. It was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Benson and his Circa colleagues provided curbside convenience for customers eager to register for the company’s mobile app and/or to fund those accounts, to wager on the 2020 draft from their couches. The draft starts Thursday in Cleveland, and Las Vegas is on deck for next year. Last year’s fervor definitely has carried over to 2021. The NFL Draft is now much more than a novelty to Vegas sportsbooks. “Even though that draft was virtual, we were able to place a huge emphasis on it because it was really the only sport or event outside of Russian Ping-Pong or Cactus Tour golf,” Benson said. “Last year, our draft menu was more expansive than on a normal year. And I’d say, this year, we’ve taken it one step further. It’s probably the deepest menu of draft props that’s maybe ever been seen.” A TACKLE WITH ATTITUDE Circa’s draft proposition booklet is three pages, both sides covered with options.
