Stanley Cup Final Sees Huge Haul, Soccer Fans Fill Books

Fourth of July fireworks are about a week away, but our betting options are explosive enough. Although the NFL, NBA and NHL seasons are now all halted for the time being, we’re turning our attention to soccer, UFC and slap fighting. In case you didn’t know, we’ve got more range than TPC Summerlin.

With all that in mind, let’s quickly look back at the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports app and at the STN Sports Books…

Florida Takes It Home

After it looked like the Stanley Cup Final might be a sweep, the Edmonton Oilers got things going in the nick of time and ended up forcing a Game 7 — and what a Game 7 it was, too! In the end, however, the Florida Panthers avenged their 2023 Stanley Cup defeat and hoisted the trophy.  

“We were in really good shape with both teams but in better shape with the Panthers,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Race and Sports Book Director. “In Game 7, we really were Panther fans, so having the Panthers win the way they did was a best case for us.” Although the overall Stanley Cup handle was bigger last year — due to the Knights’ involvement and win — this year’s handle was incredible. In fact, there were over 400 ways to the bet Game 7 alone!

“With NBA ending so quickly, really the only alternative outside of the soccer and baseball was the NHL. With [Connor] McDavid having a chance, too, I think it helped increase the overall betting,” Esposito said. Throughout the course of the seven games, the STN Books only lost on Game 6, meaning it was a great run for oddsmakers, less so for guests. After the Books suffered the worst hockey defeat ever last year, they recouped much of it this year.

When Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe award Monday night, he became just the sixth player and second non-goalie to win the playoff MVP trophy on a losing team. McDavid didn’t come on the ice to accept the award. Still, the best player in hockey was the odds-on favorite to win the award when the series started, so his achievement hardly dented the oddsmakers coffers.

But, McDavid and rest of the team have already been established as favorites to the win the 2025 Stanley Cup. Other teams with low odds include Florida, Carolina, Dallas, Vegas, New York, New Jersey and Colorado.

“A lot’s going to be contingent on free agency, too. There’s a potential for a lot of movement in the league,” Esposito said. “Edmonton’s a slight favorite because of the way they finished this year and their roster. They still have the best player in the world in McDavid.” McDavid could also be adding to his trophy case at the NHL Awards, which take place this week on The Strip.

Summer of Soccer

It’s futbol season! We’re about a month from NFL preseason beginning, but a phonetically-sounding sport is really having a moment. Soccer — known elsewhere as futbol — is dominating TV screens all around the world. Not only is the Copa America tournament currently happening, but so too is the UEFA European Championship, known more commonly as The Euro.

Based on the time change, Euro games are kicking off in the morning and continuing into the afternoon. The Copa games are beginning in the afternoon and into the evening. You can literally ping-pong between soccer matches all morning, day and night.

“We have a huge soccer fan base and betting base that is in the room early and hooting and hollering and having a great time. It just adds to the complete aura of the room and really kind of peaks the interest early in the day,” Esposito said.

Thus far in the Euro, the most tickets have been punched for Portugal, likely because it has that Cristiano Ronaldo fella. Portugal is followed by Germany and England in terms of ticket count. In the Copa, guests are siding with Colombia. The United States and Peru are next in the ticket counts.

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