Between the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, and UFC, STN SportsBooks are more slammed than Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open. Speaking of the Spaniard, on Sunday, he fought off three match points in the fourth set, eventually prolonging the match into a fifth set. He then won his fifth Grand Slam title in a tiebreaker in one of the more classic matches you’ll ever see.
“That was epic. If you love tennis, that was great tennis to watch,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Sports Book Director. “We were Alvarez fans, so the outcome was desirable for us. It looked like it wasn’t going to fall that way, but really tremendous tennis.” The evening prior, the Book also scored a knockout over the guests when Merab Dvalishvili bested Sean O’Malley in the UFC.
“The ticket count was doubled on O’Malley, so we definitely needed the favorite in that match,” Esposito revealed. With all that in mind, let’s quickly review the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports App and the STN Sports Books…
Stanley Cup
Like too many Las Vegas boyfriends, Stanley Cup bettors can’t seem to commit. In Games 1 and 2, bettors sided with the Florida Panthers over the Edmonton Oilers. In Game 3, they went the opposite way, believing Edmonton would prevail (which they didn’t.) In other words, guests love the road team.
“Florida has the glaring advantage between the pipes, and they’re the more physical team,” Esposito said. “Edmonton has its hands full, and I think Connor McDavid knows it.” Florida is relentless, as they like the press more than a thirsty reality TV star. Despite Florida not having a huge following outside of the South Florida region, the Stanley Cup Finals have seen a good handle.
“We’re seeing a robust handle, but I just think you’re missing out a little bit by not having some of the bigger market or more popular teams, but the handle’s still been great. We had a pretty big decision on Game 3,” the Station oddsmaker said. Before Game 1 puck drop, STN SportsBooks had an ample amount of prop bets, including one for the Conn Smythe winner. Sam Bennett could make a case, as could Sergei Bobrovsky or constant pest Brad Marchand. Marchand, by the way, was a 50-to-1 longshot to win the coveted award. That price is juicier than a ribeye at Hank’s.
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals don’t feature teams from the largest markets, but one STN bettor has a very, very vested interest: That person has a $325,000 bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the title. The ticket, should it pay out, will net the individual $50,000 ( OKC was a big favorite.)
Guests beat the Book in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, as many guests took the Indianapolis Pacers on the moneyline. “In the first game, the more desirable outcome would’ve been OKC to win but not cover the [nine and a half point] spread,” Esposito said. “There were a lot of bets on the Pacers money line, so having them win outright was not the ideal outcome, although keeping the total under was. In Game 2, having OKC win in a blowout and go over was not a great outcome for us.” He added,
“We are under fans every night, and there are just so many fouls at the end of the game, and it’s tough to keep a game under. Even games that we think are dead under somehow find their way to the over, or they make a sweat.” Guests are still hoping that overs fly higher than Ole Glory on Flag Day. Despite Indiana’s win in Game 1, guests have no issue laying the points with Oklahoma City either. In fact, OKC fans keep returning like WrestleMania.
“It just seems too easy to the novice sports fans that you’re laying almost half of what you did at home, and it doesn’t matter that they’re on the road. They’re perceived as the better team,” Esposito said. To be fair, they are the better team, but are they the better team for seven games?
Braves
On Opening Day, the Atlanta Braves were among the favorites to not only win the National League but also the World Series, sitting at 16-to-1 odds. Since then, things haven’t gone according to plan for Atlanta, particularly on the road, where they have a dismal record. Forget Father’s Day, everyone has been their daddy. They have one of the worst road records in the N.L.
“For a couple of weeks, I’ve been saying that they could make a run, so I’m a little concerned,” Esposito said. “They may have to go out and make a move or two, but it’s going to be tough to catch the Phillies or the Mets.” For a team with so much promise, they are not even in the conversation when it comes to contenders. Still, like those shovels at the A’s groundbreaking, Atlanta could dig in.
“I don’t think you can give up on any team in June,” Esposito said. “They easily can right the ship, and they’re a team that may make a deal or two, I’m sure they may, but I wouldn’t totally give up on them yet.”
Bets To Know
The US Open has arrived! Even after the golf action has teed off, there are plenty of ways to get into the action all weekend long. Matchups, futures, and much more will be available daily.
Weekly Winners
$36 HITS for $4,996 on Tuesday… all on PITCHERS! Check out this impressive baseball parlay:
-B Pfaadt Under 17.5 Outs Allowed
-C Bassit Over 17.5 Outs Allowed
-L McCullers Over 1.5 Earned Runs
-K Harrison Under 15.5 Outs
-M Keller Over 5.5 Hits Allowed
-S Cecconi Under 5.5 Hits Allowed
-M Abel Over 4.5 Hits Allowed
-T Mahle Over 4.5 Hits Allowed
-M Fried Under 2.5 Earn Runs Allowed
-R Pepiot Over 16.5 Outs Recorded