Some of you who enjoy making online or mobile sports bets at one or more of the many legal PA or NJ sportsbooks may be planning a trip to Las Vegas. If not for the Eagles‘ Sunday afternoon match-up against the LV Raiders, perhaps for some other business or pleasure.
Regardless, you may have questions about the various Vegas sports betting apps available to you and how to access and use them during your visit. We have that information for you in this guide.
All sports betting apps are state-specific
One of the rules that apply to all legal sports betting apps in the US is that they are state-specific. For starters, the option is limited to states where online and mobile sports betting is currently legal and authorized websites for taking your wagers exist. However, before you can use a given app to place real money wagers, you will also need to:
- Be at least the minimum age (usually 21) to bet sports in that state.
- Open an account with the sportsbook and make an initial deposit.
- Be physically present in that state at the time of your wager.
You don’t necessarily have to be a resident of the state where you want to use the sports betting app. So, for example, people who live in New Jersey can use Vegas sports betting apps, just as people who live in Nevada (or other states) can use New Jersey sports betting apps. However, no apps can be used outside of the state where they are legally authorized.
In other words, any sports betting accounts you may have opened with a NJ sportsbook will be of no use to you in Nevada. Even if you’re dealing with the same company, it makes no difference. For example, if you use the BetMGM NJ sports betting app as a registered player at Borgata Sportsbook or BetMGM Sportsbook in New Jersey, you cannot use it outside of New Jersey. Therefore, even though Las Vegas has multiple sportsbooks owned and operated by the same company, you won’t be able to use the same app to bet at any of them.
So, how can NJ residents bet online while in Vegas?
If you wish to make a legal bet with a Las Vegas sportsbook, unless you have a designated proxy, like it or not, you will have to make the trip.
Then you have two options. One is to make your wagers in-person at the sportsbook(s) of your choice. The other is to use a Vegas sports betting app after you open an account with a sportsbook that offers that app.
Whereas you can complete all of the necessary steps for opening a new sportsbook account in New Jersey online or on your mobile device; in Vegas, you cannot. Downloading the app will start the process, but before you can use your account to start betting, you will have to visit the sportsbook in person to complete your registration.
You might regard the need to visit the physical sportsbook even though you plan to do all of your betting through the mobile app as somewhat of an inconvenience. But the good news is that you only have to visit the sportsbook once, and then you’re good to go.
With an app, you can place your bets from anywhere in Nevada, and if you win, the money is immediately credited to your account without the need to return to the sportsbook. If you wish to deposit more money into your account or withdraw your winnings, you can do that through the mobile app, too.
Your best bet: BetMGM or Caesars Sports Betting apps
There are a total of 11 sports betting apps you can choose from during your visit to Las Vegas. In most instances, more than one retail sportsbook uses a particular app. (See below for a full list.)
Of the 11 sports betting operators, only four offer options for those who wish to place sports bets in New Jersey: BetMGM, Caesars, Golden Nugget, and William Hill. However, most occasional visitors plan to stay and spend most of their time on the Strip so opening an account with a sportsbook that is also located on the Strip would probably make the most sense.
The Golden Nugget Sportsbook is in downtown Vegas and all but one of the William Hill Sportsbooks are located either downtown or in other areas off the Strip. However, all 11 of the Las Vegas sportsbooks using the BetMGM app and eight of the nine Las Vegas sportsbooks using the Caesars Sportsbook app are conveniently located in popular and easily accessible parts of the Strip.
Additional advantages of the BetMGM and Caesars Vegas sports betting apps is that both offer top-notch free bet bonuses for new customers, and player rewards programs that link across multiple casino properties nationwide, including Las Vegas and New Jersey.
By the way, if you’re a registered player at DraftKings Sportsbook or FanDuel Sportsbook, forget about using either one in Las Vegas. Despite being among the biggest sportsbooks in New Jersey and their rapid spread to other states, so far, they have not been granted approval to operate in Nevada.
Can I still get the new player welcome bonus when I sign up for a Nevada betting app?
Keep in mind that the special offers indicated for new players only apply for individuals who are completely new to any of that company’s sportsbooks. So, if you already have an account BetMGM Sportsbook anywhere else or with Borgata Sportsbook in New Jersey, you won’t be eligible for the welcome offer for new BetMGM Sportsbook customers in Las Vegas.
Likewise, if you already have an account with Caesars Sportsbook anywhere else, you won’t be eligible for the welcome offer for new Caesars Sportsbook customers in Las Vegas.
Setting up your BetMGM or Caesars Nevada online account
Regardless of whether or not you already have a BetMGM or Caesars account at a sportsbook outside of Nevada, in order to place wagers on the app during your stay in Vegas, you need to open a new account for that purpose.
How to register for an account
These are the steps that you need to follow to allow you to place bets with your mobile device.
- Download the BetMGM Vegas or Caesars Vegas sports betting app onto your device via the App Store (iOS users) or the Google Play Store (Android users).
- Enter the requested information on the sign-up form.
- Visit a BetMGM or Caesars land-based sportsbook. This should be no problem at all, as there are 10 MGM Resorts properties (all on the Las Vegas Strip) and seven of eight Caesars properties are also on the Strip.
- If you don’t already have an M Life (for BetMGM) or Caesars Rewards player’s card, the first thing you should do is go to the player’s rewards desk and get one for free. This will enable you to earn rewards on your sports bets as well as your casino play.
- Go to the sportsbook to complete your registration and make your first deposit into your new BetMGM or Caesars sportsbook account. You will need a photo ID and enough cash to cover your initial bets.
Las Vegas sports betting apps and land-based casino partners
Note: Las Vegas Strip properties are marked by an asterisk.
| Sports Betting App | Operator | Retail Sportsbook Partners |
|---|---|---|
| B-Connected | Boyd Gaming | Aliante California Cannery Eastside Cannery Fremont Gold Coast Orleans Sam’s Town Suncoast |
| BetMGM | MGM Resorts | Aria* Bellagio* Circus Circus* Excalibur* Luxor* Mandalay Bay* MGM Grand* Mirage* New York-New York* Park MGM* |
| Caesars | Caesars Entertainment | Bally’s Las Vegas* Caesars Palace* Cromwell* Flamingo Las Vegas* Harrah’s Las Vegas* LINQ* Paris Las Vegas* Planet Hollywood Rio |
| Circa Sports | Circa Resort & Casino | Circa Las Vegas Golden Gate |
| Golden Nugget, NV | Golden Nugget Casino | Golden Nugget |
| Rampart Sports | Nevada Sports | South Point* |
| STN Sports* | Station Casinos | El Cortez Palace Station Santa Fe Station Texas Station |
| TI Sports | Treasure Island | Treasure Island* |
| Westgate Superbook | Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino | Westgate |
| William Hill | William Hill | Binion’s Cosmopolitan* Downtown Grand Four Queens Hard Rock M Resort OYO Hotel & Casino (formerly Hooter’s) Palazzo* Palms Silver Sevens Silverton SLS Las Vegas (formerly the Sahara) Tropicana* Tuscany Suites Venetian* |
| WynnBet | Wynn Resorts | Encore* Wynn Las Vegas* |
*On the Las Vegas Strip
**Several other sportsbooks using this app that are not in Las Vegas proper but in surrounding towns such as Henderson and Summerlin are not listed.
Lead image credit: AP Photo/John Locher
