Sunday, July 24, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

A betting man and a longtime Las Vegas bookmaker, Jimmy Vaccaro is willing to wager the increased popularity of college football will bring crowds into Leroy's sports books this fall.

Vaccaro, public relations director for Leroy's, and American Wagering Inc. president Vic Salerno are launching the Leroy's College Challenge, a handicapping contest with a guaranteed $50,000 payout.

"The interest is there for a college football contest. The time is right. I think it's long, long overdue," Vaccaro said.

Fifteen years ago, Vaccaro said the NFL drew about two-thirds of the football betting action on weekends, but that has changed. "Saturdays are as good as Sundays," he said.

NFL contests are held by several Las Vegas casinos, and Vaccaro sees an obvious need for a college-only contest.

The entry fee is $250 with a limit of three per person. The contest has a 100-percent payback, and it will take 200 entries for Leroy's to break even on the guarantee. Vaccaro said his goal is 300 entries.

Each week, beginning Sept. 10, contestants must make seven selections from a card of 32 college games with half-point lines. At the end of the season, the top 30 finishers will get paid.

Salerno of American Wagering, the company that operates Leroy's, said registration will begin in early August at all 62 Leroy's sports books in Nevada, including 25 locations in the Las Vegas area. Entrants are required to sign up in person but may designate a proxy to turn in picks throughout the season.

The deadline for making weekly picks is 5 p.m. Fridays, and consensus selections and contest standings will be posted online at americanwagering.com.

Vaccaro and John Kelly plan to host a show on KDWN-AM (720) at 8 p.m. Fridays from the Riviera sports book. The contest should attract some top handicappers, but Vaccaro said he also wants to promote the "little guy," meaning all contestants are candidates to be interviewed on the air if interested.

"If I get anything positive about this, I think the next step is to do a local TV show with the contest," Vaccaro said.

"I want to get the thing up to $1 million in a couple years. There's a resurgence in sports betting and the numbers are going up."