Sunday, August 24, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Sun

Three decades after helping to launch one of the city's original football handicapping contests, veteran Las Vegas bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro is at it again.

This year, Vaccaro has orchestrated the "College Challenge" at Leroy's sports books, which carries an entry fee of $250 and is the only contest in town that asks bettors to predict college football games against the point spread.

"Nothing like this was being done in the college arena, and we felt there was a strong market for it," Vaccaro said. "The feedback has been great. When I run into people, they're always talking about how much they like the idea of a college-only contest."

Contestants in Leroy's College Challenge will make seven predictions against the spread each week from a list of 32 Saturday games, competing for a first-place prize of at least $25,000, or 50 percent of total entry fees. The top 30 places will pay prize money.

More than 50 people have signed up for the contest so far -- a good pace, according to Vaccaro, who said historically the majority of bettors enter contests in the final five days leading to the deadline. (The deadline for the College Challenge is Friday, Sept. 9).

With a prize pool of $50,000, the contest must draw 200 entrants for Leroy's to break even on it.

Under longtime casino owner Michael Gaughan, Vaccaro unveiled a pro football handicapping contest -- then a novel concept -- at the old Royal Inn in the mid-1970s.

Since then, Vaccaro said, he has learned that even the most successful contests require some time to become established.

"Michael Gaughan nailed it," Vaccaro said. "He said you'll never know if (a contest) is really successful until the third season. The first season, you'll have an idea if people like it. The second season, you're looking for about 30 percent growth (in the number of entrants). Then the third season, you know you really hit a home run if you have double (the number of entrants) from the first year."

In addition to the new Leroy's contest, following is a roundup of this season's football contests in Las Vegas:

• "SuperContest," Las Vegas Hilton: The city's premier football handicapping contest carries a $1,500 entry fee and a projected top prize of $270,000, depending on the number of entrants. Last year's contest attracted a record 411 entries, and Hilton sports book officials said they expect to exceed that number this year.

  Contestants pick five NFL games a week against the spread. The top 20 finishers earn prize money, and there's a $10,000 bonus for hitting 67 percent winners. The deadline is 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, but those who enter by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, are eligible for a $10,000 prize covering the season's final three weeks.

• "The Challenge," Palace Station/Station Casinos: Contestants pay a $1,000 entry fee and make five selections each week against the spread from the NFL card or a select number of college games or over/unders. First prize is a guaranteed $80,000, or 50 percent of entry fees.

  The top 20 finishers earn prize money, and there's a bonus of a one-year lease of a Mercedes ML 350 for hitting 67 percent winners. The deadline is 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, but those who enter by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, can compete against the official Station bookmaker's picks for a $10,000 prize pool. There's also a mini-contest covering the season's final four weeks.

  Despite the large entry fees, both of these contests are good plays for bettors who don't mind risking that kind of money, as they return 100 percent or more of the fees collected.

• "Great Giveaway," Station Casinos:Entries are $25, or three for $50, and include $25 in slot play. (Limit of three entries per person.) Contestants pick each week's NFL games straight up (no point spreads). There are a variety of season-long and weekly prizes topped by $100,000 for the overall winner.

• "Pick the Pros," Coast Casinos:Entries are $25, or five for $100, with a limit of five per person. Pick NFL games straight up. There are a variety of season-long and weekly prizes topped by $100,000 for the overall winner.

• "Pigskin Payoff," the Palms:Entries are $25, or five for $75, and include $10 in slot play. (Limit five per person.) Pick NFL games straight up. There are a variety of season-long and weekly prizes including $25,000 for the overall winner.

• Terrible's $75,000 Football Contest:Entries are $10, or 10 for $80, with a limit of 10 per person. Pick NFL games straight up. Enter at Terrible's in Las Vegas or Pahrump. The overall winner receives $15,000; the weekly top prize is $1,500 in Las Vegas or $1,000 in Pahrump.

• "Pick Your Pros," Cal Neva:Entries are $25, limit of 10 per person. Pick NFL games straight up. There are a variety of season-long and weekly prizes including $25,000 for the overall winner and $7,500 split among those who pick the most winners each week. There's also a college version of the contest in which entrants pick college games straight up. The college edition carries a $20 entry fee, but players can enter both contests for $35. Based in Northern Nevada, Cal Neva has local outlets at the Tuscany and Thirstbusters.

• "Last Man Standing," Texas Station:Entries are $25, or four for $75, limit of four per person. Pick one college or NFL game against the spread each week. It's winner-take-all with a $5,000 guaranteed prize. Lose once and you're out.

• "All-American Football Contest," Stardust/Boyd properties:Pick 17 games straight up each week for an aggregate weekly prize of $10,000. There are no season-long standings, so players can sign up any time. Available at Stardust, Sam's Town, California, Fremont, Joker's Wild or Eldorado.

• "Pick 'em and Win," Leroy's:Pick NFL games straight up, including preseason, for an aggregate weekly prize of $5,000. There are no season-long standings. Leroy's outlets can be found throughout the state.

• "Football Frenzy," Fiestas, etc:The first entry is free; the second and third are $10 each. Pick NFL games straight up for a top season-long prize of $25,000 and a weekly $10,000 prize. Available at Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Barley's, Wild Wild West, Wildfire, Magic Star or Gold Rush.

• "Best Free Football Contest," Hard Rock:Pick NFL games against the spread for a top weekly prize of $2,000. There is no advance registration and no season-long standings.