Welcome to Sports Handle‘s recurring “Ask a Bookmaker” column, which answers many of the common (and uncommon!) questions gamblers and enthusiasts have about how sportsbooks operate in the modern age of sports betting.
The executive vice president of race and sportsbook operations at the Westgate SuperBook, Jay Kornegay has been in the sports betting industry for more than 30 years. After getting his start in Lake Tahoe, Kornegay took his talents to Las Vegas, where he opened the Imperial Palace sportsbook in 1989 before taking the reins of the 30,000-square-foot SuperBook in 2004. A Colorado State University alum whose putting stroke tends to betray him on the back nine, Kornegay has helped navigate the SuperBook’s expansion into multiple states since PASPA was overturned in 2018.
Have a question you’d like to ask Kornegay? Send it to [email protected]. The Q&A below has been edited for clarity and brevity.
We’ve gone over some of this territory before, but refresh everyone’s memory as to how persona non grata Vegas and its sportsbooks were to the Super Bowl “the Big Game” and all that. 2m3s1o
I think it was right around ’08, ’09, ’10 range, even though we met with them a number of times face to face, they were very clear on their stance against sports gaming — not only them, but other leagues were in the room with them as well. We reviewed some protocols that we conduct to protect the game and they were asking us a number of questions on what triggers a red flag, how do you guys recognize those red flags, and what you do about them? Which was great, because we had an opportunity to share our protocols to protect the integrity of the game. We were all on the same side; integrity was our product as well.
Despite that, they drew that line in the sand and it was very clear — and we respected that. In that time period, the NFL did get upset with a particular operator here in town that was charging to view the game. It wasn’t food and drinks included; it was a movie theater where you could just pay and watch the game. That really upset them, and kind of put a target on our backs. Therefore, they limited us to 55-inch screens to show the game. Those were for temporary setups, like if you were to set up something in the ballroom. But if you were a sportsbook, you could show it on your regular screens.
They also took a stance against Vegas marketing during their games, including the Super Bowl. Even though Vegas was going to take out anything involving gaming and just our city as a destination, they refused that. Obviously that all changed when the Raiders were approved to move a team there. I do believe there were some powerful voices in the rooms that really made that happened. It got the ball rolling as far as overturning PASPA, and the next thing you know, we had sports betting spreading across the country. It did feel like it happened overnight.
We’ve always respected the NFL and their parameters and we have a fantastic relationship today.
When PASPA was repealed in 2018, did you sense right away that the Super Bowl would eventually come to Las Vegas or did it take awhile for that to sink in? 4i5o46
Prior to the announcement that the Raiders were going to move here, I was certainly in that boat of “it’s never going to happen.” Once PASPA’s repeal was gaining momentum, we thought, “If they’re going to lift the ban, yes, I did think we would get the Super Bowl.’”
It felt like it was going to be a match made in heaven here — it’s the entertainment capital of the world married with the biggest sporting event in our country.
Even when the Super Bowl is being played in another city, it’s still been a massive event in Vegas in of all the people who make a trip out of it. This year aside, was that diminished at all by the spread of sports betting to states other than Nevada or did it continue as though nothing ever happened? 73329
I don’t think the expansion of sports gaming has diminished it at all. It’s probably enhanced it. More people are educated about sports betting now.
Have you sensed anything different about the vibe in the SuperBook and in the city in general now that this week has finally arrived? 1g5c63
I went to Radio Row yesterday, and just the positive reaction, the positive vibe, and comments by others that are in the sports industry, they thought everything’s been fantastic. We could have better weather. Other than that, it’s been fantastic.
What are the SuperBook and the Westgate at large doing differently for this year’s game as opposed to previous Super Bowl weeks? 4e1s22
We knew that this year was going to be different. We added a number of different venues around the property. We have expanded our parties as much as we could. I think this year’s invited-guests-only party filled up faster than it ever has before. Just going to a ballroom for food and beverage; it’s not exactly the game. There’s certainly a level of excitement that we’re feeling that we haven’t felt in the past. I think we have more VIPs coming in than we’ve ever had before.
Sharps consistently maintain that they love to bet Super Bowl props because there are so many of them and even the best sportsbooks hang some questionable numbers. What steps has your trading team taken to tighten your prop odds this year and in years past? 5b1o2k
Just because a sharp bets it doesn’t mean they’re gonna win. They’ve won some and they’ve lost some, just like we have. Through experience, we know exactly where most of the sharps are going to play and the reasons why they’re looking to take a certain side. But when we’re putting these propositions, we also have to keep in mind that the public money will overrun the sharps. Usually when the game kicks off, the book needs the same side as the sharps took earlier in the week.
Obviously, if there was a Los Angeles team in the Super Bowl, you’d see a massive contingent of fans from that area flood into town. But does the same hold true for San Franciscans and 49ers fans? 381e70
The 49ers have a larger fan base than the Rams, and this year’s game, we have two teams with terrific, large, loyal fan bases. Even though Kansas City’s in their fourth title game in five years, their fans are showing up in droves despite it being old hat for them. San Francisco, their fans are so thirsty for a championship. They are willing to do whatever it takes to get to Las Vegas, and that’s very apparent right now. Outside of the Raiders, who are in Las Vegas now, the 49ers have the largest fan base in California.
Where do you expect the point spread to end up by kickoff Sunday? 6y3u66
Oh gosh. That’s always really difficult, like trying to predict if it’s going to be a record-breaking handle. I’m always wrong. I think it’s gonna be right at 2.5. I think there’s going to be enough for Kansas City not to finish at 3. I actually think it could go to 2.
