Traditionally held in April, MLB Opening Day has occurred on the last Thursday of March in each of the previous three seasons. The “March Madness” Round of 16 also commences on that date, giving sports bettors plenty to choose from when it comes to gambling on games.
“The college basketball tournament is something special,” Ballew said. “It’s time for the guys to get together, the alumni from the schools. We really have the venue to entertain the college group of guys that come out for their guys’ day out together.”
DraftKings is Live! Casino’s official sportsbook, and Ballew says it has been a big help in offering the most value for bettors in terms of odds and payouts.
“DraftKings is one of the prominent sportsbooks in the country,” Ballew said. “Your traditional sports bettor will realize if they’re looking for a certain line on a game that they’re different among different sportsbooks. We strive to have the best lines – the odds for the player – to make it good for everyone so you come out and enjoy yourself.”
The “Sports & Social” section of Live! Casino is a sports bar and social lounge equipped with four large TV screens that Ballew says make fans feel like they are at the games being played on them.
“I’ve been through the area in the market here in north Louisiana, and nothing really compares to what we have to offer,” Ballew said. “Once you see this place, this is where you’ll be doing your betting.”
Ballew says that handling the large volume of bets coming in for college basketball and MLB has been smooth sailing, thanks to his staff.
“I have a very well-trained staff,” Ballew said. “Since sportsbooks have been legal in Louisiana, my whole staff has been working in the industry. Everyone’s familiar with the type of bets, the action, and actually most of our players. We basically know what they want when they come to the window.”
Ballew says that Louisiana’s market has lost a large number of gamblers from Dallas, TX. In recent years, casinos have been opened and operated in Oklahoma. With sports betting still not legalized in Oklahoma, Ballew says Live! Casino’s facilities have helped bring some of those customers back.
“Now that we have a facility like Live! that’s brand new and so much above the other properties, I’m noticing we’re getting a lot of the players back. They’re now coming back to Louisiana, which is great for the area. We’ve been needing the recovery. It’s exciting to see these players back.”
With a fast-paced and unpredictable sport like basketball, Ballew says DraftKings’ traders set live odds based on which team possesses the ball, how much time is left in the game, and the type of offense or defense teams have been running.
“The line will change every 15 to 20 seconds,” Ballew said. “The people who bet live are very familiar with it. They typically stand at the kiosk and will wait for the line that they’re anticipating. You can change your bet as the game moves along, and you start getting a feel of the tempo of it.”
Ballew says that while pre-match and live betting can be exciting for those looking to get some skin in the games, Live! Casino remains committed to ensuring players are gambling safely and responsibly.
“You’ve got to get to know the customer, know what they’re comfortable betting, and make sure they’re just having a good time,” Ballew said. “We’re always protecting the player. You don’t want this to affect people’s personal lives. We’re trying to keep it friendly and fun.”
Ballew says the atmosphere of Sports & Social is setting the standard for rival in-person sportsbooks in the market.
“It’s going to be years before anyone can compete with this property,” Ballew said. “I think that’s good because it’s going to force the other properties to step up instead of just sitting there depending on the person to come in. You’ve got to go out and get the player and offer something new, more exciting, and I think we very much have accomplished that here.”
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