Hilton Las Vegas Hopes Super Bowl Betting Boosts Economy

Hilton sports book executive director Jay Kornegay told the Las Vegas Sun that there are more than 300 such wagers on the Hilton's sheets this year.

More than in the past, he said, there are propositions divided into the first half and second half.

"There are crazy ones," Kornegay said. "Everyone likes to look at the crossover sports. They laugh at that. It's fun to talk about.

"The most popular ones are the simple ones, like the over and under on the jersey number of the player who scores the first touchdown. It's real simple but pretty popular."

The over-under on the jersey play is 38 1/2, at -110 either way at the Hilton in Las Vegas.

Similar Super Bowl propositions betting options can be found at such online sports betting sites as BetUS.com.

In these tough economic times, many are wondering how Super Bowl betting will affect Vegas's bottom line.  These two weeks are traditionally among the most profitable for the gambling Mecca.

According to a local Fox News report, this coming Super Bowl Sunday there will be more than 30,000 square feet of sports books at the Hilton will be dedicated to the big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. Hotel officials said that, if the regular season was any indication, the money will continue to flow at the betting windows.

"It's the single biggest betting event of the year," said Kornegay. "Obviously things have slowed down here, but sports betting has remained strong throughout the entire football season and throughout the playoffs. I think the Super Bowl event basically sells itself, so it's going to be a true heavyweight battle, you know -- the single biggest betting event versus today's economic crisis."

Over the past four years, gamblers in Nevada have placed an average of more than 90 million on the big game. But with money tight and no end to the economic slump in sight, do casinos think people will lay out the cash?

"We're not sure," Kornegay said. "We're hoping for the best."