How To Sign Up For A Sports Betting App In Las Vegas

Written By Marc Meltzer on January 6, 2022
Be sure to sign up for a Nevada sports betting app for the Super Bowl

Before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was revoked in 2018, Nevada was recognized as the leading state for legal sports betting in the US, thereby earning its reputation as the grandfather of American sports betting.

Las Vegas, Nevada is often viewed as the heart of sports betting. Yet, compared to states that have legalized sports betting in recent years, Nevada’s regulations and technology are lagging.

When people visit Las Vegas to watch and place bets on the Super Bowl, these differences will become evident. Those sports bettors who do not have existing Nevada sports betting app accounts may find these differences a bit troublesome.

In person registration for a sports betting account

Two major distinctions exist between Nevada sports betting apps and those available in other states. Firstly, individuals must sign up for new sports betting app accounts in person at a sportsbook within a casino.

Customers using the Nevada sports betting app can initiate the signup process from any location on their mobile device. However, the process can only be finalized within a casino, specifically at a designated area in the sportsbook.

Unlike other states, Nevada sportsbooks are prohibited from offering entirely remote registration. This can lead to annoyance for those accustomed to a more streamlined process in other states where sports betting is legal.

Registering for a sports betting app isn’t time-consuming, but the process varies from other states, which can bewilder some visitors in Las Vegas. Moreover, the need to visit a specific sportsbook to use their app might require additional time.

Nevada sports betting apps are not linked with other states

Another significant problem with sports betting apps in Nevada is their lack of connection with similar apps in other states. This fact often surprises and frustrates many visitors to Las Vegas.

For instance, a BetMGM account created in New Jersey won’t be linked with a BetMGM account from Nevada. To open a new account, BetMGM clients are required to visit any of the listed MGM Resorts sportsbooks.

  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Bay of Mandalay
  • Grand MGM
  • New York, New York
  • MGM Park
  • The sale of The Mirage to Hard Rock won’t be finalized until later this year.

BetMGM offers a straightforward signup process. However, in NV, a sports betting app account cannot be used until it has been verified at the casino sportsbook using a legal ID.

Many casinos in Las Vegas have brand ambassadors stationed near the sportsbooks to expedite the process.

The technological challenge was so significant that Nevada was excluded from the launch of Caesars new sports betting app last year. Furthermore, sports betting apps from BetMGM, Caesars, William Hill and Wynn, which are functional in other states, are not operational in Nevada.

The registration procedure varies for each property and placing a bet with a specific app necessitates at least one visit to a casino.

To sign up for some of the most sought-after sportsbook apps, guests are required to depart from the Vegas Strip. For instance, to register for a SuperBook account, one needs to make a visit to the Westgate, located slightly away from the Vegas Strip.

Sports betting apps are crucial for Super Bowl in Las Vegas

When visiting Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, sports betting apps are extremely crucial.

All Nevada sportsbooks experience their highest volume of activity on Super Bowl Sunday. Depending on the venue, it might take as long as an hour to place a single in-person bet on the Super Bowl. Procuring a seat within a sportsbook to view the Super Bowl is challenging and potentially expensive.

No one who visits Las Vegas wants to spend their time in a queue waiting to gamble. Utilizing a Nevada sports betting app can save time for anyone who wishes to place a bet during the Super Bowl weekend.

Most casinos establish a distinct queue for new sports betting app clients, aiming to save time due to outdated sports betting rules. Although waiting in this dedicated line should take less time than at regular betting windows, it is still deemed an inefficient use of time in Las Vegas.

If you are planning to open a new account on a sports betting app in NV, you should do it as early as possible during your trip.

How to sign up for a mobile sports betting account

Registering for a mobile sports betting account in NV is not challenging. Despite the process not being identical across all sportsbooks, there are several similarities.

  • Download the sports betting application.
  • If permitted, start the signup process on the app.
  • Ensure you possess a casino rewards card, as it is a requirement for most sportsbooks.
  • Complete the signup process inside the casino sportsbook and ensure to bring a legal ID.

The process could take a bit longer than usual as Las Vegas sportsbooks are expected to be extremely busy during Super Bowl weekend.

Once the initial setup is complete, players can either deposit or withdraw funds from the sports betting app. The only occasion a sports bettor needs to be physically present in a casino sportsbook is to finalize the registration process for a new account.

Why is Nevada like this?

Gambling in Nevada is quite unique, with over 400 casinos scattered throughout the state.

Close to 150 of these casinos are situated in the Las Vegas valley, including those on the Vegas Strip, in downtown Las Vegas, and the surrounding vicinity.

Regulations for gaming in Nevada must satisfy casinos, regardless of their size or location. This method has been implemented by the government for many years.

Casino operators are striving to maintain a lack of transparency in gaming regulations as it best suits their business models.

These businesses aim to encourage sports gamblers to visit a casino to establish a mobile account. The objective is to maintain traditional practices, ensuring customers continue patronizing brick-and-mortar casinos.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has provisionally given the green light for setting up remote accounts for cashless gambling inside a casino. However, this provisional approval does not include sports betting.

It is unclear when the NGCB will consider remote account registration for sports betting apps.

For the foreseeable future, those visiting Las Vegas will need to complete their mobile sports betting account registration within a casino.

Photo by Nick_Nick / shutterstock
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Marc Meltzer

Marc was raised in the tough neighborhoods of South Bronx. Unusually, he’s a fan of both the Yankees and Jets, which might explain his unique and sometimes opposing perspective. Currently, Marc works as a freelance writer and social media advisor. His job involves writing about topics like steak, alcohol, gambling, and Las Vegas – a challenging task but necessary nonetheless.

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