Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Few bettors remain undefeated in Vegas NCAA Tournament contests

Sports Books

Leila Navidi

The VIP area of the Race & Sports Book at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

Less than 8 percent of sports bettors correctly picked a game of their choice in each of the first four full days of the NCAA Tournament last weekend.

That’s according to the combined tallies of Las Vegas’ two most prominent March Madness contests, Station Casinos’ Last Man Standing and William Hill’s Three n Out, which were released Monday.

The similarly structured contests require competitors, who pay $25 per entry, to make a single selection against the spread every day of the NCAA Tournament. In Last Man Standing, a single loss means elimination. As the moniker hints, Three n Out gives bettors three opportunities before they’re ousted from the contest.

Only 90 out of a total 1,367 contestants went undefeated in William Hill’s contest. Stations finished the weekend with 215 left standing out of 2,671 entries.

Both contests continue through the national championship on April 7, or until a winner is determined. The eventual victor of Last Man Standing will cash a check for more than $54,000.

The Three n Out prizes depend on the result. Those who finish undefeated get 70 percent of the pool while those with one loss claim 20 percent and those with two defeats receive 10 percent.

Payouts are adjusted accordingly if no one finishes with a perfect record.

While 7.5 percent going unbeaten may sound low after four days, it’s actually right around the expectancy rate. The interesting part will be watching how the numbers diminish through this weekend after the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

Stay tuned.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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