Football contests run from no risk to high risk

All football handicapping contests in Las Vegas are not created equally, which is a good thing. There are options for freerollers and high rollers, and for the so-called sharps and squares.

Here is another positive: Approximately $4.5 million will be up for grabs this season.

Station Casinos is offering players an opportunity to run the no-risk route with its biggest contest, Gridiron Glory, and putting $750,000 in prize money on the line. Entrants just need to show up and select the winners of NFL games with no point spreads.

"It's the biggest free contest I can remember being offered in Nevada," Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. "It's great for our guests. The contests keep you in action throughout the course of the season."

Boyd Gaming also hosts a free contest with more than $500,000 waiting to be won. And there are contests with entry fees ranging from $5 to $25 at the Aliante, South Point and William Hill sports books.

There is something for handicappers of all kinds. Want to get really serious?

The high-risk route is available in contests at the Golden Nugget ($2,000 entry fee) and Westgate Las Vegas ($1,500 entry fee).

The SuperContest at the Westgate is the most prestigious event, and it's also the most lucrative with an estimated $2.5 million in the pot this season.

Westgate sports book director Jay Kornegay said he's hoping for 1,800 entries in the SuperContest, which will pay the top 50 finishers instead of the top 30 as in past years. Contestants select five NFL sides against the spread each week. The SuperContest has experienced a popularity explosion, going from 745 entries in 2012 to 1,034 in 2013 to 1,403 last year. If it reaches 1,905 entries, the winner will receive $1 million.

"The popularity of it has spread throughout the sports gaming world. More people know about it, and there is the attraction of large prize money," Kornegay said. "It's a total guess predicting where this will end up. I think it's safe to say we'll be around 1,700 entries. We're approaching the winner receiving $1 million.

"Some people think it's just for sophisticated bettors, but that's not the truth. It's a little bit of everything that we'll see. Whether you're a serious player or someone who just follows it on the weekends, you have a shot at this. It's a great opportunity for all football fans. It's almost like life-changing money."

The Friday Football Showdown at the Golden Nugget requires contestants to select seven plays per week — from all college and NFL sides and totals on the board — for the first eight weeks. After 56 plays, the top eight contestants advance to a head-to-head bracket format, which begins with Week 9 of the NFL schedule.

Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller said he's optimistic the contest, which will be aired weekly on ESPN Radio in Las Vegas, can draw 100 entries with a prize pool of $200,000.

"The feedback has been positive, and there is a lot of interest," Miller said. "People like the format of this contest. It's a true test of handicapping skill."

Station Casinos also offers Last Man Standing contests for college and pro football with entry fees of $25. Last year, the winner of the pro contest received more than $94,000, and the college contest winner received more than $58,000.

"It gets bigger and bigger each season," Esposito said. "For the serious handicapper, that is a phenomenal contest."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.

Scouting the football contests

A rundown of the major contests offered by Las Vegas sports books:

ALIANTE

Contest: Airin' It Out Football Contest

Entry Fee: $25; limit three with fourth free

Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; weekly, quarterly and year-end cash prizes with total prize pool of $100,000.

BOYD GAMING/COAST CASINOS

Contest: Pick the Pros

Entry Fee: Free; B Connected members earn three entries each week

Details: Select NFL games with no point spreads; $30,000 in weekly prizes with total prize pool of more than $500,000.

Properties: California, Fremont, Gold Coast, Main Street Station, Sam's Town, Suncoast, The Orleans

GOLDEN NUGGET

Contest: Friday Football Showdown

Entry Fee: $2,000; limit one per person

Details: An unlimited number of contestants compete for the first eight weeks of the NFL season, making seven selections each week from all college and NFL sides and totals. After eight weeks, the top eight contestants in the standings advance to a head-to-head bracket. The contest airs at 2 p.m. Fridays on ESPN Radio (1100 AM, 100.9 FM).

SOUTH POINT

Contest: Pro Football Jackpot Parlay Card Kickoff Weekend

Entry Fee: $5; no limit on number of cards played

Details: Select straight-up winners of NFL games on Sunday and Monday in Week 1; contestant with the most correct selections wins the jackpot, with $25,000 guaranteed.

Properties: Cannery locations, Rampart, Riverside, South Point

STATION CASINOS

Contest: Gridiron Glory Football Contest

Entry Fee: Free; limit one per person

Details: Select all NFL games with no point spreads; several weekly and regular-season prizes awarded totaling $750,000. A secondary postseason contest offers $100,000 in prizes.

Contest: Last Man Standing (Pro)

Entry Fee: $25; limit four with fifth free

Details: Select one NFL game against the spread each week, one loss means elimination; winner takes prize pool with $75,000 minimum guaranteed.

Contest: Last Man Standing (College)

Entry Fee: $25; limit four with fifth free

Details: Select one college game against the spread each week, one loss means elimination; winner takes prize pool with $40,000 minimum guaranteed. Also, there is a $135,000 bonus if a contestant wins both the college and pro Last Man Standing contests.

Properties: All Station Casinos, El Cortez and the Fiestas and Wildfire locations.

WESTGATE

Contest: SuperContest

Entry Fee: $1,500; limit two per person

Details: Select five NFL games against the spread each week; winner earns 35 percent of all entry fees; top 50 finishers paid from an estimated prize pool of $2.5 million.

WILLIAM HILL

Contest: Pro Pick'em

Entry Fee: $25; limit 25 per person

Details: Select Sunday and Monday NFL games with no point spreads; $250,000 guaranteed prize pool; $13,000 in cash awarded each week; $20,000 grand prize for season. Also, there is a $100,000 cash bonus for a contestant winning 200 or more games out of 255.

Properties: All William Hill locations in Nevada, including Binion's, Ellis Island, Hooters, Plaza, Silver Sevens, SLS, The D, Tuscany.

Official rules available at all sports books.

COMPILED BY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL