carlo

Often it's the simple things that make a great race and sports book. And the Monte Carlo seems to have them down.
After all, the majority of book customers like to make a few bets, have a drink or two and sit down to follow their action.
The Monte Carlo seems to get this. It's about the only place on the Strip where you'll hear customers actually turn down cocktails. It has nothing to do with the quality of the alcohol or level of thirst. The cocktail service is just so good that customers aren't worried whether they'll ever see the server again.
It also may be the only midsize book on the Strip with electronic boards for both horse racing and sports lines. And because the boards are so extensive, players don't have to wait for their numbers to display. Like the big books, all the action is posted at the Monte Carlo.
It's also cleverly designed. Set off from the main casino by several arched entryways, only a smidgen of slot machine noise filters its way in -- a stark contrast to many books on the Strip where casino noise often drowns out the action.
The one thing it's not is big. Especially the sports area, which is just a few rows of loose bingo chairs to the horse viewer's left. And because the service is so good, the sports area can even fill up even during baseball, which is the slowest sports betting season.
The race area is adequately sized. Extensive race boards surround four big-screen TVs. There's also a bank of six more TVs to the horseplayer's right and a few more above the betting counter. There are, however, no individual sets.
The book also features a unique and curious fenced-off area with loose chairs and patio tables located behind the horse-racing seating. A comfortable bar sits just outside the book, where sports action dominates the televisions.