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Cantor Gaming debuts new sports book at The Venetian
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Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sports bettor Bill Fowler, right, on Tuesday tests a touch screen in The Venetian's remodeled race and sports book as Cantor Gaming President and CEO Lee Amaitis looks on. Amaitis declined to say how much Cantor spent on the remodeling project. » Buy this photo
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Two men stand Tuesday in The Venetian's newly remodeled race and sports book. The 10,000-square-foot space features a 100-foot-long, high-definition video screen, surround sound, marble flooring, and 118 carrels, the most of any Cantor sports book. Jeff Scheid/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Nov. 2, 2011 | 12:21 p.m.
Cantor Gaming on Tuesday debuted its latest race and sports book in Las Vegas, a three-month, multimillion-dollar renovation of the previous facility at The Venetian.
The new sports book features a 100-foot-long, high-definition 4-millimeter black video screen, one of the world's largest. The 10,000-square-foot space includes surround sound, marble flooring, and 118 carrels, the most of any Cantor sports book.
"This is the next step in our expansion in Nevada," said Lee Amaitis, president and CEO of the Las Vegas-based gaming company. "This is the biggest and most impressive one we've built so far."
Amaitis declined to disclose the project's cost. The book also features the company's distinctive flashy red betting carrels, a VIP area, and separate betting windows and high-definition screens dedicated to horse racing.
He described the company's latest sports book as a "sleek and contemporary environment that offers the most sophisticated experience on the Strip."
Amaitis said his company, which over the last five has introduced several sports wagering products and new betting technology to Las Vegas, has also demonstrated it is a "true partner" by investing heavily in "bricks and sticks" books.
"It's a great draw," said John Caparella, president and CEO of The Venetian, Palazzo and Sands Expo and Convention Center. "You've got to have a great sports book to draw them in from the casino."
He said a Cantor sports book was that great draw "to bring people into the casino."
The renovation marks the first phase of a $30 million Venetian casino upgrade.
Caparella said over the next eight months the resort will undergo 15 to 17 construction projects, including expanding the poker room, enhancing the casino's lighting and introducing themed bars. He declined to elaborate on what companies or brands would be featured.
The partnership with Cantor was formed in 2008. The luxury resort ran its former sports book with technology licensed from Cantor, making The Venetian the first Strip casino to offer Cantor's mobile gaming devices, including its e-Deck tablet, which allows wagers from anywhere on the casino floor.
The upgraded sports book also offers access to Cantor Gaming's sports betting application. The application for Google's Android operating system was released last week and lets customers use Cantor's In-Running system, which bets on situations during specific sporting events.
Cantor also began operating the sports book at Lagasse's Stadium at the Palazzo on Sept. 1.
"We were operating the sports books ourselves and had a partnership with them," Caparella said. "With the renovation plans, we handed over operations of the (sports) book to Cantor."
The Venetian remodel is the largest project Cantor has completed in Las Vegas. The company also runs sports books at the M Resort, Tropicana Las Vegas, Hard Rock Hotel, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and the Plaza in downtown Las Vegas.
Amaitis declined to discuss the company's next project. He said the privately held company has had discussions about expanding in Northern Nevada
"I would love to be in Northern Nevada," Amaitis said. "I love Reno. It would be a great spot for us."
Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.
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Google search "Lee Amaitis" and you will find out some interesting things about the CEO of Cantor Gaming. Among other things, he has a cocaine conviction on his rap sheet. How in the world did this person get by the Gaming Control Board? He also cost Cantor Fitzgerald a huge settlement over in England due to his abusive behavior towards employees. There are numerous crude and insensitive quotes attributed to this man as well. No wonder the employees at their sportsbooks look and act so beaten up. Why in the world did the State of Nevada and various gaming companies allow this company to gain a foothold into our lifeblood industry?
Cantor pretty much ruined the classy sports book at the M Casino. No free drinks and I feel i am in a college library with the junky carrels all over the place. A better experience would be at Mandalay Bay or Green Valley Ranch.
Terrible service and Cantor does not give drink tickets, they could care less about you unless your a high roller.
cantor sings at brisses
Never been treated so poorly. Cantor is ruining the feel of sports books. Look at the employees working there. You can tell they are miserable hence the service. Note to gaming operators keep your book and the repeat business that comes with it. Book betters go where they want to go not necessarily the closest to home.
Good to see a quality casino opperator like Cantour taking over and making a great enviroment to place wagers on with just about no rules.
Over the last 5 what? Cantorg? wow