There are about 1000 guys who the casinos target on a regular basis. These are guys who can be guaranteed to drop at least a million dollars at the tables in a trip to Vegas (interestingly, about half of them are of Chinese origin, those guys like to gamble.) To get these guys to come to Vegas, and to one casino in particular, they're given free private jets to and from, free suites, free everything. But most importantly, a free ticket or three for the fight. The only thing they pay for the whole trip is their chips. If you do the maths you can see that if you can attract a few percent of these guys for a fight then the casino giving the promoter a site fee of five plus millions (in the case of Hatton/Manny) on top of the ticket sales is enough to make even Wembley look unattractive as an alternative. Like I said at the time they were negotiating the fight, they're not fighting in Vegas because they can make more money fighting at Wembley.
You can see why Tyson was so popular in Vegas, a lot of those guys would be queuing up for a fully comped trip to watch him. He was an absolute goldmine for the casinos in the 80s/90s.
And under the very top level there's a market of thousands/maybe 10000 guys who are worth a free ticket/room because they'll drop many thousands in a weekend that the various casinos have lists of. But it's the real high rollers, the guaranteed million a trip guys that make the site fees worth paying for the casinos.
Last edited by Kirkland Laing; 02-04-2009 at 11:50 PM.
Ok this is probably a dumb question but what does the casino's making so much money from a fight being held have to do with the boxers? I mean do the boxers and promoters get a cut of the profits the casino's make?
It sounds like it's the casino's themselves that benefit from the fights being held there but what do the fighters, promoters etc care about that? Do they get free venues, percentage of money and other incentives to hold the fights there?
Also just out of curiosity these mega rich gamblers dropping a million in one night, do they only hit the casino's on the night of a big fight or do they turn up for all kinds of events?
Presumably if they are throwing away a million dollars a night they are betting on a whole lot more than just the outcome of the fight, seems like they must be at the tables and in private back rooms playing poker etc, why is the fight even that relevent to them?
Not saying I disagree I'm sure you are right just wondering how the casino's getting rich benefits boxing. I guess they must pay them handsomely for the trade?![]()
Well mate it is like I said in the original post...The casinos will help flip the bill doing promotions for the fight saving millions of dollars...They will also have all the formals held there...Weigh in's Day of press confrences...
They will help with the broadcast cost...Use their workers to set up for the card...Clean up after the event in the area where the fight was held...(Yes arenas will charge to have the place cleaned for the mess left by spectators)....They will supply security, hotel rooms to thos involved (Fighters, trainers, promoters etc) all that adds up to millions that the promoter would have to pay otherwise...The insurance to hold the event is covered, The casino will ..The casino gladly pays it because they majke the money back 6 fold by gambling revenue generated....There are 100 things that the casino will do that takes expenses off the fighters and promoters pockets...Hence they make more money by having to spend less...
They do not actually put money in the fighters pockets but they sure as hell make sure nothing comes out of it either...They even set up PR appearences at times that the fighrters will make money off of...They will help with training quarters while the fighters are there for the time prior to th fight....
The list is a mile long
Hidden Content IN CASE THEY ALL FORGOT WHAT REAL HEAVYWEIGHT POWER WAS!!!
Well it makes sense then I guess, shame that the business has come to this but obviously everyone involved is going to want to make the most money and if the casino's represent that it isn't going to change
We've started building super casino's in the UK now the past few years so wonder if we'll have a situation like this in the next decade or so..............
I don't see why not assuming the casinos are a success...You Brits are very passonite fans and the atmosphere created added with money generated through gambling would make it a huge attraction...Atmosphere added with Money is always a recipe for success....I would make the trip for sure
Hidden Content IN CASE THEY ALL FORGOT WHAT REAL HEAVYWEIGHT POWER WAS!!!
Casinos fight amongst themselves year-round to attract these guys. Over the years the one thing that's been shown to attract them more than any other is a big fight. If you have a few dozen guys who are guaranteed to spend a million plus who want to watch a fight then a site fee of a few million leaves you with a significant profit.
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