Caesars Palace Race & Sports Book

Perfect for: Football fanatics and bettors seeking a bustling, classy sports book in the center of The Strip with a dazzling new video wall that makes one of those giant Costco TVs seem like an iPhone screen. A VIP package is the way to go because it's standing room only unless you arrive super early. The packages are so popular that they have their own booking website: loungereserve.com. There are two options: $75 for lower-level seating and three drinks or $300 for upper-level seating and unlimited drinks. TVs: The hotel brags that its new video wall is the largest on The Strip (Westgate, which claims it has the largest video wall in the world, is off The Strip) and features six 12-foot by 15-foot screens, a 20-foot by 50-foot LED board and 12 50-inch plasma screens. Beer money: $40 for a bucket of five beers. Bloody Mary: $14. Food: Take a break from football and duck into Mesa Grill, celebrity chef Bobby Flay's restaurant right by the sports book, for goat cheese queso fundido and other Southwestern dishes. Betting: Yes. Pro tip: Don't want to spend the cash for a VIP package? Get there early to nab a seat at the video-poker bar, which has great views of the giant screens. Don't expect to sit there and drink for free all day by putting a $20 bill in the machine like you can at some video-poker bars. Employees monitor play closely during games and parcel out drinks based on your gambling. A more intimate option for watching games at Caesars Palace is Vista Lounge. Details: 702-731-7110, caesars.com/caesars-palace.