Four sites have been named to host the Final and National Championship Game for the years 2027-2030. Out of the four sites, Las Vegas will make history during 2028, as the location was always seen as an afterthought.
Las Vegas Makes History After a Long Battle
Sin City always makes headlines in the sports betting industry, as it is still in the prominent markets in the country. The Silver State will continue to get bettors to flock from California, as bettors in the Golden State will have to wait until at least 2024.
Las Vegas is a prime location to host events, as it has been home to the NBA Summer League for years. However, the gambling aspects haven’t gone well with collegiate programs, as many schools and athletic directors are against gambling because they believe it will hurt the student athlete’s performance on and off the field.
Things have changed in the last few months, as some states have strict rules. Some states won’t allow residents to bet on in-state teams, while jurisdictions like Illinois only allow that form of wagering to take place at a casino to avoid any negative confrontation.
Subsequently, universities have become more accepting of the sports betting industry while encouraging responsible gambling for the fans attending these games. PointsBet has partnerships with the University of Maryland and the University of Colorado.
Meanwhile, Caesars Sportsbook has partnered with Louisiana State University and Michigan State University. These deals will most likely continue as the industry looks to expand into other states like Massachusetts and Ohio.
The Rise of Sports Betting Helped Las Vegas
Allegiant Stadium will host the Final Four of the 2028 men’s NCAA Tournament, the NCAA announced Tuesday. Las Vegas will also host the 2023 West Regional during March Madness, which is a major step in the right direction.
This means Sin City will be an opportunistic state in the coming years as more job opportunities will be opening up. The city has the Las Vegas Raiders and the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The NBA is in preliminary talks of adding a team on the West Coast, but Commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t want to rush the process. The return of the Seattle Supersonics could also be an option, as the team relocated to become the Oklahoma City Thunder years ago.
The Oakland Athletics may be looking for a change in scenery as the Golden State Warriors moved to San Francisco. Las Vegas could be a prime destination, as the New York Mets Triple-A affiliate used to play there before moving to Syracuse.
All Vegas Has To Do is Wait
Opportunities will keep presenting themselves for the city as the sports betting industry has reshaped the West Coast. The NCAA has also named other cities like Detroit, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Dallas to host in the years 2027-2030.
The anti-gambling rhetoric is slowly fading away as more states look to enter the industry. The generated revenue has helped fund educational programs and other programs that could use extra funding.
