Downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino shows off renovated sportsbook

Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 years ago

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman places the first bet at the William Hill Race & Sports Book on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza in Las Vegas. Goodman bet $100 on NFL football. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel, left, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, center, and William Hill US CEO Joe Asher, right, pose for photos after Goodman placed the first bet at William Hill Race & Sports Book on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

William Hill Race & Sports Book is open for betting on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The facility, which first opened in 2013, was remodeled with an 80-square-foot video wall and updated technology. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman toasts to the new William Hill Race & Sports Book on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at at the Plaza in Las Vegas. Goodman placed a ceremonial first bet at the updated facility. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, introduces the newly remodeled William Hill Race & Sports Book next to Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza in Las Vegas. The sports book first opened in 1975 and was taken over by William Hill US in 2013. The current update includes a 80-square-foot video wall. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza, speaks at the unveiling of the William Hill Race & Sports Book’s remodel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza in Las Vegas. The new book features a video wall that has more than 80 square feet of viewing area. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman Oscar Goodman waits to unveil the new video wall at the remodeled William Hill Race & Sports Book while drinking his third martini on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman helped celebrate the Plaza’s newly revamped William Hill Race and Sports Book by placing the first bet — a $100 three-team charity football parlay — on Friday.

Goodman joined with William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher and Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel to debut the Plaza’s newly revamped William Hill Race & Sports Book with a “turning on” ceremony, according to a news release.

The three “turned on” an HD video wall, the largest in downtown Las Vegas, measuring 5-feet-by-16.5-feet wide with a viewing area of more than 80 square feet.

Goodman’s charity bet was on the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs, the release said.

The book, which also received an updated look and feel, also offers bettors access to William Hill’s mobile app, kiosks and InPlay wagering menu as well as Plaza restaurants and entertainment options. The book at the Plaza opened in 1975 and is the longest continuously operating sports book in the city, Asher said in the release

“When William Hill took over operations in 2012, we wanted to provide the best race and sports experience to bettors and have worked alongside our partners at the Plaza to ensure that holds true today,” he said. “These improvements and updates cement the Plaza as one of the best places to watch a game Downtown.”