Terrible’s is, well, a terrible name for a casino, but it’s a great hangout for locals where you can still buy a full rib dinner, complete with salad, baked potato, veggies, and drinks, for seven bucks and change.
Tucked away in East Flamingo, about a mile from palatial Strip resorts like Bally’s, Caesars Palace, and Bellagio, Terrible’s was formerly known as the Continental, a decrepit and decaying hotel-casino patronized primarily by high-end vegans. hours of the morning. to drink in entertainment offerings from hit act Cookie Jarr and the Crumbs.
“Nasty looking” was the word most often used to describe him.
The property was purchased several years ago by Jerry Herbst, a member of a Sin City dynastic family, and completely remodeled.
Its newly built and always-packed parking lot, snack buffet lines ($5.95 for a great breakfast, compared to at least three times as much elsewhere), and spring and summer pool parties are testament to the growing popularity of the renewed resort.
Terrible’s now serves as the hub or headquarters for Herbst’s gaming businesses, consisting primarily of a chain of gas stations with video poker and slot machines, though one-armed bandits have set up shop at other outlets, such as supermarkets and convenience stores.
The venue was packed for the first four days of March Madness last week, especially when UNLV was playing.
Every seat in his small but well-appointed sports book, carved into a corner on the north side of the ground floor, was filled.
The late bookie Sonny Reizner, best known for turning old Castaways into an internationally renowned establishment, would probably call it another “hole in the wall” book.
Characterized as a wild and crazy Red Wings fan by a friend and former associate, Detroit native Doug Beil oversees sports and racing operations.
Tall, impeccably dressed and youthful in appearance, Beil got his start in the betting business at Bally’s under veteran bookie John Avello, who now runs the betting shop at Wynn Las Vegas, and did a stint at the Hilton before obtaining his current position.
The doting father of two sons, one a track star and the other a soccer player, Beil is the kind of guy who’s hard not to like instantly.
“He loves weird European sports like soccer, car racing and things like the Tour de France,” said Hamilton Ward, who worked with Beil on the SuperBook.
“He put the odds on Mexican soccer long before Hilton.
“He does a lot of pageants and takes very good care of his customers.”
Beil was busy, as usual, on Tuesday, but took some time to discuss a wide range of main variety topics.
Basketball
“Sweet 16 action has been slow, but we’ll get a lot on Thursday and Friday,” he said.
“So far, the bets have been split between UNLV and Oregon, but by Friday I hope we get a lot of money from UNLV.
“Right now, they’re (players) playing at Georgetown and Ohio State.”
The Hoyas are favored 7 1/2 over Vanderbilt and the Buckeyes are a 4 1/2-point pick over Tennessee, with both games scheduled for Thursday.
Georgetown is the No. 2 seed in the East, while top-ranked Ohio State is the No. 1 seed in the South.
Beil will root for the Rebels, two and a half points underdogs than the Ducks, along with most of the city’s gaming community.
“They can win, which is why Oregon is such a small favorite,” Beil said.
“UNLV plays great defense, they are tenacious and deep.
“If they beat Oregon, Florida will be hard to beat, but all the pressure would be on them and UNLV would have nothing to lose.
“If Florida and UNLV played 10 to 15 times, the Rebels would win a couple and maybe this would be one of the times.”
Baseball
Right now, Beil says, baseball bettors are so deep in the hoop that the Boys of Summer are being overlooked, even though futures betting “seeps in” on a daily basis.
“And everyone is betting on the Cubs,” Beil said, echoing the lament Las Vegas bookies have had for years.
The Chicago Northsiders have slumped from 50/1 to 4/1 in Terrible’s World Series futures book.
“I think they can win?” biel said.
“I don’t think so, but this year we’ve had more bets on the Cubs than usual.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do something, but I don’t think it will happen.”
The Chicago Southsiders are another matter.
Beil hopes the White Sox, the 2005 Fall Classic champions, are back in the 2007 picture.
“They’re a strong team that plays good defense, but no one else really jumps on me,” Beil said.
“The same teams that struggled last year should do it again this season … the Yankees and Red Sox in the East, Chicago and Detroit in the Center.
“The White Sox didn’t make the playoffs last year, but I think they’ll be back in the mix.
“The Twins have good young pitching and it depends on how it comes out, especially (Francisco) Loriano.
“In the American League West, I would look at the Angels.
“The Athletics have lost some players.”
In the National League, Beil likes the Mets, Cardinals, and Dodgers.
“When it comes to betting, we always get the most money on teams from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles,” he said.
“Once the season starts, or a month or two from now, you’re going to see more (bet) money on the Mets and, of course, the Yankees.
“I like the Cardinals in the Central again, not the Cubs.
“The Dodgers could be contenders and I’m not totally hooked on the Giants.
“There’s a lot of parity and mediocrity in the National League West.
“It’s wide open and I think a strong pitch will be the deciding factor.”
horse racing
Beil doesn’t yet have a favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
“You have to be careful with horses that jump into the water late,” he said.
“Heavily promoted 2-year-olds don’t necessarily do well as 3-year-olds.
“Horses grow and mature at different times.”
