If you plan to wager come Sunday, Feb. 2, David Pemberton, director of specialty games for Caesars Entertainment, has a tip for you. “The prop that has paid for the last four years is: ‘Will there be a special teams or defensive touchdown scored in the game,’ and the answer is ‘Yes.’”
Pemberton was recently at Caesars Palace Race and Sports Book (the company’s linemaking hub is at the Rio), gearing up for Super Bowl XLVIII and the madness and constant lines at the sports books. Another tip? Don’t wait until the last minute to place a bet—there are hundreds of ways to bet, so it helps to sort out wagers early.
It’s obvious that Pemberton is at home in the sports book; you can tell right away that it’s his domain. That probably has to do with the fact that he’s worked in the business for almost 25 years. “I remember when I first started, it took a while to learn everything. … But, the fun part of my job is what I’ve learned after all these years, I actually get to put into play.” Pemberton controls the lines and numbers for all of Caesars Entertainment’s race and sports books and makes sure that bets and scores are kept updated. He also stays on top of who’s betting what.
After 25 years of living through moments where “everyone’s screaming, everyone’s got a dream, everyone’s got a ticket,” Pemberton admits the excitement is unlike any other city. “I’ve always said, once you get the neon in your blood, it’s hard to be anywhere else.”
Right next to the Caesars Palace Race and Sports Book, you can sidle up to the Sports Bar and order beer, wine or one of the many specialty cocktails, like the Up in Smoke. The strong yet smooth cocktail is mixed with Knob Creek smoked maple bourbon, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and a few dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters. For a sweet and sour touch, Filthy Food Amarena cherries are used as a garnish.
Up in Smoke
