I'm not a gambler, but I've watched the first two days of the NCAA Tournament in a Las Vegas casino, and it's an experience worth having. The sports book becomes a sports bar on steroids, with way more team neutrality and probably better and quicker food options. Some casinos deal with the overflow by setting aside conference rooms filled with big screen TVs and small gambling concession counters, so you can place your bets right there, if you're into that. This is often a smoke-free alternative.
A bit of news today that seems relevant here: Las Vegas is hosting the 2028 Final Four.
For the first time, the Final Four is headed to Las Vegas, where wagering on the NCAA tournament has long been a staple of March Madness revelry, after the NCAA awarded the men's national semifinals and championship game to Allegiant Stadium for the 2027-28 season.
The NCAA also announced Tuesday that Ford Field in Detroit would host the Final Four in 2027, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis would get the 2029 event and AT&T Stadium in Dallas would have the 2030 event.