Best NFL Betting Tips & Making Vegas Cool with Derek Stevens

It’s episode 111 of Wise Kracks and joining us this week is a returning guest that the guys dub, “one of the most powerful men in Las Vegas.” We also discuss NFL Week 1, record-breaking NFL betting, NFL betting tips, buying into drama when betting, and an upcoming UFC event that has Jon and a show producer in a betting showdown. Did we mention the NFL? Let’s go!

Your hosts Bill Krackomberger and Jon Orlando excitedly await the 2022-23 NFL season kickoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams. With two of the league’s heavyweights going at it, the guys want to know: how much money will people lose on this game?

With sportsbooks becoming more prevalent, a record number of Americans plan to bet on the NFL this season. This number could very well include you, so the Krack Man is here to provide you with some essential NFL betting tips.

Drama surrounds the NFL like a soap opera, so Bill and Jon weigh in on whether said drama influences betting behavior.

UFC 279 takes place this weekend and the welterweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz is the talk of the town. Who’s going to take the win?

Bill and Jon are joined by returning guest Derek Stevens, owner of the D Casino, Circa Resort & Casino, and Circa Sports in Las Vegas. He chats with the guys about professional bettors playing his sportsbook, making downtown Las Vegas the place to be, and building the foundation for the casino of his dreams. All of this and more on this week’s Wise Kracks!

Check out NFL Week 1 parlays and prop bets, here!

Record-breaking Betting & Tips for a Successful NFL Betting Season

With the 2022-23 NFL season starting this week, fans of both the sport and betting are getting warmed up for an intense season. In fact, 3% more Americans are planning to bet on this NFL season compared to last year, making that a record of 46.6M Americans.

If you don’t think the sportsbook industry is booming, maybe the fact that more than $50.5B has been bet on sports with American sportsbooks since the start of this year will change your mind. In the face of that otherworldly number, Jon has the best response, “That’s crazy!”

There’s a good chance that you’re one of those 46.6M people, so Bill has a few tips to make this your most rewarding NFL betting season yet!

1. Always line shop, “NFL spreads are incredibly tight… a point or even a half point can make a huge difference throughout the season.” Bill wants to make one thing clear, “Always search multiple sources for the best number…if your book has a bad number, do not bet the game!”
2. Be aware of the key numbers in NFL games, “Because NFL teams most often score in multiples of 3 or 7, getting off or on these key numbers can have a significant effect on your winning percentage for the year.”
3. Separate entertainment from money, “The most heavily wagered games are not the most profitable… resist the temptation to bet on the standalone games.”
4. Maintain your discipline, “Manage your bankroll and only wager what you can afford to lose… you’re not going to make money chasing that late-night game.” Bill recalls when had let his betting ego take over in the past, “When I was 16,17, I did it to myself… don’t be a sucker.”
5. Look into proposition bets, “The rise of the fantasy football industry has led to increased availability of player proposition bets. Try picking out a prop that catches your eye with value.”

With these tips in your back pocket, betting on the NFL this season should be no sweat!

The Man Who Made Downtown Las Vegas Cool Again

Joining Bill and Jon this week is Derek Stevens, a past guest of the show and arguably one of the most influential players in the casino world.

You’ve single-handedly made downtown Las Vegas cool again!

Jon proclaims. Derek owns the D Casino, Circa Resort & Casino, and Circa Sports. He also owns the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, which operates in the oldest building in the history of Vegas.

As the owner of a sportsbook and a friend to Bill, Jon asks the tough question, “How is it that you’re able to have this friendship with Krack when he is technically the enemy of sportsbooks?!” After a hearty chuckle, Derek clears the air,

Our general philosophy at Circa Sports is that we don’t want to limit professional bettors or people with information.

In fact, Derek expresses that he hopes that there are a lot of pros that make a good living off of betting with Circa Sports because, in a way, it’s a win-win situation. “I like the fact that we have more people with 6-figure or 7-figure deposits,” states Derek. Bill is quick to finish his thought, “The reason why you take the pros is that you learn from them in terms of where your lines should be.” Derek nods agreeably, “Exactly, it helps us create robust lines.”

One of the biggest components in operating a sportsbook is to learn from customers, and Derek cites the recent NBA blockbuster trade with Donovan Mitchell as an example, “If you get the information first, we can adjust the line accordingly.”

With betting being as exciting as it can be, Jon notes that it also helps that Circa heightens the experience, “It just has that Las Vegas vibe!” For Derek, this is all part of the plan, “It’s always exciting going to Vegas… you might be an hour out on a flight, and you start getting pumped up… that’s what I always want it to feel like.”

When Jon asks if he has any plans to try and top Circa with new projects, Derek doesn’t have anything set in stone. It’s not for lack of trying; he just has so much love and admiration for what he already has in Circa.

I love being at Circa… we designed a place we want to run and hang out in, it’s sometimes hard to leave!

With the interview winding down, Derek reveals a one-up he has on many of the recent young up-and-comers that have graced the show recently; he has both heard of and seen Jon’s dad Tony Orlando live. “Oh yea, I saw him in Detroit, what a show!”

Catch Wise Kracks Thursday on YouTube

Welcome to Wise Kracks, the place to be for all things betting, pop culture, tips & more. Your hosts Jon Orlando and Bill Krackomberger provide insight into the most popular sports, all the while cracking some jokes.

With a new guest every week, you’re bound to learn something new from the world of sports and entertainment. With Wise Kracks by your side, you’re on your way to becoming the ultimate bettor, and Bill is here to be sure of it.

Tune into the WSN YouTube channel every Thursday for a new episode of Wise Kracks!