LAS VEGAS – As much as I enjoy playing Blackjack in Las Vegas there’s nothing more enjoyable in Las Vegas to me than sitting in a leather seat with a beverage (hopefully comped) next to me while I’m watching about 72 athletic events taking place simultaneously.

I haven’t been to every sports book Las Vegas has to offer but I’ve been to several. For what it’s worth, here are my favorite venues and why:

Bellagio Race and Sports Book: This is a sentimental pick as much as anything. The first time my Dad and brother came out here we did so early in the 1999 football season. Bellagio was the newest casino in town and we decided to go check it out. I got to the 5,600 square foot sports book early enough to get a tall, leather-backed chair in the bar area where a friendly bartender kept my tall beers, I believe Nut Brown Ale, rotating constantly while I watched four televisions in front of me, four televisions behind me and four televisions to the left of me all showing NFL games. If that wasn’t enough action I just had to peer off to the right where I had what seemed like hundreds more events from more football to horse racing to choose from. It’s spacious. It’s friendly. That was a great and addicting introduction to this city.

The Wynn Las Vegas Race and Sports Book: Another latest and greatest venue, the Wynn did its sports book up right with plenty of space, a nearby cafe and a fantastic atmosphere. The swiveling leather chairs are not only incredibly comfortable but they make for easy viewing of the entire bank of screens. The sound system is fantastic. It’s a great venue, though my brother notes that they removed one of his favorite attributes: A nearby bank of Blackjack tables at which he had 16 of the best hours of cards he has ever played.

Lucky’s Race & Sports Book: Located at the downtown Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, this venue lacks some of the soft features of its counterparts on the Strip. But it has a large bank of televisions with plenty of seating, albeit most of them not made out of leather. If you are downtown, though, this place appears to have a solid local popularity and it had a good atmosphere as well. I had never been in this hotel before Saturday night but I’ll be back. This stop was one of the highlights of the trip.

I may add to this post in the future. There are many others. I enjoy the Mirage Race & Sports Book and the Caesar’s Palace Race & Sports Book. The Race & Sports Book at Bally’s Las Vegas is supposed to be top notch as well. I haven’t spent any time there, but I’m guessing at some point I will.

Does anyone have any suggestions for where I might want to hang out the next time I’m out here? Please fill me in.