Author (with Matt Birkbeck) , The Bookie
This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with legendary Las Vegas bookmaker Art Manteris, author (with Matt Birkbeck) of The Bookie
For more than four decades, Art helped shape the modern sportsbook while running operations at iconic Las Vegas properties including the Stardust, Caesars, and the Hilton. In this fascinating conversation, he shares why he decided to write The Bookie and reflects on a career spent at the center of one of Las Vegas’s most exciting—and closely watched—industries.
Art talks about arriving in Las Vegas before he ever entered the race and sportsbook business, and how once he did, there was no turning back. He discusses the thrill of working in sports betting for more than 43 years, where balancing revenue, compliance, and guest service was essential to running what he calls “pretty well-oiled machines.”
The conversation also explores Nevada’s long-standing model for regulating sports betting, why Art believes federal intervention isn’t the answer, and how legislation such as the Wire Act has unintentionally created complications for the industry. He also explains the steps states can take to responsibly manage sports wagering as technology and mobile betting continue to expand the market—especially among younger bettors.
Along the way, Art shares stories about some of the colorful figures who shaped the world of sports betting, including legendary oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough and famed sports bettor Billy Walters. He also reflects on the challenges of guest service in a high-stakes environment and the evolving relationship between professional sports leagues and the gambling industry.
Packed with insider perspective, Vegas history, and unforgettable characters, this episode offers a rare look inside the world of sportsbooks from one of the men who helped define it.
ABOUT ART:
Art Manteris is considered among the preeminent experts on sports betting throughout the world. He began his four-decade career at the Fremont Hotel & Casino and infamous Stardust, and later rose to head the sportsbooks at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, and Stations Casinos, where he oversaw the company’s 18 sportsbooks. A policy contributor to several national and state gaming associations, he was inducted into the Sports Gaming Hall of Fame. Art retired in 2021.