Hoopla

Still nursing a post-Super Bowl hangover? For sports junkies who need an adrenaline fix, March Madness in Vegas might be the perfect remedy.

The 64-team NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will light up the city with a round-the-clock bacchanalia of hoops, revelry and wagering that tips off March 15 — with 48 games packed into the first four days.

Vegas properties will show them all, multiplexed wall-to-wall in packed, rocking sports books, each with a multitude of wagering opportunities.

Nearly as popular as Super Bowl weekend, March Madness trends younger and offers lots more action, with party options for all tastes.

Let’s say it’s a raucous guys’ night out. You can’t go wrong with MGM Grand’s Race & Sports Book, a full-service venue with more than 40 huge TV screens and four elevated Skyboxes, each seating up to 10 and equipped with 42-inch flat-screens and high-end audio systems.

Perfect for a casual hang, the SuperBook at LVH is a sprawling venue with special March Madness food and drink deals.

Harrah’s Sports Pit offers a cool, lively lounge setting with gaming options that include video poker. For high-rollers who prefer an edgier vibe, Hard Rock Hotel offers plush leather booths with touchscreen betting.

Maybe you’re hitting the Strip with a significant other. Lagasse’s Stadium features culinary creations designed by celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse, with indoor and outdoor seating and flat screens aplenty. This unique venue also allows wagering throughout the property via portable Pocketcasino devices.

The Venetian’s newly redesigned Race and Sports Book is an elegant take on the traditional book, with one of the world’s largest video screens capable of showing 34 sporting events simultaneously.

Whichever works, be sure to stake out territory as early as possible — the books start filling up the night before tipoff.

—Bob Young, Custom Publishing Writer