Vaccaro at Vegas South Point Sportsbook After Rivers Stint

One of the biggest Las Vegas legends is back in town, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Sportsbook oddsmakers veteran Jimmy Vaccaro left last Vegas six months ago to help promote the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh but after a short stay, he has returned to Sin City, the paper reported Monday.

Jimmy Vaccaro Back at South Point

Vaccaro spent 44 years in Las Vegas running some of the top sportsbooks but on Feb. 1 he left for Pittsburgh to run the Rivers Casino new sports betting operation. It was an intriguing proposition to him as he grew up in Trafford, about a 30-minute drive from Pittsburgh.

His stay didn’t last long, though, as after a short run in Pennsylvania, he’s returning back to the place that feels like home for him these days: Las Vegas.

He grew up in Western Pennsylvania betting with bookies, then moved to Las Vegas in the 1970s to be in a place where sports betting was legal. He started as a dealer at the Royal Inn where he dealt Blackjack.

His move to the Rivers Casino was expected to be part of a part-time semi-retirement for Vaccaro. He didn’t set the odds, which are handled by a European firm. Instead, he was more of a public relations figure, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Known as an oddsmaker that welcomes all players and action, he already has come up with a fun prop for South Point: Total combined losses by Alabama and Clemson in college football this season, set at 1.5. Those teams have met in three of the past four National Championship games.

Although Vaccaro did not personally comment to the Review-Journal on his return to the desert, it would seem that he wanted a return to oddsmaking and Las Vegas.

Vaccaro Will Fill In For Chris Andrews

It’s likely that Vaccaro will team with long-time close friend Chris Andrews once the latter returns to full health but in the meantime, Vaccaro will fill his role as sportsbook director. Andrews is on medical leave while being treated for blood cancer. He’s recovering from a bone marrow transplant in Los Angeles, the Review-Journal reported, and is hoping to return to the scene at the end of October.

While Andrews has had successful treatment, he tweeted out on Monday that he’s not out of the woods and that the next 10 weeks will be critical to his recovery. Having a closer friend nearby can only help.

In terms of whether Vaccaro plans to stay long-term in Vegas – or at the South Point – is anyone’s guess, as the Post-Gazette reported. However, he’s there for now and can almost always be found on-site at the South Point.