Despite initial controversy and legal issues, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has become a record-breaking event for sportsbooks. Caesars Sportsbooks set a new record for the total betting handle for any motorsports event, and other entities like BetMGM, Station Casinos, Westgate SuperBook, and Red Rock Resort also reported record handles for the F1 race. The success of the Grand Prix is being closely monitored by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which will release its monthly report for November to provide a fuller understanding of its impact.
While the race was successful, there are still ongoing debates about its late-night start time. Although it was chosen to minimize disruption to local citizens who endured months of construction headaches, efforts are underway to move up the start time to an earlier hour. The 10 p.m. local start time of the race, which was 1 a.m. on the East Coast, has prompted pushback from drivers and team executives who are traveling from Europe and have urged for an earlier start time to aid in their time-zone acclimation. The debate surrounding the start time highlights the importance of considering all parties involved when planning events that attract large crowds.