Veteran Bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro Leaves Las Vegas for Personal Journey
Jimmy Vaccaro's Future Plans Speculated Amid Betting Industry Buzz
Gossips among Vaccaro's pals in the frantic world of Las Vegas sports betting hint at the impending departure of legendary bookmaker, Jimmy Vaccaro, from his four-decade-long stint at the Nevada sports betting scene.
These friends question whether Vaccaro, who notoriously refuses to set foot in an aircraft, will stay away from the glitz and glamour of Sin City for long after his planned move back to his Western Pennsylvania roots in Tafford, near Pittsburgh.
Sources close to the 40-year betting veteran, who has worn the title of sportsbook director at establishments like the Royal Inn, Barbary Coast, the Mirage, and William Hill US, have revealed that Vaccaro will reportedly be joining Rush Street Gaming. This multistate casino operator runs the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, where sportsbook operations went live in mid-December.
Eastward Bound, Vaccaro?
Rush Street also maintains establishments in suburban Chicago and upstate New York, with sports betting set to potentially become legal in Illinois and New York by the end of 2019. Moreover, Rush Street operates an online and mobile sports betting/casino gaming site in the burgeoning New Jersey market.
The move was first hinted at by former Las Vegas Review-Journal sports wagering columnist and current Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) personality, Matt Youmans, and Bert Osborne, the now-retired South Point sportsbook director and a Western Pennsylvania native. Both took to Twitter in November, revealing the unexpected news.
"My Rivers contacts tell me it's a done deal. Jimmy is coming home..." tweeted Bert Osborne on December 13, 2018. Matt Youmans tweeted, "Jimmy V is leaving Las Vegas..."
At the time of writing, Vaccaro has yet to make an official comment on his plans, and all parties involved, including Rush Street and VSiN, have remained tight-lipped about the development. However, insiders believe the bookmaking legend is slated to continue as a show contributor on the Brent Musburger-hosted VSiN "My Guys in the Desert" program.
Vaccaro: Industry Mover and Shaker
Vic Salerno, a member of the American Gaming Association (AGA) Hall of Fame, and current CEO of USBookmaking, hails Vaccaro as a significant influencer in the sports betting business. "He was the first to introduce Super Bowl propositions that definitely changed the business," Salerno said.
Best known as "the bookmaker's bookmaker," Vaccaro also played a pivotal role in ESPN's 1990 "42-1" documentary on the heavyweight boxing match between Mike Tyson and James "Buster" Douglas, having been the only bookmaker to post odds and take legal wagers on the bout, won by Douglas in an astonishing ninth-round knockout of Tyson at odds that closed at 42-1.
Usually working the late afternoon and evening shift, Vaccaro is beloved for his approachable demeanor, warmly greeting newcomers to sports wagering, and showing them the ropes. In the frenetic chaos of major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the NCAA basketball tourney, Vaccaro would even take to the sportsbook's public address system to guide bettors and keep the betting lines moving.
Vaccaro is also well-known for his generosity, often doling out his winnings to the entire sportsbook staff. If recent speculations prove true, Las Vegas' vibrant sports betting scene will undoubtedly miss the iconic figurehead itβs been privileged to call its own.
[1] Jimmy Vaccaro inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2021 while associated with South Point Casino. (Source: unavailable)
- Jimmy Vaccaro, renowned for his influence in sports betting, is rumored to be leaving his four-decade-long post in the Nevada sports betting scene.
- Close sources reveal that Vaccaro will reportedly join Rush Street Gaming, which operates casinos in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
- Rush Street Gaming's potential expansion into Illinois and New York markets, where sports betting may become legal by the end of 2019, could provide Vaccaro new opportunities.
- Rush Street Gaming also operates an online and mobile sports betting/casino gaming site in New Jersey, where sports betting is already legal.
- Bert Osborne, a retired sportsbook director and a Western Pennsylvania native, and Matt Youmans, a Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) personality, revealed the news on Twitter in November 2018.
- Vic Salerno, a member of the American Gaming Association (AGA) Hall of Fame and current CEO of USBookmaking, appreciates Vaccaro's impact on the sports betting industry, citing his introduction of Super Bowl propositions that transformed the business.
- Vaccaro famously took odds and legal wagers on the Mike Tyson versus James "Buster" Douglas boxing match, which Douglas won in an astonishing 9th-round knockout at odds that closed at 42-1.
- Known for his warm approachability and generosity, Vaccaro has created a beloved image in the Las Vegas sports betting scene, and his departure may leave a significant void.
