Leroy's will double the stakes for its "Money Talks" football contest in the fall, prompted in part by the demise of the Stardust Invitational. Last year, the Money Talks competition was held at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, just a short walk across Las Vegas Boulevard South from the Stardust; the two contests played back-to-back on Friday nights on the city's largest AM radio station. While the Stardust Invitational offered a $10,000 winner-take-all prize, paid by the house, Money Talks players had to buy their way in. The two contests had similar formats, with players in each picking seven weekend football selections against current lines. The difference was Money Talks participants had to grade plays from $110 to $770, just as if they were placing bets. Ex-Las Vegas bookmaker Nick Bogdanivich, who has a long and impressive resume, defeated ProCapprs.com's Brian Leonard in the Money Talks contest while ProCappers.com handicapper Marc Lawrence captured the Stardust event. All indications are the Stardust may be targeted for a pre-holiday implosion and consequently won't bring its popular contest back for a 12th and final season. Money Talks' 16 players last year anted $2,500 each to participate, with Leroy's kicking another $10,000. This year, players will have to put up $5,000 apiece, Leroy's will add $20,000 and the prize pot will grow to $100,000. Lawrence is rumored to have accepted a bid, along with 2005 Las Vegas Hilton SuperContest winner Tony Ricci, a Canadian. John Kelly, who co-hosted all 11 seasons of the Stardust Invitational, will handle microphone duties with Jimmy Vaccaro, a former Las Vegas bookmaker who currently is marketing director for Leroy's. Leroy's operates more than 60 Nevada sports books and has taken over bet shops at many individual casinos that have closed their own. |
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