LARCHWOOD, IA. (KELO) — A northwestern Iowa casino has drawn up a new playbook when it comes to betting on this weekend’s Super Bowl.
Sunday will be the first Super Bowl since Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort switched sportbooks at the end of 2024.
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He’s wearing a New York Jets cap. But Don Tiesler, of Fulda, is a big Minnesota Vikings fan who has to endure another Super Bowl without his favorite team taking the field.
“Getting kind of used to it. A diehard, but it’s hard to have faith in them when it really counts,” Tiesler said.
Tiesler doesn’t have a favorite in Sunday’s Super Bowl. So instead of putting his money on either the Chiefs or Eagles to win, he’s placing prop bets on the game at Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort.
“Coin toss, who scores the first touchdown, passing yards, rushing yards, all kinds of different states,” Tiesler said.
Tiesler isn’t the only one with a financial stake in the Super Bowl. Grand Falls expects a handle approaching $600,000 in total bets.
“Super Bowl is a big deal for everyone here,” Sportsbook Manager Joee Ektnitphong said.
Grand Falls is now affiliated with Elite Sportsbook after the U.K.-based Betfred pulled out of the U.S. sports betting market. Casino management says it’s been a smooth transition.
“People still love it here. They’re still coming. Yeah, the name changed but people are still coming in and talk to us because they know us here for the past five years now,” Ektnitphong said.
Elite is named after Grand Falls’ parent company and was the casino’s original sportsbook before Betfred.
“I really haven’t noticed a difference. I’m not here that much, but it seems to be pretty good,” Tiesler said.
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Grand Falls says the wagering is running about even when it comes to which team will win the Super Bowl. But prop bettors like Tiesler will stick with wagers like the coin flip, which is always a tossup.
Other prop bets have much longer odds, such as the first score of the game being a safety, which will bring a payout of $10,000 on a $100 dollar bet.
Elite Sportsbook is expecting a large crowd at its Super Bowl watch party Sunday evening at the casino.
