For those that read The Odds by Chad Millman or for those that happen to know him as the director of the Stardust sportsbook.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-23-Wed-2002/sports/19900350.html
Lupo resigns from Stardust sports book
Director heads to Atlantic City; Scucci promoted
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Joe Lupo, one of Nevada's most influential bookmakers as director of the Stardust race and sports book since 1996, announced his resignation Tuesday.
Lupo will take an undetermined senior management position at Borgata, the Boyd Gaming property set to open this summer in Atlantic City. The Stardust appointed Lupo's assistant, Bob Scucci, to replace him.
Lupo, a 39-year-old UNLV graduate, also spent four years at the Stardust as an assistant under Robert Walker, now race & sports book director for MGM Mirage.
Lupo said leaving sports was a difficult decision, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to advance in the company.
"I love this position and I love Las Vegas, and it won't be easy leaving from that standpoint," Lupo said. "But I've been looking to grow into other opportunities, and I had to be more diverse.
"I had been looking to move up in the company, and the timing couldn't have been better, personally or professionally. I can stay with the company and be affiliated with what I believe to be a premier property, so it's obviously an exciting time for me."
As Lupo exits, he will do so with mixed feelings about the future of sports wagering in Nevada, the only state where it is legal. He said sports betting's future here is bleak unless Internet wagering through licensed Nevada casinos becomes legal.
Many sports books in the Caribbean are attracting bettors who used to bet in Nevada or with illegal bookmakers. The Caribbean books, less regulated than Nevada books, offer a wider variety of bets and the convenience of wagering from home.
Also, because there is more competition, offshore lines are often more favorable to bettors.
"I think the Internet is basically going to determine (the future of sports betting in Nevada)," Lupo said. "The Internet has become such a big part of sports betting worldwide. If Nevada gets on board, then things will be (all right).
"I think the offshore (books) have hurt the illegal bookies more than they've hurt us, but they have had an impact here. Everybody has a computer now, and you can sit in front of your computer and make your bet. Before, you had to hop on a plane and come to Nevada."
Scucci, 38, has been at the Stardust since 1993 and has been Lupo's assistant since 1996. The Stardust remains a favorite sports books among professional bettors, and maintaining that status will be one of Scucci's priorities.
The Stardust has long posted the earliest lines on NFL games, a practice Scucci will continue.
"I hope to see the Stardust continuing as the leader in the industry," Scucci said. "We've had that reputation, and I want to continue that.
"We're getting more and more competition from the island sports books, and that's our biggest challenge. Betting with the computer has become so big over the years, and it has shown no signs of slowing down. We really need to get a lion's share of that business somehow."
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-23-Wed-2002/sports/19900350.html
Lupo resigns from Stardust sports book
Director heads to Atlantic City; Scucci promoted
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Joe Lupo, one of Nevada's most influential bookmakers as director of the Stardust race and sports book since 1996, announced his resignation Tuesday.
Lupo will take an undetermined senior management position at Borgata, the Boyd Gaming property set to open this summer in Atlantic City. The Stardust appointed Lupo's assistant, Bob Scucci, to replace him.
Lupo, a 39-year-old UNLV graduate, also spent four years at the Stardust as an assistant under Robert Walker, now race & sports book director for MGM Mirage.
Lupo said leaving sports was a difficult decision, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to advance in the company.
"I love this position and I love Las Vegas, and it won't be easy leaving from that standpoint," Lupo said. "But I've been looking to grow into other opportunities, and I had to be more diverse.
"I had been looking to move up in the company, and the timing couldn't have been better, personally or professionally. I can stay with the company and be affiliated with what I believe to be a premier property, so it's obviously an exciting time for me."
As Lupo exits, he will do so with mixed feelings about the future of sports wagering in Nevada, the only state where it is legal. He said sports betting's future here is bleak unless Internet wagering through licensed Nevada casinos becomes legal.
Many sports books in the Caribbean are attracting bettors who used to bet in Nevada or with illegal bookmakers. The Caribbean books, less regulated than Nevada books, offer a wider variety of bets and the convenience of wagering from home.
Also, because there is more competition, offshore lines are often more favorable to bettors.
"I think the Internet is basically going to determine (the future of sports betting in Nevada)," Lupo said. "The Internet has become such a big part of sports betting worldwide. If Nevada gets on board, then things will be (all right).
"I think the offshore (books) have hurt the illegal bookies more than they've hurt us, but they have had an impact here. Everybody has a computer now, and you can sit in front of your computer and make your bet. Before, you had to hop on a plane and come to Nevada."
Scucci, 38, has been at the Stardust since 1993 and has been Lupo's assistant since 1996. The Stardust remains a favorite sports books among professional bettors, and maintaining that status will be one of Scucci's priorities.
The Stardust has long posted the earliest lines on NFL games, a practice Scucci will continue.
"I hope to see the Stardust continuing as the leader in the industry," Scucci said. "We've had that reputation, and I want to continue that.
"We're getting more and more competition from the island sports books, and that's our biggest challenge. Betting with the computer has become so big over the years, and it has shown no signs of slowing down. We really need to get a lion's share of that business somehow."
