By Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, visiting the Mandalay Bay sportsbook is a rite of passage for anyone taking a trip to Las Vegas. With more seating than you can imagine, cinema-style TVs, top-notch amenities, and a massive casino floor, it truly is a must-have experience.
Naturally, this means we need to drop an incredibly thorough Mandalay Bay sportsbook review. It’s the only way you can fully appreciate all they have to offer. We’ll cover everything from the betting procedures and sportsbook setup to the benefits of the casino and hotel.
In the end, you might decide to stay elsewhere. Vegas has so many great options to choose from, such as slightly more ritzy spots like the Bellagio or Cosmopolitan as well as off-strip gems like the Golden Nugget. But you’ll also leave this page feeling like you have hit up the Mandalay sportsbook at some point the next time you’re in Sin City.
The Mandalay Bay Sportsbook Experience
Before getting into the physical benefits of the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, we need to discuss more technical details. Let's do that now.
Pros of Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
- Expansive seating at the sportsbook
- Over 3,000 rooms at the hotel
- 135,000 square foot casino
Cons of Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
- Costly daily resort fee
- No special events or contests at the sportsbook
- Parking fees will return at some point
Mandalay Bay Sportsbook Hours of Operation
- Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location of Mandalay Bay Sportsbook
The Mandalay Bay sportsbook sits on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip at 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South. It’s about 2.5 miles from Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran), a drive that typically takes under 10 minutes without heavy traffic.
During the pandemic in 2021, Mandalay Bay waived self-parking fees and temporarily closed valet service as part of its reopening measures. Those perks, however, are long gone. As of 2025, self-parking once again carries a standard fee, and valet service is available at an added cost. Travelers should factor these expenses into their trip planning when deciding between renting a car or relying on taxis and rideshares.
Place Your Bets at the Mandalay Sportsbook
Right off the bat, you can tell Mandalay Bay is serious about offering the best sports betting experience. You only need to look at how often they are open. Their hours of operation always span at least 14 hours per day, never begin later than 8 a.m., and never end earlier than 10:30 p.m.
Extended weekend openings are truly a blessing during the college football and NFL seasons. Getting your bets in earlier during the day is important for both, and Mandalay Bay sportsbooks odds should be live no later than one hour after they open. In fact, the Mandalay Bay sportsbook NFL odds are usually available as soon as they open. The late closing times will also allow you to place last-minute wagers on the night games if you're so inclined.
At Mandalay Bay, you won’t have to worry about catching your favorite game—the BetMGM Sportsbook offers expansive seating, VIP viewing boxes, and massive screens broadcasting every major event. And if you get hungry or thirsty, the Sportsbook Grill is just steps away
Sometimes, the sheer size and popularity of the room can work against you. It tends to fill up closer to capacity during hallmark events like the Super Bowl or Kentucky Derby. But it is typically roomier during all other times. You at once feel like you're at home relaxing and in a post-modern room with all the tech and sportsbook lines you can handle.
Should you wish to invest in futures—such as the NBA Finals winner—and don't live in Nevada, you’ll need to place them in person or through the BetMGM app while physically in Nevada. Traditional pay-by-mail betting services are no longer emphasized, as most wagering now runs through regulated mobile platforms with geolocation requirements.
As one of the many casinos under the MGM umbrella, the Mandalay Bay sportsbook is also grandfathered into the BetMGM app. If you download it, create an account, and make a deposit, you can place wagers without even being in the building.
Of course, like basically all Vegas sportsbook apps, you must be in Nevada for it to work. It uses the tracking data from your mobile device to determine whether you're within the legal range.
For anyone who isn't in Vegas, you don't actually have to punt on the betting experience. We have compiled a list of the best online sportsbooks you can use from almost anywhere without issue:
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Good sportsbooks, like the ones above, also offer Vegas-style casinos. Yes, you can play online your favorite casino games, such as roulette, blackjack, poker, keno, bingo, and many more.
The Mandalay Bay Casino
At first glance, the Mandalay Bay casino is caps-lock HUGE. Upon further review, it might be even bigger.
With nearly 148,000 square feet of gaming space—up from 135,000 when it first opened—Mandalay Bay delivers the full Vegas experience, from slots and virtual games to live table action like blackjack, craps, roulette, keno, and more
Among the primary benefits of such a big space is that there's room for betting minimums of all types. The usual gambler will be catered to more than anyone, but high rollers will find slot rooms and tables just for their fix.
If you are a high roller, there's a good chance you will be comped by Mandalay Bay in some form. Will that constitute a private table? Discounted or free rooms? Free meals? It ranges. But comps are a thing.
One of the questions everyone's always dying to know: Are casino drinks free? At the moment, they do appear to be complementary so long as you're placing bets at a table or slot machine. That being said, other MGM resorts have implemented a voucher system in which you receive one "free" drink after you wager $20 and then have to keep gambling to receive more.
Either way, placing bets remains the best way to receive discounted or free cocktails. (Unless you want top-shelf liquor.) And that means it's important you tip your servers, as you want to ensure they keep coming back with refills.
Another perk of Mandalay Bay being part of the MGM portfolio is that guests can join the MGM Rewards program (formerly M Life). While rewards can’t be earned directly at the sportsbook, players accumulate points at slots, table games, restaurants, and shops, which can later be redeemed for meals, free stays, and exclusive experiences across MGM properties.
Staying at Mandalay Bay
Select hotels in Vegas don't operate as full-on resorts. You need to get off the property to adequately experience the lifestyle.
The Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino is not among those places. You always do yourself a favor by exploring other casinos or going on excursions, but they have set it up so you don't actually have to leave.
First and foremost, there are the rooms. Mandalay Bay offers more than 3,200 of them, with standard rooms that are spacious by Vegas standards. While rates can vary widely depending on season and demand, the daily resort fee is now about $50 plus tax. That charge covers amenities like Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center, pool entry, and business services, though spa treatments and some extras still come at an additional cost.
Dining is another highlight. Mandalay Bay has over 20 restaurants and eateries, ranging from upscale steakhouses and seafood venues to casual spots, quick bites, and coffee shops like Starbucks.
Visitors will also find a broad selection of retail outlets on property. Many skew toward high-end brands, but the mix includes options for a range of budgets, making it feel more like a self-contained mall than a single hotel.
Mandalay separates itself even further with its entertainment options. They don't just give you access to clubs and bars—of note: be sure to speak with the concierge about getting your name on the list for the weekends—but they have actual theaters and shows on-site. This includes the Shark Reef Aquarium. Yes, an aquarium.
Impressed? You should be. Not many of the hotels and casinos offer this well-rounded experience. Whether you're coming to Vegas for the sportsbook and casino, to take in shows, to party or just to relax, chances are you will find that Mandalay Bay is a place at which you can enjoy yourself.
