Horse racing :

Thanks to satellite feeds from racetracks around the nation, Las Vegas is a sort of nirvana for horse racing bettors (or "horseplayers," as they are sometimes called).

Because there are so many tracks to choose from, in Las Vegas race books it is usually necessary to identify which track you want when you place your bet. For example, tell the ticket writer, "Churchill Downs, eighth race, five dollars to win on No. 4."

Otherwise, betting procedure in the race book is the same as at the track: For you to collect on a "win" bet your horse must win the race, to collect on a "place" bet he must finish first or second, and to collect on a "show" bet he must finish first, second or third.

Betting a horse "across the board" is really three separate bets: one to win, one to place and one to show.

Hitting an "exacta" entails picking the first two finishers in a race in the correct order; a "quinella" is the first two finishers in either order. A "trifecta" is the first three finishers in exact order; a "trifecta box" is the first three in any order. A "superfecta" is the first four finishers in exacta order.

A "daily double" is a wager that calls for picking the winners of two consecutive races. A "daily triple" entails picking the winners of three consecutive races. And a "Pick Six" calls for picking the winners of six consecutive races, an extremely difficult feat that is usually rewarded with an enormous payout.

In Las Vegas, race books frequently offer promotions such as free contests with cash prizes, special house-banked betting pools that grow larger if no one hits them for a few days or horse racing tournaments. Rules and details vary greatly by casino so be sure to shop around to find those that appeal to you.