Mets Fans Say the Time is Now for In-Stadium Sportsbooks

Shortly before the 2022 MLB season began, Caesars Entertainment and the New York Mets entered into a multi-year partnership, adding the duo to a growing list of professional sports teams partnering with betting operations across America. 

One element of the deal was the “Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Grille,” a high end eatery at Citi Field, which opened this season. Despite the name, Caesars Sportsbook at the Metro Grille is not an actual sportsbook, merely a restaurant and lounge where patrons can use the Caesars app to place wagers, even as they take in Mets games from the Metro Grille’s plush booths in left field.

Dimers.com contributor Mac Douglass spoke with fans and stadium employees at the Mets’ July 22nd contest against the San Diego Padres, where enthusiasm is growing for a real, in-stadium sportsbook. 

“When I saw this was a Caesars restaurant, I was hoping that meant I could make bets without my phone,” said Tomer Sabo, a fan who happened upon the Caesars Sportsbook at the Metro Grille during the third inning break. “Sort of disappointing to find out it’s actually just a regular restaurant. Hopefully that’ll change soon.” 

Tomer did not, ultimately, dine at the Metro Grille, opting to return to his seat and purchase dinner from an aisle vendor, once he understood Caesars Sportsbook wasn’t an operational sportsbook. 

Apparently I am a food blogger now. The latest press box delivery from the Mets: al pastor tacos and vegetable funnions from Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Grille.

I appreciate that the tacos are made with corn tortillas, as all tacos should be (but often are not). pic.twitter.com/XxDEbWOeWr

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 18, 2022

According to Ricky, a stadium employee stationed nearby, this is a frequent occurrence. 

“I’ve seen it plenty of times, people look like they’re gonna stop at the Grille for dinner, but come right back out instead,” he said. “They don’t tell me why; not so hard to make a guess.” 

Another fan, Jen Trimpey, echoed Tomer and Ricky’s sentiments as she passed the restaurant. 

“My husband and I come to Mets games almost every month,” she said. “We never eat at restaurants in the stadium. He loves betting though—definitely has money on tonight’s game—so if this place were set up to make prop bets or something I’m sure he’d be interested. But if you have to use the Caesars app to make bets, I mean, we can just do that from our seats.” 

Fortunately for like-minded fans, things seem to be moving that direction. 

In 2021, Caesars subsidiary William Hill opened the first brick-and-mortar sportsbook at a professional venue in America, with the William Hill Sportsbook DC at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., home to the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team. Shortly thereafter, the BetMGM Sportsbook opened at Nationals Park, marking the first on-site sportsbook at an MLB stadium. 

The future of sports betting continues to evolve.

The William Hill Sportsbook opened Wednesday in DC's Capital One Arena, marking the first sportsbook to operate inside a US arena.

➖ 18,000 sq ft, two stories
➖ 20 betting windows
➖ State-of-the-art studio

(📸: @WashMystics) pic.twitter.com/sk31EYdhhs

— The Rundown (@gorundown) May 27, 2021

Back in New York, while Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Grille does not yet include infrastructure for placing wagers, things are clearly moving that direction. The deal inked between Caesars and the Mets extends far beyond 2022, leading to justifiable optimism the Metro Grille will eventually be converted to an actual sportsbook. 

Also promising are statements made by Chris Holdren, Co-President of Caesars Digital, in a pre-season news release. "New York is a key state for us following the successful launch of our Caesars Sportsbook app in January… The Mets' fanbase is one of the most loyal in baseball and this partnership offers us the chance to treat those passionate fans like Caesars. We look forward to opening our space at Citi Field during an exciting time for the franchise."

Pretty nice view from the Caesars Sportsbook Grille! #Mets pic.twitter.com/bUgRXAKmCk

— Boys In The Big Apple🎙️ (@BoysBigApplePod) June 17, 2022

It should also be noted that the Caesars/Mets partnership does include additional perks for betters.

For New York residents, every wager made on the Caesars Sportsbook app unlocks rewards and experiences for bettors at Caesar’s sprawling network of resorts and partnerships nationwide, a network which expands far beyond the MLB, as Caesars’ ever-growing list of partnerships now includes those with the NFL itself, the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers, as well as NBA squads such as the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Memphis Grizzlies, to name just a few. 

While there is no official timetable for the Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Grille’s conversion to a brick-and-mortar betting facility, that’s really not the point. 

Given the enthusiasm of Mets fans, as well as the constant string of partnerships being inked between sportsbooks (including, but not limited, to Caesars) and pro sports franchises, leagues, and venues in America, it seems only a matter of time before on-site sportsbooks are the norm at stadiums and arenas, rather than the exception. 

One thing’s for sure: it’s a great time to gamble on sports in the USA, and — if you’ll excuse the pun — it’s only getting better.