Most football team rivalries are fun-filled, rib-poking, and, at times, knee-slapping in nature, with only a few exceptions, and these are usually in the hometowns of the rivalries, not in Nevada sports books.
I worked in law enforcement in the past and was stationed in Denver during one of those periods. When the Denver Broncos make it to the playoffs or the Super Bowl, the fans there go stark-raving mad, especially at the Denver bars. I remember one person was stabbed for blocking the view and a couple of years later, a guy was shot when he unplugged a TV in a bar because the other team scored. There was also the time when a player was shot in the streets of Denver. I believe I have the right to say that I’ve never heard of any other team being supported by such dedicated and loyal (or insane) fans such as the Broncos.
Las Vegas, on the other hand, with the exception of the oddsmakers, "pleads the Swiss" (read: neutrality) on the subject of siding with any certain team. Las Vegas doesn’t have a horse in this race, as it would if any of the California or Arizona teams were playing in Phoenix on Sunday, so there probably won’t be an overabundance in attendance of either Boston or New York fans. And even if there are, the sports books, though loud and rowdy certainly, have nonetheless traditionally been islands of peaceful coexistence during the big games.
So, the answer to your question is no, to my knowledge there’s never been extra security added or hired to maintain calm during a Super Bowl game. I can honestly say I’ve seen more violence take place in Vegas poker rooms than any race or sport books.
Las Vegas does prepare for the Super Bowl, but in a more "profit-and-party-minded manner. Bartenders and cocktail waitresses are offered carte blanche on overtime; some casinos have to hire temporary drink and food servers. Almost every Strip casino dedicates its big ballroom for extravagant Super Bowl Sunday parties, which these days, by the way, are generally for invited (big-player) guests only*. The fact that no gaming or betting is permitted within the convention/party area makes this completely acceptable to the Nevada Gaming Commission. The casinos do, however, offer satellite-betting stations located just outside their private-party’s entrance. The Super Bowl parties offer specials (such as touchdown shot specials, free drinks, a sumptuous buffet, special appearances by retired football personalities for a meet-and-greet session and to sign casino purchased helmets, footballs, T shirts, etc.) for their special guests. The "personalities" are chosen so as not to support either of the teams playing on that certain Sunday.
I’ve had the pleasure of attending more than a dozen of these Super Sunday casino parties and, after reading your question, find it ironic that at every private Super Bowl party I’ve attended or supervised, most of the on-duty security guards sneak in, steal a plate of food (and maybe a beer), and hide in the background to watch the game.
So again, from a security standpoint, the Super Bowl is non-security issue.
*As covered in the QoD for 1/31/08, the NFL ban on paid-for viewing parties has put the kibosh on the casino Super Bowl parties of old, but there are still plenty of casinos pushing the boat out with drink and food specials, plus a whole host of bars, gentlemen's clubs, and other venues around town where you'll be able to watch the game in a party atmosphere.
