Question of the Day - 12 December 2024

It most certainly did. And you can see a short video of the drive-thru, including the pneumatic-tube system that looked a lot like banking drive-thrus, here. 

It was called On the Run Sports Book and cost more than a half-million dollars. It opened in September 1995, less than a year after the Fiesta itself opened. It was, to our knowledge, the only drive-thru sportsbook in the world.

Bettors pulled up to one of three dedicated lanes. They communicated through the speaker system with a live sports book employee. Odds and betting lines were kept up to date with printed sheets handed to drivers. Through the pneumatic system, bettors paid in cash and received the ticket via the plastic carrier. They could also redeem winning tickets; the system worked perfectly in reverse as well. The entire process was quick, a nice benefit during busy sports seasons or for last-minute bets.

The drive-thru sportsbook was a precursor to the convenience-focused sports betting systems we see today, particularly mobile betting apps, but also kiosks.

Station Casinos purchased the Fiesta in 2001 and renamed it Fiesta Rancho, branding it with its new sister property, Fiesta Henderson. Fiesta Rancho, along with its drive-thru sports book, permanently closed in 2020 during the pandemic, never reopened, and has been torn down.