Would Las Vegas be a Better Option than Riyadh for the Darts?

There's been a lot of discussion in recent years as to whether, or rather, when, the PDC will cash in on Saudi Arabia's cravings for world-class sports events. After all, Matchroom has already established close ties with The Kingdom by staging world title bouts in boxing and new snooker tournaments. According to Barry Hearn, while Riyadh is keen to host the darts, it's still a dry country.

In the interview, Hearn said that the state of play for alcohol in Saudi Arabia will change soon, and when it does, "the first event they will want to stage will be darts." Hearn isn't the only one expecting the rules on booze to be relaxed in the country soon, and already, it's taken a first step by opening an off-licence in the capital. Given how darts events go, it seems like the country's gearing up to welcome a major PDC event soon.

However, the rumours have many darts fans worried that Saudi Arabia will only settle for the biggest and the best – meaning, the World Darts Championship. There are strong arguments for and against the big one moving on from North London's Alexandra Palace and taking it to Saudi Arabia if it has to be moved. So, perhaps there's another, less controversial option out there, such as the world-famous Las Vegas.

 

Darts in Sin City

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The PDC has ventured to Las Vegas several times in the past. In 2010, the World Series of Darts Festival first came to the self-proclaimed entertainment capital of the world, replacing the 2002 to 2009 Las Vegas Desert Classic. The US and UK fans even enjoyed the Desert Classic thanks to the all-too-rare UK-friendly start times for the matches. The Darts Festival enjoyed particularly successful runouts in Las Vegas in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The US Darts Masters, as it's now known, has since moved to New York City, being staged by the Hulu Theater in 2022 and 2023, with plans to feature at Madison Square Garden in 2025. One of the most endearing tales of darts coming to Las Vegas actually comes in the form of a nickname. Only 20 years old at the time, Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis hit the £50,000 jackpot on a slot in a casino, but due to his age, he couldn't cash in, but he did get his new nickname.

 

Las Vegas' Appeal is a Bit Different These Days

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Saudi Arabia has already been seen as muscling in on Las Vegas' turf. Historically, Sin City has been one of the most hyped-up stages for world-class boxing. Now, the Kingdom is actively drawing in major events that, traditionally, would have been earmarked for big paydays in Las Vegas. Particularly in boxing, Saudi Arabia has become the big payday, and for the UFC, several Gulf states have actively drawn in the Nevada-based promotion.

On top of this, what Las Vegas used to be able to offer as a unique selling point in the US has faded somewhat, and this isn't just in regard to the potential returns for major indoor events arriving there. In the US and around the world, Las Vegas is a little less novel in terms of what it offers as a tourist venue. Lush table games and deluxe slot games with hefty jackpots can now be found with the click of a button.

Due to the digital nature of online casinos, the libraries can be much more nimble and dynamic, with brand new titles being added regularly, progressive jackpots drawing in wagers from all over the world, and new ideas to tap into the current trends regularly. Across a single collection of casino games, you'll find just about every classic theme, new feature mechanic, iconic table game, and new invention through live dealer suites.

For example, the most popular games right now are Hooked on Fishing, Fury of Zeus, Golden Buffalo, Wild Buffalo Soul, Cyberpunk City, and Flash Roulette. The games featuring bison have long been a popular staple of Vegas slot gaming, but online, Hooked on Fishing plays right into the massive trend of fishing mechanic features. At the same time, Cyberpunk City, with its jackpot, enjoys success on the tails of the cyberpunk trend across entertainment media.

The physical nature of Las Vegas casino games does hamstring them somewhat. Still, it's the city's physical experience and prestige that people travel from around the world to enjoy. It's why, more on the entertainment side, casino theatres continue to be dominated by big-name residencies like Adele, Lionel Richie, Black Eyed Peas, and more.

 

A Huge Sports Market to Consider

Above all else, darts are still a competitive sport that people come to watch as a competitive sport. Las Vegas has evolved into a huge sports market since the days of the Desert Classic, now boasting an annual Formula One race on The Strip, an NHL team, an NFL team, and a WNBA team. Compared to that collection of sporting prestige and the constant sports market there, Las Vegas looks like the obvious choice over Riyadh.

For better or worse, it looks like Alexandra Palace won't remain the forever home of the PDC World Darts Championship. On the one hand, the hall creates a legendary atmosphere that darts fans love. On the other hand, darts have surged in popularity, and getting tickets becomes tougher every year for all those interested, and that's often down to its tiny 3,200 capacity. That limits ticket and concession revenue as well as the potential atmosphere – not that it's ever lacking.

To move the PDC World Darts Championship overseas – which it probably should on occasion, given the name – surely fans would benefit from it going to a major sports market rather than a market for major sports events. Gerwyn Price says he'd be keen on a shift to Saudi Arabia to avoid so many "drunken hooligans," and the time zones would align better, but as shown with the boxing, events will go on as late as those in charge fancy.

If desired, it seems likely that a Las Vegas casino would be able to match an offer from Saudi Arabia to host the PDC World Darts Championship, but a move to take the big show to The Kingdom already looks to be in motion.