(repost from Lasvegas Now)
LAS VEGAS, Nv — Sunday was the official kick off to the NFL season and that’s bringing in a lot of money for Las Vegas sports books.

The economy is getting a big boost thanks to Americans loving football. The Hilton Sports Book, which has been slow all summer, was packed Sunday.

“We might have found the only thing that is recession proof and that’s the NFL,” said Jay Kornegay. Hilton Sports Book Executive Director Jay Kornegay admits he was surprised to see a packed house. As with everything these days, he figured betting on football would take a hit because of the economy, but Sunday proved that theory wrong.

On average, folks are betting anywhere from $50 to $100. But some are dropping cash in the five digits.

“I was very surprised this morning when I got in here at 9 o’ clock there was a line 10-15 deep at the minimum $1000 bets,” said Frank Nein. Nein, a diehard football fan just like the others who showed up Sunday morning, say they wouldn’t miss the start of the season for anything. And betting makes it all that more interesting to watch.

“Las Vegas benefits from the football season including taxi cab drivers, bartenders, restaurants everyone benefits from the NFL,” said Kornegay. This is the second busiest weekend for sports book following Super bowl Sunday.