"Las Vegas" aka "Amigos" aka the worst betting game there is

A couple of my buddies like to play this game they call Amigos, though the proper name is "Las Vegas" where you play as follows:

T he team score represents the number of points each team earns per hole. Points are tracked throughout the round and the differential is paid off at the end of the round. A single-hole example: Team A scores 4 and 5 for a 45; Team B scores 5 and 6 for a 56; the difference is 11 points.

Points can be worth any amount. Low-rollers should only play for nickels and dimes. Las Vegas is often played for a dollar per point, and it adds up quickly at that level.

And if your group of four is "flipping the bird," the money can really start to change hands. When employing this rule, a team that makes a birdie and wins the hole can flip the other team's score for that hole. So instead of the low number going first, the high number goes first. The opponent's 5 and 6 wouldn't be 56, but 65.

They will usually play for a dime a point and then double points on 10-15, redouble on 16 and 17, and then double again on 18 so the final hole is 80 cents per point.  Even worse, they determine partners each hole by where your drive is - the two guys on the left are "amigos" and the two guys on the right are "amigos" - so you will have the first guy send one into the junk and then the next 3 guys are forced to do everything they can to no be his partner.

Two reasons I hate this game:

1) It makes you alter your game based on not being someone's partner.

2) A guy can get trounced the whole day, then make a birdie on 18 and flip everything around.  I have seen days where a team will end with a score of 34 (birdie/par) and their opponent makes 74 (triple/par, but the score is flipped due to the opponent birdie) and guys lose $32 each (40 point difference x 80 cents per point) and it wipes everything out or tacks on even more to a guy who is having a down day.

Even worse, the guys I play with want to play with full handicaps, which increases the number of flips!

Just a warning if anyone tries to sucker you in - avoid at all costs!

this sounds interesting, when you play by handicap, is the score posted the adjusted or the real?

For instance, a player scores a 6, with a handicap a 5.  This is the first number as the other player scored a 7 net 6.

Is that a 56 or 67?

Yes, you play with handicap, which is why higher handicappers love it - they are more likely to make 3-4 pars a round than a lower handicapper is to make 3-4 natural birdies.

And yes, I agree that the better way to play is to pick partners and not switch with a flat bet - or switch every 6 holes.

Seems like a fun game but I also agree that the way you guys are picking partners is not good. It takes out your score as being your number 1 priority and I would not like that at all.

As for the doubling of money, we have always played that only the loser can choose to press.  This will make it so the winner can't "lose money" but the loser has the option to go double or nothing.  I guess this would work best if you broke the game into 3 6 hole matches, with the option for the losing team to press after the 4th hole, to try to win its money back.

I do however like the idea of partners based on which side of the fairway they are on, its a unique way to pick sides.

Easier said than done.

Why? Its their game. Why would it be hard to play it how they want?

It's not quite that bad. If you look the rules up online, it addresses this situation. If a player gets a 10 or higher, then that score is automatically the first score. So, a 6 and a 10 would be 106. Just imagine the LONG shot of having two partners scoring a 10 on the same hole. That would be crazy! I really like this game and am going to suggest to my next four ball that we try it.