Football season is here, and in Las Vegas that means promotions, parties, betting specials and football contests. Many contests aren’t worth the effort for out-of-towners to play, but the good free ones are.

The best contests if you’re in town for a single weekend are “Pick the Pros” at the Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante, Sam’s Town, California and Fremont casinos, and “Pro Football Pick & Play” at all Stations, Fiestas, Wildfires and El Cortez. Both are free to play and require only that you have a players card that you swipe at a kiosk. You don’t have to know anything about football; just pick the teams you like and watch the results unfold.

Flamingo jackpot: A Wisconsin man who plays Let It Ride every time he visits Las Vegas hit a royal flush at the Flamingo last week, taking down a $1.3 million progressive jackpot. He’s the eighth player in nine months to win $1 million or more while playing the $5 progressive table-­game side bet at Caesars casinos.

It’s a girl!: Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage has a new resident. The as-yet unnamed baby female is the first in a fourth generation of dolphins at the habitat; her great-grandmother, Duchess, is 44 and has lived 15 years past her life expectancy. Visitors can see the 2-week-old dolphin during Secret Garden hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m daily. Admission is $22 for adults, $17 for children ages 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under.

Question: How much does it cost to play Las Vegas’ biggest football contests?

Answer: The most expensive is Westgate’s “SuperContest Gold,” which has a $5,000 entry fee. The Westgate’s “SuperContest” is $1,500 and you can buy up to two entries for a $3,000 outlay. The D/Golden Gate’s new “Circa Million” is $1,000 with a three-entry max. And the Golden Nugget’s “Ultimate Football Challenge” is $1,000, with a two-entry limit. That big $5,000 event is winner take all.

For more information about current Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons, and good deals, go to LasVegasAdvisor.com.