A new sportsbook operator in Nevada, Circa Sports, is launching with a huge football handicapping contest in 2019.
Details on the “Circa Sports Million” football contest are still being worked out.
What is Circa Sports?
Casino operator and developer Derek Stevens (pictured) is launching a new sportsbook operation in downtown Las Vegas on June 1. Circa Sports was recently approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board to operate in Nevada. The new sportsbook operation will serve Stevens’ casinos:
- June 1: Golden Gate
- Late June: The D
- December 2020: Circa Las Vegas
The first Circa Sports sportsbook taking wagers is opening at the Golden Gate on June 1. Another one of Derek Stevens’ casinos, The D Las Vegas, will be opening its Circa Sports sportsbook closer to the end of June. Lastly, the namesake Circa Las Vegas is scheduled to open in December 2020. When it opens, the new sportsbook will have the largest sportsbook TV screen in the world.
Circa Sports might expand beyond these properties and the state of Nevada in the future but the plan is to focus on their own casinos.
Circa Sports is the first new sportsbook operator to open in Nevada in more than five years.
Details on “Circa Sports Million”
The “Circa Sports Million” will be a handicapping contest similar to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest. The entry fee will be $1,000 and contestants will pick five pro football games against the spread every week.
The grand prize is guaranteed to be $1,000,000 regardless of how many people enter the contest. Getting 1,000 people to sign up for a new contest won’t be easy. As Palm said to VSiN, it’s entirely possible there will be an overlay since this is the first year of the Circa Sports Million.
There will be approximately $1.5 million in total prizes in the inaugural contest this year. The Top 10 finishers will receive prize money. There will also be $50,000 in prizes awarded every quarter of the football season for the most correct picks. Prizes will be split if there are ties each quarter.
If they have more than 1,500 entries, the excess money will be paid for quarterly winners – not Top 10 finishers.
As of now, lines for the contest will be posted on Thursday morning each week of the NFL season at 10 am. The deadline to submit picks will be 3 pm on Saturday.
Similar to the SuperContest, participants must sign up for the contest in person. A couple of things will be different than the SuperContest:
- There’s no rake on the contest. 100% will be paid to winners.
- Contestants inside of Nevada will be able to make picks on their mobile app instead of visiting a casino to submit picks.
Proxy services will be allowed for out of state contestant to enter picks. However, Nevada residents can save a few bucks and submit picks from the comfort of home.
More promotions and contests
Stevens is a sports bettor that happens to operate casinos. He wants Circa Sports to evoke his passion for both.
Stevens wants customers to feel a similar rush that he had last year with a $25,000 bet on Michigan at 40-1 to win the NCAA basketball tournament. The potential win would have paid a cool million bucks and he wants others to feel that excitement.
The Golden Gate will offer a “no juice” promotion on opening day, June 1. This promotion and the “Circa Sports Million” are just the beginning. Expect to see more contests similar to the “Win Derek’s Car” promotion now running at The D Las Vegas.
