It’s almost pro football season in America, which means it’s almost football contest time in Las Vegas.
Handicappers this month will flock to their favorite sportsbook to register for an NFL contest, whether it’s one of the premier contests at Circa Sports or the Westgate SuperBook that pays millions, or a $25 buy-in at Stations Casinos tailored to recreational players.
Regardless of the contest or property, the goal for casino officials is the same: to get customers in the door.
“Some people who come here to sign up will buy a hotel room, sure, but almost everyone will buy a beer and spend some time at the sportsbook,” said Derek Stevens, the Downtown casino owner and CEO of Circa Sports. “It’s a great way to show off what we have here at Circa. I want to create a really good incentive for people to come in and visit our sportsbooks.”
Stevens is pulling out all of the stops to get people in the door, highlighted by the Circa contest preview bash August 27 at the Circa Las Vegas meetings and convention space. Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher is scheduled to be at that event, which also includes a preseason panel discussion.
To be invited, contest participants must have three entries in Circa Million and six entries in the Circa Survivor to take advantage of a complimentary three-day stay at The D.
The weekend, sponsored by the Vegas Stats & Information Network, also offers the chance to schmooze with Stevens at cocktail parties and attend concerts downtown. For Stevens, part of the appeal of the parties centers on the fact that he can show off the huge Circa Las Vegas sportsbook, which it bills as the biggest in the world.
But not lost is a sports-betting community he’s helping facilitate.
“One of the winners we had last year is from Dubai, so we’re not just getting people from around the country,” Stevens said. “Pros look at it one way, but novice betters can have a lot of fun with this.”
Sports betting is big business in Las Vegas. In September 2021, the first month of the NFL’s regular season, bettors wagered nearly $787 million.
After starting with $1.5 million in guaranteed prizes in 2019, this year’s version of Circa Million will offer $6 million in prizes and $1 million for the first-place finisher. Entrants pick five NFL games against the spread each week of the regular season—a win is good for one point; a push counts for half of a point.
Each entry costs $1,000, with a limit of three entries per person.
“We did $4.1 million last year, so we’re hoping for some growth this year or we’re in trouble,” Stevens joked while seated at the sprawling sportsbook at Circa Las Vegas in late July. “I think this football season is going to be the biggest and best we’ve ever seen.”
As of the last week of July, close to 600 entries had been submitted, though Stevens said a flood of handicappers will enter just before the season starts. The final day to enter is September 10.
An avid sports bettor himself, Stevens seems to revel in the months-long excitement of Circa Million and Circa Survivor, where entrants pick one team to win each week. If their team loses that week—a specific team can only be used once—they’re out.
“We’re having fun with it from year-to-year,” Stevens said. “We’re doing this for the love of the game, so to speak. Some people that come here are going to say, ‘Holy smokes, this is the world’s biggest sportsbook—I have to come back and watch football here.’ ”
As with most football contests, the top overall point-getters—or survivors—at the end of the season will win prize money, but there are additional ways to win.
“Quarter” prizes will be handed out to those bettors with the highest point totals every few weeks, which means that even a casual sports bettor could get hot and win a lot of money.
There’s also a $100,000 prize for whoever finishes in last place and a $50,000 award for second-to-last-place.
“We’re guaranteeing $1.2 million for the quarter prizes this year,” Stevens said. “Let’s say you start out slow and you get behind, well, you still have those quarterly prizes to go after. There’s a lot of entertainment packed into it.”
The Circa contest is patterned after what still is, according to many, one of the premier Las Vegas high-stakes pro football handicapping contests—Westgate’s SuperContest.
That contest started in 1988 and is still going strong. This year, Westgate SuperBook officials expect between 2,000 and 2,500 entrants. Last year, about 1,800 entries were gathered.
“I would say the SuperContest is still the most well-known football handicapping contest in the country,” said John Murray, director of race and sports operations at the SuperBook. “It certainly has the most tradition.”
This year, the SuperContest is as much a series of mini-contests as it is one big contest. While there is over $1.1 million up for grabs, the overall contest will also have three six-week, six three-week and two nine-week contests built into the season.
“With the 11 in-season contests, you’re really signing up for 12 at the end of the day,” Murray said. “That’s all for the buy-in of $1,000. These types of things are a great way to keep people engaged throughout the season. It might seem like a lot of money, but you’re in play for 18 weeks, so it really isn’t that much money.”
Like Circa, the SuperBook likes to put on a party on for its bettors. This year’s SuperContest weekend—which features a golf tournament and the giving away of 10 entries—will take place August 19-20.
Station Casinos and William Hill also offer seasonlong pro football contests, but with buy-ins of only $25 and a smaller pot of winnings.
“The marketplace is more competitive now,” Murray said. “Not only are there big contests in Nevada, but there are others popping up around the country now. People don’t necessarily have to fly to Nevada any longer to enter these contests.”
Murray said many contest participants make it an annual party when they visit Las Vegas to sign up.
“People make futures bets, and some groups coordinate the contest with their fantasy football drafts,” Murray said. “I don’t think that element of the contest will ever go away. It’s a way for people to get together with people they know who they maybe haven’t seen in a while.”
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