States around the US are proving that opening a full-service sports betting operation isn't all that easy. A brand-new sportsbook operator in Nevada opened for business.
Circa Sportsbook. Back in the day, your bookie knew your name, your favorite team, where the steam was, wrote your ticket by hand, and paid you with a smile when you won. The Circa Sports family is bringing that energy back, with competitive betting options for the games you love. The Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN) broadcasts daily from our on-site studio at Circa Sports offering bettors in-depth analysis from a roster of experts including broadcasters, industry professionals and athletes. 44 Level Two Bar Top Games. 1 Overhanging Bar. DSR90-1 has won the Circa Sports Million II football contest, going 4-1 in Week 17 to climb into 1st place and take the $1 MILLION top prize and this year's Blue Jacket! The $287K 4th Quarter came to a close with Maiowe-1 taking the $187K top prize and 9 entries tying for 2nd resulting in a 9-way split of $100K!
The first Circa Sports retail sportsbook opened at the Golden Gate hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas over the weekend. Not only did the retail sportsbook open inside of the casino, but it opened with fully operational technology.
Stadium Technology provides two betting kiosks just outside of the sportsbook at Golden Gate. They also provide all of the technology for the Circa Sports mobile app.
… and they said it couldn't be done at the same time.
Circa Sports retail sportsbooks
Circa Sports opened its first sportsbook on June 1 at Golden Gate casino. The sportsbook operation, owned by Derek Stevens, will open its second location in a couple of weeks at another one of Stevens' Las Vegas casinos: The D Las Vegas. He was beaming with excitement when he chatted with The Lines about his new sportsbook operation.
Circa Sports will open another retail sportsbook in December 2020 when Circa Las Vegas is scheduled to open. While Golden Gate and The D sportsbooks are small in size, Circa will offer a huge multilevel sportsbook with the largest sportsbook screen in the world.
The sportsbook at Golden Gate is essentially a sports betting desk. Stevens calls this their 'boutique' sportsbook. The accessible parking, attentive staff and great lines are why he expects people to visit the Golden Gate to place their wagers.
The next Circa Sports location at The D will include a bar but will mostly be a venue to place wagers. The sportsbook at Circa, on the other hand, will offer more than 350 seats for guests to watch and wager on the games. Unfortunately, that's still more than a year away from opening.
Circa Sports could expand into other casinos in Nevada or other states in the future, but Stevens is focused on getting the Nevada operation started.
Circa Sports mobile app
Stadium Technology provides the technology for the Circa Sports mobile app. Fall themed bingo cards. Many Las Vegas sportsbooks (Westgate, Caesars, etc.) use this technology for the backend of their sports betting app and Miomni for the front end.
Circa Sports joins CG Technology as the only Nevada sportsbook operator to use Stadium Technology for their entire app. The two apps are similar, but there's one significant difference. The Circa Sports app allows users also to place picks for the Circa Sports Million football contest.
Circa Sports kiosks
Stadium Technology also provides the kiosks for Circa Sports. Golden Gate opened with two kiosks for guests to place wagers. They're simple to use and intuitive. More kiosks will be placed at The D Las Vegas and Circa Las Vegas when they open.
Sports betting kiosks are exploding in popularity around the country. Nearly 75% of wagers made at Pennsylvania retail sportsbooks are made using kiosks.
Circa Sportsbook Live Lines
William Hill has offered kiosks in Nevada for years. The technology is also expanding at Las Vegas retail sportsbooks. Stadium Technology also has kiosks installed at Caesars Palace, The Linq and Treasure Island.
Stadium Technology also provides the screens at each ticket writing station. These screens show the wagering ticket before printing. This allows customers to make sure their wager is correct before being handed a betting slip. This is a nice touch that more sportsbooks should offer.
Why Circa Sports?
Stevens told The Lines that Circa Sports is focusing on the customer. The staff is expected to be 'very customer oriented.' His sportsbook staff plans to use a lot of creativity with odds. Stevens went on to say, 'We're going to be very creative' with some of the odds and lines they provide.
They plan on offering fair lines daily with a combination of futures betting options for tourists that might want to just place a quick bet for or against their team when visiting.
Circa Sports is offering 'Yes/No' on most futures. NFL and MLB are the only futures available right now. NHL and NBA should be posted after their respective seasons are over.
Their 'no juice' promotion on opening day, brought a lot of people to the grand opening of Circa Sports at the Golden Gate. Stevens told The Lines that they could 'take it in the pants' because of all the sharp action.
Sports betting infrastructure
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has the experience to offer a solid infrastructure for new sports betting ventures. When Stevens sat down with The Lines, he said: 'this isn't Nevada's first rodeo.' Having set rules made opening a new sportsbook operation relatively simple.
Some of the states legalizing sports betting are just learning while they go. He 'likes what Iowa did' because they followed many of the same regulations as Nevada. Time will tell if they'll be successful but Stevens sees success in their future, but he's bullish on Iowa.
States just starting to legalize sports betting are trying to create new models for sportsbook operators. New Jersey is building on the foundation established by Nevada and improving access to sports betting. Other states have different priorities and are taking a different tact.
Leave it to good ole Nevada to let a new sportsbook operator launch retail and online sportsbooks with the latest technology. Maybe the state will allow customers to fund mobile accounts remotely without walking into a casino someday.
There's a new sportsbook operator in Nevada. Derek Stevens, the owner of The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate casinos, launched a new sportsbook operation called Circa Sports on June 1.
If the new sportsbook name sounds familiar, it's because another Stevens-run casino, Circa, is under construction across the street from Golden Gate hotel and casino.
Circa Sports opened its first retail location at Golden Gate Casino. The sportsbook operator also has launched a mobile app, which Stadium Technology powers entirely.
Stadium provides the backend solution for many Nevada sportsbook apps but only provides 100% of the technology for the Circa Sports and CG Technology apps.
1 — Circa Sports delivers for gamblers
Circa Sports is launching as a sportsbook operator for both sharp bettors and recreational gamblers.
The book plans to offer fairlines, odds and pointspreads in the casino and on the app, which will likely be the selling point to all bettors.
Also, Circa plans to be aggressive with futureswagering. Circa Sports is offering a yes/no option for all futures bets. They're also offering 'three alternative NFL season win total' wagering opportunities for bettors looking for variety.
These wagers aren't available at most other US sportsbooks. As the operation continues to grow, they plan on offering more unique futures bets than other LasVegas casinos.
Sportsbook manager Matthew Metcalf tells PlayUSA they will offer an 'ever-changing prop menu' as Circa Sports develops.
Bigger bettors will appreciate Circa Sports' desire to take large wagers. The Circa Sports app will have higher betting limits than other sports betting apps. These higher limits could be a game changer for bettors that prefer mobile wagering.
2 — Circa Sports app is fast, but …
The Circa Sports app is fast once you're logged in and navigating the app is quick and easy.
Unfortunately, the first version of the app isn't stable. It's not always possible to sign into the Circa Sports app; the initializing screen stays up and spins. Furthermore, the app will occasionally crash.
Hopefully, this is just a first-version problem, but Stadium Technology's app for CG Technology has similar problems for some users.
New Jersey sports betting apps like FanDuel and DraftKings still stand above their competition in Nevada.
3 — Players get access to the Circa Sports Million football contest
One of the best features with the Circa Sports app is the ability to do more than one thing. In addition to placing wagers, customers can submit weekly picks for the Circa Sports Million football contest.
No other app in Nevada allows access to both the sportsbook and contests in the same app. WestgateSuperBook recently announced that it would offer a separate mobile app for this year's 'SuperContest.' The app for betting games will be separate.
Players can only use Circa Sports in Nevada. Out-of-state contestants for Circa Sports Million will still have to hire a proxy to place their picks unless they decide to drive to the Nevada border and submit picks. Nevada residents can save a few bucks by not having to hire a proxy.
This is more than a money saver for Nevada residents. The convenience of using one app for both the contest and wagering is unparalleled by any sports betting app in the state.
4 — Circa Sports is linked to the casino players' club
One of the best difference makers when placing a wager at a casino sportsbook is the rewards. If the lines and odds are the same at multiple sportsbooks, being able to get players' club points is a bonus.
Surprisingly, not all casino sportsbooks offer reward points for sports wagers. Circa Sports wagers will connect with Club One players' club at the Golden Gate, The D and soon, Circa.
The rewards aren't quite as straightforward. Points rewarded will be based on the type of wagers a customer's places. Parlays and teasers will receive more comp points at a higher rate than straight bets.
The reward points are earned with wagers placed in person or with the app. Customers signing up for a Circa Sports mobile account must connect it with their Club One players' club.
Unlike other casinos that offer rewards for sports bets, the retail Circa Sports locations will create and print up a players' club card for customers.
5 — The app menu is small
Circa Sports launched their first retail sportsbook and mobile app on the same day. While the retail location is running on all cylinders, the app is just getting started. All of the US mainstream sports are available, but some international sports, like Aussie rules football and cricket, aren't.
The fringe sports aren't a big deal for most bettors; however, Metcalf tells PlayUSA that the Circa Sports app will soon have the same extensive menu as the retail locations.
One thing that is a big deal is that the Circa Sports app does not In Play wagering available yet. Again, this will change soon, but it's something to be aware of when signing up.
Circa Sports is offering some unique propbets. However, the current prop bets available for individual MLB, NBA and NHL games are somewhat limited with fewer than 10 options per game. For comparison, PointsBet Sportsbook in New Jersey has more than 100 ways to place a pre-game wager on most MLB games.
Right now, New Jersey mobile sportsbooks are still the king of prop and in-play wagering.
6 — Players must fund their account in person at a Circa location
New Jersey has changed the game for online and mobile sports betting.
Nearly 80% of sports betting revenue in the state comes from mobile wagers. A significant reason for this is the ease to set up an online and mobile sports wagering account. Customers can sign up for mobile betting accounts anywhere in the state.
Nevada does not have the same simple process. All mobile sports wagering accounts in Nevada must be set up in person at a retail sportsbook. Circa Sports apps must be funded at Golden Gate casino or The D Las Vegas when it opens.
Some sportsbook operators, like Station Casinos, allow customers to fund accounts with a prepaid debit card. William Hill allows its customers to fund mobile accounts for a second time at a retail sportsbook, kiosk or 7-Eleven store.
However, Circa Sports only allows its customers to fund their accounts at Circa retail locations.
7 — The Google Play store isn't playing with Circa Sports
Apple customers can download Circa Sports at their app store.
Android users won't find the same easy access to the Circa Sports app. The Android app is not available at the Google Play store; however, users can download the app from a direct link at CircaSports.com.
Circa Sportsbook Reservations
In conclusion, Circa Sports is still above average
The Circa Sports app has its ups and downs. Most sports bettors should be concerned that they're getting fair odds for the most popular sports. Circa offers good odds for low rollers and high rollers alike.
While the sports betting menu isn't massive, it has uniquewagers that aren't available in other casinos. The wagering options will grow as Circa Sports does.
The ability to place football contest picks in the same app saves Nevada residents the time and money of having to place picks in person.
Circa Sports will open another retail sportsbook in December 2020 when Circa Las Vegas is scheduled to open. While Golden Gate and The D sportsbooks are small in size, Circa will offer a huge multilevel sportsbook with the largest sportsbook screen in the world.
The sportsbook at Golden Gate is essentially a sports betting desk. Stevens calls this their 'boutique' sportsbook. The accessible parking, attentive staff and great lines are why he expects people to visit the Golden Gate to place their wagers.
The next Circa Sports location at The D will include a bar but will mostly be a venue to place wagers. The sportsbook at Circa, on the other hand, will offer more than 350 seats for guests to watch and wager on the games. Unfortunately, that's still more than a year away from opening.
Circa Sports could expand into other casinos in Nevada or other states in the future, but Stevens is focused on getting the Nevada operation started.
Circa Sports mobile app
Stadium Technology provides the technology for the Circa Sports mobile app. Fall themed bingo cards. Many Las Vegas sportsbooks (Westgate, Caesars, etc.) use this technology for the backend of their sports betting app and Miomni for the front end.
Circa Sports joins CG Technology as the only Nevada sportsbook operator to use Stadium Technology for their entire app. The two apps are similar, but there's one significant difference. The Circa Sports app allows users also to place picks for the Circa Sports Million football contest.
Circa Sports kiosks
Stadium Technology also provides the kiosks for Circa Sports. Golden Gate opened with two kiosks for guests to place wagers. They're simple to use and intuitive. More kiosks will be placed at The D Las Vegas and Circa Las Vegas when they open.
Sports betting kiosks are exploding in popularity around the country. Nearly 75% of wagers made at Pennsylvania retail sportsbooks are made using kiosks.
Circa Sportsbook Live Lines
William Hill has offered kiosks in Nevada for years. The technology is also expanding at Las Vegas retail sportsbooks. Stadium Technology also has kiosks installed at Caesars Palace, The Linq and Treasure Island.
Stadium Technology also provides the screens at each ticket writing station. These screens show the wagering ticket before printing. This allows customers to make sure their wager is correct before being handed a betting slip. This is a nice touch that more sportsbooks should offer.
Why Circa Sports?
Stevens told The Lines that Circa Sports is focusing on the customer. The staff is expected to be 'very customer oriented.' His sportsbook staff plans to use a lot of creativity with odds. Stevens went on to say, 'We're going to be very creative' with some of the odds and lines they provide.
They plan on offering fair lines daily with a combination of futures betting options for tourists that might want to just place a quick bet for or against their team when visiting.
Circa Sports is offering 'Yes/No' on most futures. NFL and MLB are the only futures available right now. NHL and NBA should be posted after their respective seasons are over.
Their 'no juice' promotion on opening day, brought a lot of people to the grand opening of Circa Sports at the Golden Gate. Stevens told The Lines that they could 'take it in the pants' because of all the sharp action.
Sports betting infrastructure
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has the experience to offer a solid infrastructure for new sports betting ventures. When Stevens sat down with The Lines, he said: 'this isn't Nevada's first rodeo.' Having set rules made opening a new sportsbook operation relatively simple.
Some of the states legalizing sports betting are just learning while they go. He 'likes what Iowa did' because they followed many of the same regulations as Nevada. Time will tell if they'll be successful but Stevens sees success in their future, but he's bullish on Iowa.
States just starting to legalize sports betting are trying to create new models for sportsbook operators. New Jersey is building on the foundation established by Nevada and improving access to sports betting. Other states have different priorities and are taking a different tact.
Leave it to good ole Nevada to let a new sportsbook operator launch retail and online sportsbooks with the latest technology. Maybe the state will allow customers to fund mobile accounts remotely without walking into a casino someday.
There's a new sportsbook operator in Nevada. Derek Stevens, the owner of The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate casinos, launched a new sportsbook operation called Circa Sports on June 1.
If the new sportsbook name sounds familiar, it's because another Stevens-run casino, Circa, is under construction across the street from Golden Gate hotel and casino.
Circa Sports opened its first retail location at Golden Gate Casino. The sportsbook operator also has launched a mobile app, which Stadium Technology powers entirely.
Stadium provides the backend solution for many Nevada sportsbook apps but only provides 100% of the technology for the Circa Sports and CG Technology apps.
1 — Circa Sports delivers for gamblers
Circa Sports is launching as a sportsbook operator for both sharp bettors and recreational gamblers.
The book plans to offer fairlines, odds and pointspreads in the casino and on the app, which will likely be the selling point to all bettors.
Also, Circa plans to be aggressive with futureswagering. Circa Sports is offering a yes/no option for all futures bets. They're also offering 'three alternative NFL season win total' wagering opportunities for bettors looking for variety.
These wagers aren't available at most other US sportsbooks. As the operation continues to grow, they plan on offering more unique futures bets than other LasVegas casinos.
Sportsbook manager Matthew Metcalf tells PlayUSA they will offer an 'ever-changing prop menu' as Circa Sports develops.
Bigger bettors will appreciate Circa Sports' desire to take large wagers. The Circa Sports app will have higher betting limits than other sports betting apps. These higher limits could be a game changer for bettors that prefer mobile wagering.
2 — Circa Sports app is fast, but …
The Circa Sports app is fast once you're logged in and navigating the app is quick and easy.
Unfortunately, the first version of the app isn't stable. It's not always possible to sign into the Circa Sports app; the initializing screen stays up and spins. Furthermore, the app will occasionally crash.
Hopefully, this is just a first-version problem, but Stadium Technology's app for CG Technology has similar problems for some users.
New Jersey sports betting apps like FanDuel and DraftKings still stand above their competition in Nevada.
3 — Players get access to the Circa Sports Million football contest
One of the best features with the Circa Sports app is the ability to do more than one thing. In addition to placing wagers, customers can submit weekly picks for the Circa Sports Million football contest.
No other app in Nevada allows access to both the sportsbook and contests in the same app. WestgateSuperBook recently announced that it would offer a separate mobile app for this year's 'SuperContest.' The app for betting games will be separate.
Players can only use Circa Sports in Nevada. Out-of-state contestants for Circa Sports Million will still have to hire a proxy to place their picks unless they decide to drive to the Nevada border and submit picks. Nevada residents can save a few bucks by not having to hire a proxy.
This is more than a money saver for Nevada residents. The convenience of using one app for both the contest and wagering is unparalleled by any sports betting app in the state.
4 — Circa Sports is linked to the casino players' club
One of the best difference makers when placing a wager at a casino sportsbook is the rewards. If the lines and odds are the same at multiple sportsbooks, being able to get players' club points is a bonus.
Surprisingly, not all casino sportsbooks offer reward points for sports wagers. Circa Sports wagers will connect with Club One players' club at the Golden Gate, The D and soon, Circa.
The rewards aren't quite as straightforward. Points rewarded will be based on the type of wagers a customer's places. Parlays and teasers will receive more comp points at a higher rate than straight bets.
The reward points are earned with wagers placed in person or with the app. Customers signing up for a Circa Sports mobile account must connect it with their Club One players' club.
Unlike other casinos that offer rewards for sports bets, the retail Circa Sports locations will create and print up a players' club card for customers.
5 — The app menu is small
Circa Sports launched their first retail sportsbook and mobile app on the same day. While the retail location is running on all cylinders, the app is just getting started. All of the US mainstream sports are available, but some international sports, like Aussie rules football and cricket, aren't.
The fringe sports aren't a big deal for most bettors; however, Metcalf tells PlayUSA that the Circa Sports app will soon have the same extensive menu as the retail locations.
One thing that is a big deal is that the Circa Sports app does not In Play wagering available yet. Again, this will change soon, but it's something to be aware of when signing up.
Circa Sports is offering some unique propbets. However, the current prop bets available for individual MLB, NBA and NHL games are somewhat limited with fewer than 10 options per game. For comparison, PointsBet Sportsbook in New Jersey has more than 100 ways to place a pre-game wager on most MLB games.
Right now, New Jersey mobile sportsbooks are still the king of prop and in-play wagering.
6 — Players must fund their account in person at a Circa location
New Jersey has changed the game for online and mobile sports betting.
Nearly 80% of sports betting revenue in the state comes from mobile wagers. A significant reason for this is the ease to set up an online and mobile sports wagering account. Customers can sign up for mobile betting accounts anywhere in the state.
Nevada does not have the same simple process. All mobile sports wagering accounts in Nevada must be set up in person at a retail sportsbook. Circa Sports apps must be funded at Golden Gate casino or The D Las Vegas when it opens.
Some sportsbook operators, like Station Casinos, allow customers to fund accounts with a prepaid debit card. William Hill allows its customers to fund mobile accounts for a second time at a retail sportsbook, kiosk or 7-Eleven store.
However, Circa Sports only allows its customers to fund their accounts at Circa retail locations.
7 — The Google Play store isn't playing with Circa Sports
Apple customers can download Circa Sports at their app store.
Android users won't find the same easy access to the Circa Sports app. The Android app is not available at the Google Play store; however, users can download the app from a direct link at CircaSports.com.
Circa Sportsbook Reservations
In conclusion, Circa Sports is still above average
The Circa Sports app has its ups and downs. Most sports bettors should be concerned that they're getting fair odds for the most popular sports. Circa offers good odds for low rollers and high rollers alike.
While the sports betting menu isn't massive, it has uniquewagers that aren't available in other casinos. The wagering options will grow as Circa Sports does.
The ability to place football contest picks in the same app saves Nevada residents the time and money of having to place picks in person.
Mobile bettors want to know that they have a solid product to place their wagers. There's nothing more frustrating than wanting to place a bet and not being able to access the app, which is potentially a big issue with the first version of the Circa Sports app.
Overall, the Circa Sports app is off to a good start.
The wagering menu should improve. And hopefully the technology provider stabilizes the app, so there's never a question about access.
