In a lavish office adorned with personalized memorabilia, a high-stakes wager of $200,000 hangs in the balance for the upcoming 2024 college football regular-season opener between Florida State and Georgia Tech. This is not a game for the faint-hearted, but for Derek Stevens, the owner and CEO of Circa Sports, there are more significant items on the horizon. Among them, the country’s largest legal sports betting contest looms large.
Stevens recently sat down with TheLines.com to discuss the remarkable growth of Circa Survivor, which now boasts a staggering $10 million guarantee. This four-month roller coaster of a contest has not only captured the attention of NFL betting enthusiasts but has also left an indelible mark on the sports betting community as a whole.
In contrast to Circa Millions VI, which requires contestants to pick five teams against the spread each week and rewards the top 50 participants, Circa Survivor is winner-take-all. The last entry standing will claim the guaranteed prize from the survivor pool.
“When we look at our 2025 calendar, you circle a few weekends. We’re using an all-time record number of limos (to and from Circa on Aug. 22-24), more than March Madness or the Super Bowl. We’ll take a loss on the contest, but we do it for a reason. It matches up with our brand, the fact that we take big bets, and you can create a memorable scene in Vegas. Boy oh boy, it sure has,” Stevens remarked.
Similar to Circa Millions VI, Circa Survivor operates without a rake. Every dollar entered into the contest goes directly into the prize pool. With a guaranteed $10 million payout, there is the potential for an overlay at the sportsbook. However, despite the current overlay, the company’s projections suggest that it may not be necessary.
The allure of Circa Survivor is not just in the prize money but also in the strategy employed by contestants. Many entrants participate in the contest after attending the “Ultimate Contest Weekend,” which took place from Aug. 22 to 24 at Circa Sports, the home of the world’s largest sportsbook in Las Vegas.
In a new development for this season, contestants can purchase a maximum of 10 entries, with the option to re-buy an additional 10 entries if they lose them on the kick-off games. The excitement kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 5, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens renew their rivalry. Adding to the excitement, the league will also feature an opening-week Friday game for the first time in 54 years, with the Philadelphia Eagles facing off against the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil.
With up to 20 picks available in Circa Survivor, the challenge is greater but so too are the rewards. As the contest unfolds, the sports betting world eagerly watches to see who will emerge victorious and claim the coveted prize. The journey to the $10 million pot promises excitement, drama, and the thrill of high-stakes competition that only Circa Survivor can provide.
