Circa Sports’ NFL Contests Take Down Past Prize Pool Records

Las Vegas-based American sportsbook operator that offers high betting limits and the largest sportsbook experience, Circa Sports, has surpassed previous records for two of its most popular NFL handicapping contests, Circa Millions and Survivor. 

On deadline day last week, the two competitions managed to reach a total of $20,266,000 from an all-time high of 20,083 entries. 

Initially, at the time when it first announced the contests for the 2024 season, the operator spoke about a record $16 million in guaranteed payouts, $6 million for Circa Millions, and $10 million for Circa Survivor. 

However, as the clock hit the 2 pm stroke and the deadline passed on September 7, it was revealed that Circa Millions alone had gathered 5,817 entrants who fell $183,000 short of hitting the announced total. 

The operator who became Chicago Blackhawks’ partner at the end of June, used the money from the 2023 season’s overlay to boost the prize. 

Circa Survivor with its 14,266 entrants carried the prize pool up by over $4 million, to a total of $14,266,000.

According to Circa, Survivor entrants went up by 53.9% from 9,267 in the 2023 season.

During the last six days when registration was still open, roughly 1,000 entrants brought in an average of $1 million in fees a day, signaling a new record for the company’s NFL contests.

Circa Survivor

Known as one of the most iconic regulated NFL pool competitions in the US, Circa Survivor will feature up to 20 legs throughout the year, “one for every week of the football season plus two special weeks” and offer $10 million to the last person or the last people standing. 

Every week, participants will be allowed to submit their picks for a single NFL winner at any Circa Sports kiosk in Nevada or using the Nevada app. 

They can also play out of state by easily registering with a Nevada-based proxy.

However, players will not be allowed to choose the same team twice throughout the season. 

Thanksgiving/Black Friday and Christmas Day will be regarded as “their own contest weeks.”

The Thanksgiving-Christmas Day games separation in itself is expected to be a little trickier for participants, as 2024 will host three games on Thanksgiving Day while Christmas Day will count two games (Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens included). 

In other words, entrants will need to remember not to use too many of those six teams before the respective holidays.

In 2023, the main prize ($9,267,000) was split evenly between four winners.

Circa Million 

Testing participants’ skill when choosing NFL games against the spread, Circa Million will offer $1 million for first place along with 125 additional ways of winning throughout the season. 

The list includes $3.65 million in total cash prizes for entrants who manage to finish anywhere from the 2nd-100th positions, as well as $300,000 per “Quarter” in prizes awarded every four-five weeks

The Circa Million VI Pro Football contest will also feature a $100,000 in last-place booby prize or a $50,000 second-to-last place booby prize and will not have any rake, which means any extra fees will reach the quarter and full-season prizes.

Each week, participants must make five picks against the spread using the Circa Sports Nevada mobile app, visiting a Circa Sports kiosk, or placing over-the-counter bets at any of the six available Circa Sports locations in the state. 

For each correct pick, participants will receive one point. Each push will receive one-half point during the sixth edition of the contest.