Circa Sports is turning up the volume on its NFL handicapping contests again, putting a combined $30 million on the table for the 2026 season. The boosted guarantees keep downtown Las Vegas at the center of season-long betting drama and pull even more eyeballs toward the Fremont Street sportsbook.
What Circa Is Offering
The new figure brings the total guaranteed prize pool to $30 million, split across three contests. Circa Survivor carries a $20 million guarantee, Circa Million is pegged at $6 million, and the $100,000-entry Circa Grandissimo is set at $4 million, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rules, Entry Limits and No Rake
Circa's contest pages tout the pools as "No Rake!" meaning the operator says every dollar of entry fees goes back into prizes. Players must register in Nevada, either at participating properties or via the Nevada app, while out-of-state entrants can get in through Nevada-based proxy services. The Survivor contest costs $1,000 per entry and allows up to 10 entries per person, with an option to buy additional entries if an original submission goes down on certain season-opening legs. Grandissimo is positioned as the $100,000 high-roller survivor offering. See Circa Sports for full rules and registration details.
Last Season's Results and Overlays
The expanded guarantees follow a year in which Circa's football contests blew past their starting numbers. The book paid out a record $31.6 million last season, and Circa Million missed its 6,000-entry benchmark, creating a $315,000 overlay. Circa Survivor drew 18,718 entries in 2025, and Grandissimo also cleared its initial guarantee, according to reporting by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Why Vegas Cares
Owner Derek Stevens has leaned into big headline guarantees as both a branding move and a way to pump foot traffic into his downtown properties. Circa framed this year's expanded slate in a company press release as a bid to lure even more high-stakes action. "Our contests have continuously broken their own records," the release quoted Stevens as saying, a line that neatly captures the promotional strategy behind the increases. Circa (PR Newswire)
How to Sign Up
Registration runs through 2 p.m. PST on Saturday, Sept. 12, with signups available at Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas, Silverton and Tuscany in Southern Nevada, plus Legends Bay in Northern Nevada. Out-of-state participants can use registered proxies to submit weekly picks but still have to follow Circa's geolocation rules. Prospective entrants should review the official contest pages for exact deadlines, purchase limits and proxy requirements. Circa Sports
