Circa unveils record $15,000,000 survivor contest, largest legal sports betting prize in US history
Las Vegas-based sports betting giant Circa Sports has announced a whopping $15 million guaranteed prize pool for its flagship Circa Survivor NFL contest — the largest guarantee ever for a legal U.S. sports betting competition!
The contest, which challenges entrants to pick one NFL team each week to win outright — without repeating selections during the season — has rapidly become one of the most anticipated annual events in the American sports betting calendar. The new $15 million guarantee is a significant increase from last year’s $10 million, underscoring both the contest’s surging popularity and Circa’s growing national profile.
“Along with making history with our existing contests, Circa Grandissimo pays homage to some of the biggest bets in Las Vegas — and this is by far the grandest wager we’ve ever made on Circa Sports,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports.
Year-over-year expansion
Last season, the Circa Survivor contest saw eight winners split a prize pool of $14.27 million, a dramatic finish to what was already one of the most lucrative sports betting events in the country. With the new guarantee, Circa aims to eclipse even that headline-grabbing payout, further pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in legal wagering competitions.
Circa is also bringing back its Circa Millions VII contest, where entrants submit five NFL picks against the spread each week. That contest will once again feature a guaranteed $6 million prize pool.
Circa Grandissimo: A $100K entry high-roller survivor contest
In a bold new offering, Circa Sports is launching Circa Grandissimo, a luxury-tier survivor contest with a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool — and a whopping $100,000 entry fee.
Targeted at elite bettors and high-stakes competitors, the Grandissimo is designed to echo the grandeur of Las Vegas’ most legendary wagers, offering a rarefied platform for the most ambitious contestants.
Contest details and registration timeline
All Circa contests require contestants to register in-person in Nevada. Weekly picks can also be made in-state or via a licensed proxy, a popular option among out-of-state players who want to compete in the high-stakes contests.
Sign-ups opened Thursday, May 23, and will run through 6 September 2025, just before the start of the NFL regular season.
- Circa Survivor: $15 million guaranteed; entry format remains the same — one team per week, no repeats.
- Circa Millions VII: $6 million minimum prize pool; five ATS picks weekly.
- Circa Grandissimo: New $100K-entry survivor contest; $1.5 million guaranteed.
Betting pools gain popularity as NFL betting soars
Since NFL betting continues to be the most popular betting category in America, pools such as Survivor and Millions provide a desirable alternative to in-game betting and daily wagering. The structure stresses season-long strategy and money management and is therefore suitable for the casual supporter and professional gambler alike.
Circa’s sustained expansion and innovation highlight the swiftly changing environment of U.S. sports betting, as state-by-state regulation and contest-based models have generated tailored market opportunities.
With a record-breaking guarantee, a new luxury-level contest, and a tight hold on the betting public’s attention, Circa Sports is raising the stakes again — both literally and figuratively — in the battle for superiority in legal sports betting.
