Circa Sports, a popular Nevada sportsbook, has introduced the biggest-ever survivor prize pool in the US - a prize pool of $15 million guaranteed, a significant change from the guaranteed prize pool of $10 million from last season. The Circa Survivor contest, where the contestants choose a single NFL team for each week to win the game, is all set to launch the new prize pool, the biggest payout for sports betting in US history.

Nevada-based sportsbook Circa Sports is rewriting the playbook for legal sports betting contests with a historic announcement. On Thursday of last week, the brand revealed that its wildly popular Circa Survivor competition will feature a record-setting $15 million guaranteed prize pool - the largest in the history of legal sports betting contests in the United States.

The Circa Survivor challenge requires contestants to select one NFL team to win every week, with a unique twist: they cannot pick the same team more than once throughout the season. The last participant or participants standing - those who correctly pick a winning team every week without being eliminated - claim the prize.

Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens expressed excitement over the milestone. We're thrilled to make history with this year's contests, noted Stevens. This is a major leap forward for the Survivor format and an exciting challenge for NFL fans and bettors across the country, he continued.

Survivor contest grows in popularity

The increase in prize money - from $10 million last season to $15 million this year - reflects the rapid rise in popularity of survivor-style betting pools. These contests offer a strategic alternative to traditional point-spread wagering, focusing instead on correctly picking winners.

In the 2024 edition of Circa Survivor, eight contestants emerged victorious and split the final prize of $14,266,000. The growing prize pool and high-stakes nature of the contest have drawn serious attention from seasoned bettors and NFL fans alike.

Circa Millions VII returns with $6M prize pool

Alongside the Survivor contest, Circa Sports is also bringing back its Circa Millions VII competition. This contest requires participants to select five NFL picks each week, combining skill, research, and a bit of luck across the season.

The prize pool for Circa Millions VII will remain at a minimum of $6 million, continuing its status as one of the most competitive and lucrative NFL contests in the country.

Introducing Circa Grandissimo: a contest for high-rollers

Circa Sports is also launching a luxury-level survivor contest called Circa Grandissimo. With an eye-popping entry fee of $100,000, this elite contest promises a guaranteed prize pool of $1.5 million. "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," Stevens said. The contest mirrors the rules of the Circa Survivor but is clearly geared toward high-stakes bettors and professionals seeking a next-level challenge.

The addition of Circa Grandissimo sets a new benchmark for exclusivity and payout potential in the US sports betting landscape.

Sign-ups open through September 6

Registration for all three contests - Circa Survivor, Circa Millions VII, and Circa Grandissimo - begins immediately and runs through September 6. Each entrant must register in person in Nevada, though entries can be submitted weekly either in person or via a designated proxy.

These contests offer more than just potential windfalls - they've become a cultural phenomenon among NFL fans and sports betting enthusiasts. With unmatched prize pools and the thrill of weekly elimination, Circa's contests are shaping the future of legal sports betting competitions. As NFL season approaches, Circa Sports continues to cement its reputation as a leader in innovation, high-stakes excitement, and fan engagement in the evolving world of American sports betting.