Circa Sportsbook Expands Into Kentucky

Circa Sportsbook has added Kentucky to its ever-expanding portfolio.

The Las Vegas-based sports betting institution added the Bluegrass State to its portfolio Monday, having previously established sportsbooks in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Nevada. Kentucky sports betting is now made up of nine different betting sites.

As of 11 a.m. ET on April 1, sports bettors in Kentucky could download the Circa Sportsbook app and take advantage of its offerings. What should bettors in the Bluegrass state expect from their newest available sportsbook?  

What is Circa Sportsbook?

Circa opened up shop in Las Vegas in 2019 as a brick-and-mortar sportsbook with a focus on excellent customer service. Circa’s bread and butter is its world-class, in-person experience.

The tag line on Circa’s homepage boasts, “Join the largest sports betting experience in the world, where the most advanced technology, including a 3-story sportsbook, meets good old-fashioned Vegas hospitality.” The sportsbook’s flagship Las Vegas location boasts a 78-million pixel screen and half a dozen rooftop pools. 

Circa expanded into the world of online sports betting in 2020, starting with Colorado and Iowa. Since then, the sportsbook has added three more states to its online portfolio and six more physical locations in its home state.

It’s been a busy month for the growing sportsbook. On March 11, Circa added a seventh Nevada location with the grand opening of the Silverton Casino Lodge. While Circa’s primary focus seems to be its in-person experience, Kentucky’s mobile launch signals that Circa is looking to grow its online presence as well. 

What to Bet on at Circa Sportsbook

Kentucky isn’t home to any professional sports teams in the North American “Big 4” of football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. The state does, however boast some quality collegiate programs such as the University of Kentucky and Louisville.

March Madness is still in full swing, and the Final Four is set for both the men’s and women’s brackets. On the men’s side, Kentucky was upset in the first round by 14 seed Oakland, and on the women’s side, Louisville was upset by 11 seed Middle Tennessee. Despite the early exits from in-state teams, Kentucky residents can still wager on the final weekend of both tournaments.  

Cincinnati lies just across the Ohio River from Kentucky, and the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals have strong Kentucky fanbases. Neighboring Indiana’s Pacers and Colts are popular teams in Kentucky, and sports bettors in the Bluegrass state can now wager on all of them online. 

The NBA and NHL playoffs begin in mid-April, and the Masters is just around the corner. The timing of the Kentucky launch couldn’t be coincidental, as horse racing’s most iconic tentpole event is set for May 4. Sports bettors in Kentucky don’t have to leave the house to wager on the Kentucky Derby, and Circa has unsurprisingly provided opening lines. 

Circa’s mobile offerings are a bit of a mixed bag. The sportsbook allows bettors to make high-stakes wagers without the stringent limits put in place by giants such as FanDuel or DraftKings, making it an ideal book for high rollers. Bettors looking to wager on fringe sports or place live bets will be disappointed by the limited markets made available by Circa.  

Sports Betting in Kentucky

Sports betting became legal in Kentucky on March 31, 2023 when Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 551 into law. In-person sports betting launched on September 7, 2023, and Kentucky sportsbook apps began to go live just three weeks later.

The state allows nine horse-racing tracks and Kentucky Speedway to offer in-person sportsbooks, and all 10 locations can offer up to three skins. Kentucky law allows up to 30 online sportsbooks, which means there is a ton of room for growth.