Circa Survivor and Circa Million Handicapping Contests Increased Prize Pools for 2024 NFL Season

If you need any indication that the legal sports betting industry continues to grow beyond our best sports betting sites posting ever-increasing year-over-year handles and revenue figures, look no further than Circa Sports.

Circa isn't the most widespread sports betting app on the go and doesn't offer the most expansive array of betting options. But it does a fantastic job focusing on sports Americans bet on the most, offering high limits that make it a great fit for experienced bettors. 

This year, the Las Vegas mainstay is upping the pot on two of its most popular NFL handicapping contests: Circa Survivor and Circa Million.

What's the change?

Circa is putting up $16 million in guaranteed prize money for the 2024 NFL season across the two contests, a bump from $14 million last season and $12 million the year before. 

Last year, Circa Survivor had $8 million in guaranteed prize money, but over 9,000 entrants increased that figure by $1.2 million. That $9.2 million is still shy of the $10 million guarantee for this season, which owner Derek Stevens told the Las Vegas Review Journal was "the biggest guarantee in any football contest ever." 

That leaves the other $6 million in the guaranteed prize pool for the Circa Million contest, equivalent to the 2023 figure, where just a little more than 5,000 contestants joined. That left Circa on the hook for the overlay. 

One thing that won't change? The cost to cover each contest - a $1,000 entry.

Circa Survivor

Players can enter the Survivor contest up to 10 times. Beginning with the opening week of the season, participants must pick a winning team for each week of the NFL season, and only one team can be selected throughout the 18 weeks and two special holiday weeks. 

It's a winner-take-all contest, with the last person standing taking the $10 million prize, potentially more if signups eclipse 10,000 players. 

Circa Million

In Circa Million, participants pick five teams to cover each week. A win against the spread is worth a point, and a push is worth half a point. 

Unlike Survivor, it's not a winner-take-all scenario, as the $6 million prize pool is spread among players based on how they finish the season. The winner claims a cool $1 million, while the other $3.65 million is spread amongst those who finish in the top 100. There are $300,000 prize payouts every 4-5 weeks, and meaningful prizes granted at the end of the season for those finishing last or second-last, as the "booby prize" pays $100,000 or $50,000, respectively. 

How to play

The contest opened Friday, May 24, at 9 a.m. Players can visit any Circa Sports Nevada Location, although there is a solution for those out of state. Register a proxy within state boundaries who can make your picks throughout the season.