Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas has undergone quite a transformation over the course of many years, trying to stay with the times while also keeping some of that old Vegas feel. So it was only a matter of time before the sportsbook niche became part of that evolution.
That time arrives Saturday morning, with not only a new sportsbook, but an entirely new, independent sportsbook operation.
Circa Sports launches its first shop, a brand-new sportsbook inside the Golden Gate, at 8 a.m. Saturday. Circa Sports is the brainchild of Derek Stevens, who is CEO of The D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate, and who is an avid sports – and sports betting – fan.
“We just pulled the construction wall down,” Stevens told Covers earlier this week. “That gave us the first glimpse of what the venue looks like. It’s exactly what we wanted.”
Stevens said changes in the sportsbook industry over the past few years – including the online/mobile landscape – allowed him to finally move forward with this project.
“Getting into the sports business was something I wanted to do for a long time,” he said. “Now the stars have all kind of aligned.”
They’ll align much further in December 2020, when Stevens’ Circa Las Vegas resort/casino opens across the street from Golden Gate. Circa will house Circa Sports’ flagship, which will be the largest sportsbook in the world, a three-level monster including two levels of stadium seating and a massive video wall.
In the meantime, Circa Sports will get the ball rolling at Golden Gate with what Stevens described as a boutique sportsbook. A video Stevens posted on Twitter this week shows a relatively modest but modern space, with excellent sightlines. Sportsbook director Matthew Metcalf expects the new spot to breathe more life into the Fremont Street sports betting experience.
“Fremont Street is well on its way to becoming the center of Las Vegas,” Metcalf said. “If we could hand-pick a spot to open our first sportsbook, it would be at the Golden Gate. The history of this property is something that makes this the ideal space. We have something unique here in downtown. Between the Golden Nugget, William Hill, Boyd Gaming and now Circa Sports, there is a chance to make downtown the epicenter of sports betting in Las Vegas.”
Stevens echoed Metcalf’s sentiment.
“It’s a really great area,” he said. “It’s exciting to give additional options to customers. A lot of fresh lines, and you’ll be able to line shop at books that are within a hundred feet of each other. As a customer myself, I think that’ll be great.
“We really want to focus in on that sportsbook experience. A great viewing experience and a lot of opportunities for some new-style wagers.”
Indeed, when the windows open to take the first tickets, bettors will have a nice surprise awaiting them: no juice on straight side bets for Saturday’s games in the major sports. So Stanley Cup Game 3 moneyline, the full slate of baseball games on the moneyline, even Saturday’s big Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham across the pond will feature no-juice wagering.
“Circa Sports is a sportsbook run by sports bettors,” Metcalf said. “We enter the Nevada sports betting market with a disdain for business as usual. We won’t be afraid to try new things, all the while respecting those who came before us.”
Bettors will find that out shortly enough, when the curtain rises this weekend.
“We’re excited,” Stevens said. “At 8 o’clock Saturday morning, we all get to go to work.”
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
