Circa Sports, a leading US sportsbook operator, has launched its new state-of-the-art betting site inside The Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs, home of America’s most prestigious horse race, the Kentucky Derby.
What has been billed as the largest sportsbook in Kentucky, the 5,100- square foot venue will eventually feature an 80-foot-wide LED screen, a 31-foot-wide odds board displaying real-time lines and updates.
There is also premium seating options, with 113 stadium-style seats, luxury recliners and three tiers of booth-style seating.
Circa Sports already has a strong foothold in Kentucky with its online sports betting app.
A soft-launch is already underway with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for August 20 and a grand opening planned three days later.
Who are Circa Sports?
The sportsbook operator was founded by casino owner Derek Stevens and launched in June 2019, with its name coming from his Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
The venue describes itself as “the largest sports betting experience in the world” while online, the Circa Sports betting app caters for fans of online casino games and offers a wide range of options for sports fans looking to lay a wager.
The expansive betting site at The Mint Gaming Hall will also be available 24 hours a day and is also expected to attract players from Tennessee, with the border just a 15-minute walk away, and state capital Nashville which is a 45-minute drive away.
“Together with The Mint, we’re creating a high-tech betting destination that will bring a new level of live-viewing excitement for customers across both states,” said Stevens, founder and CEO of Circa Sports.
“We’re proud to officially open the doors to this new sports betting experience for fans across the region,”
“Whether you’re placing a bet or simply watching the action unfold, this book is built to be a premier gameday spot for Kentucky, Nashville and beyond.
“We’re grateful to The Mint Kentucky Downs in their help in bringing Circa Sports’ vision to life.”
Venue includes a live broadcasting studio
A Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) broadcast studio is also in place, ready to showcase live on-air talent, analysis and gameday content.
Founded in Las Vegas, VSiN provides coverage across major sports through broadcasts, podcasts and digital content.
Next stop for Circa Sports is expected to be Missouri, where the company has revealed it has already applied for a state license.
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) confirmed as much recently, although they are not the only players in the game.
The MGC said: “Circa has applied for one of two untethered licenses in the state, which will allow sportsbooks to offer sports betting without a partnership with an in-state retail casino or pro sports team.
“Circa is a big underdog in a battle with industry giants FanDuel and DraftKings for one of the pair of direct licenses.”
Jim Munro is a betting industry and gambling expert who has been a national newspaper journalist for over 30 years, predominantly at The Sunday Times and The Sun, where he wrote a weekly soccer betting column. Jim also worked on the launch of Virgin Bet with Gamesys and was subsequently head of editorial at LiveScore, the sports media and betting group.
