Circa Sports Joins the Illinois Sports Betting Community

With the exception of New York, Illinois has successfully captured the #2 spot in America in terms of its sports betting handle. That's quite an accomplishment given that the #2 puts them ahead of Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, all states that have been accepting legal sports bets over a longer period.

It makes sense that Illinois is the ideal state for a new sports betting operator like Circa Sports. It wasn't that long ago that the retail/mobile sports betting operator launched in its first state. With its entry into the Illinois sports betting community with a grand opening on October 4, 2023, Circa is now providing sports betting access in four states.

It's also noteworthy that Circa Sports has a pending license approval in Kentucky, which would be the operator's fifth state.

What Circa Sports Brings to the Table

There is little doubt that the U.S. sports betting market is going through some material challenges. Those challenges include drawing in new customers amid economic concerns, competing against a larger group of retail/mobile operators, and trying to anticipate how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to impact the future of sports betting in America.

According to Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens, the company is prepared to meet these challenges by offering a unique sports betting experience to customers. That unique experience is expected to include

• Tighter money lines
  
• Truer odds on parlays and teasers
  
• Easy access to more handicapping resources
  
• Lower vig percentages to give sports bettors more value
  

It's because of this unique model that Stevens and Vice President of Operations Mike Palm believe Circa Sports can and will make a big splash with customers in a lot of states.

About the Circa Sports Offering in Illinois

Circa Sports will be offering sports betting services on two (2) fronts. The operator's mobile app, which launched on October 4, comes with a full slate of sports betting markets and betting options. The operator also plans on remaining competitive by offering bonus promos that will give customers a chance to garner some real extra value from their patronage.

On the retail side, Crica Sports chose to partner with "The Temporary" by American Place Casino in Waukegan. The casino is owned and operated by Full House Resorts. With Waukegan being located in close proximity to Chicago without actually being in Chicago, Stevens believes this location will be a great draw for customers who prefer wagering in a smaller city environment.

In a recent interview with PlayUSA regarding working with Full House, Stevens told reporters:

“One of the things that we liked about this opportunity with Full House is that it is a ground-up license. They have the ability to develop something from the ground up and that gives us the ability to develop something without certain limitations."

For now, Circa Sports is offering access to a temporary sportsbook with kiosks, betting windows, and 36 big-screen TVs for viewing. In 2025, The Temporary expects completion of its new casino and sportsbook.