Entries for both the Circa Millions and the Circa Survivor Contests are now closed. This is the third competition of its kind that’s been organized by the Circa Sports brand that operates sportsbooks in multiple Nevada locations, as well as offering their online app in both Nevada and Colorado.
These pair of competitions allow football fans to select teams to win over the whole season of the NFL to try and claim some of the $10,000,000 prize pool. There are two separate events that offer fantastic value as there’s zero rake taken and patrons can enter for $1,000.
The Circa Millions
The Circa Millions, which closed entry at 2 pm on Saturday, September 11, offers 4,087 entries a chance at a $1,000,000 top prize. With $4,087,000 in the prize pool in total for the Millions, entries must make five weekly picks against the spread, going head-to-head against the other competition entrants to pick up points. Players will get one point for each correct selection and pick up half a point in the case of a push. The most points collected by the end of the season wins the top prize.
There are 50 of the top point scorers paid out in total that will share the majority of the prize pool, but there are plenty of other prizes too. You can claim three quarterly MVP awards, with prizes of up to $150,000 as well as get booby prizes with a quarterly prize of $25,000 given to the lowest point scorer. The entrant that manages to score the least overall points will claim $100,000 for their complete lack of knowledge. Plus, even if you don’t manage to end up with a cash return from entering this event, at least you’ll get a Circa Millions III Hat along with all the other entrants.
Last year’s contest saw a Las Vegas entrant under the alias of DSR90-1 scoop the cool $1 million prize money for winning the second Circa Millions Event. The unknown player finishing up the season with a record of 56-27-2, claiming 57 points.
To enter you must sign up at one of the Circa Sports venues that are based in Las Vegas, however, you can make use of a proxy (someone who signs up on your behalf) if you can’t make it. Once registered you can place your bets either within the retail sportsbooks, via the app, or with your selected proxy.
The Circa Survivor 2021
The second of these contests is set out to be a winner take all event. Entrants will need to pick a winning team during each week of matchups, with each team only to be selected once. A little care is needed in selections because entrants will need to consider who will be their winning team at up for your Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day games too.
This year’s Survivor has just 4,080 entries competing to win the $6,000,000 prize pool, which means that there is a huge $1,920,000 overlay. Although this is a winner take all event, last year’s prize pool was split 35 ways, with $68,285.71 per player from that year’s $2,390,000 prize pool going to each winner.
The Best NFL Contests in 2021
It isn’t just Circa Sports that are offering these kinds of contests, there are plenty of other great value opportunities for NFL and sports fans to grab life-changing money with their football knowledge. Here are some of our other top picks:
Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest
One of the earliest contests of it’s kind to exist, the Westgate Las Vegas casino has offered its super contest since 1989. These industry innovators offer a much different experience to many other contests you can enter at the moment that also offers 100% payback to players with no fees.
The contest is made up of three six week contests that offer aggregate payouts of $100,000, $50,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 for the first five places, as well as six three-week contests that offer three aggregate spots at $75,000, $25,000 and $5,000. These in-season prizes total up to a guaranteed $1,132,500, with the remainder of the entry fees going towards what’s known as the season-long prize pool, where the top 30 places paid.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook also offers a couple of additional contests, there’s a winner take all contest, with an entry fee of $5,000 that’s known as the SuperContest Gold. Plus there’s the SuperContest Reboot with a $500 entry and ten winners, which allows a chance at a smaller prize pool for predictions on the second half of the NFL season from November 13.
DraftKings Pro Football Millionaire Pick’em
Draft Kings Online Sportsbook is also offering a top prize of $1,000,000 in their contest and you can play this online from any of the legal sports betting states that offer the Draft Kings app. So if you are in Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, or Mississippi you can enter to try and win the largest online pick’em prize.
Entrants will pick five teams to win against the spread from week 1-17 of the NFL season. The entry cost is a little higher, with players having to ante up $1,500 to play. However, you will get a kickback in the shape of a $100 free bet for every week you get all five of your picks right. Once the season is over, a win-loss record from all the entries best 16 weeks is selected and the winner is chosen.
The payouts are a little less top-heavy as in other similar contests, with $500,000 for second place and $400,000 awarded for placing third. A total of 135 of the top finishers will be paid out, with prizes starting at 0.06% of the pool or $2,500. One downside is that this is one contest that isn’t rake-free, with Draft Kings taking 6% from the total prize pool.
How Did NFL Contests Like This Begin?
The first super contests started in 1989 and were invented by sportsbook director Art Manteris at the Las Vegas Hilton. Manteris was put in charge of getting more sports betting customers into the casinos, the Westgate Casino was one of the first places to adopt this betting feature in 1989.
Since then the buy-in for sports fans hasn’t changed, but the huge influx of cash into these contests has been mainly due to sports fans from all over using proxies to enter from other States. The Westgate SuperContest saw entries rise from 517 in 2011, to 1,854 in 2016, and this was mainly due to an influx of entries from non-Nevada residents. This is most likely due to a combination of the hugely attractive prize pools of these contests and the internet age allowing for easy access to professional proxies that offer early-bird specials from as little as $225.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a proxy?
A proxy, a term taken from the word proximity, is a person that will make bets for you if you are out of the state or country. There are plenty of professional proxies that submit your picks as Nevada residents. These kinds of services have been around as far back as the first sports betting contests in 1989 and typically charge around $300 for their services.
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Are there any free NFL betting contests?
Yes, there are plenty of online sportsbooks that offer various free-to-play sports picking contests where you can win big prizes. For instance, BetUS sportsbook offers prizes of up to $50,000 in contests including plenty of cash to be won on NFL picks.
Check out our online sportsbook review area where you'll find plenty of these kinds of things going on at the best sportsbooks online.
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How do I enter the 2021 NFL betting contests?
Most of these contests will require you to sign up at a retail sportsbook location in Las Vegas. However, if you aren't in Las Vegas you can use a proxy service to register and make your picks.
Other than that you can enter some online contests, such as the DraftKings Pro Football Millionaire Pick'em and various other free-to-enter contests that you'll find dotted around the online sportsbook world.
-
What is a proxy?
A proxy, a term taken from the word proximity, is a person that will make bets for you if you are out of the state or country. There are plenty of professional proxies that submit your picks as Nevada residents. These kinds of services have been around as far back as the first sports betting contests in 1989 and typically charge around $300 for their services.
-
Are there any free NFL betting contests?
Yes, there are plenty of online sportsbooks that offer various free-to-play sports picking contests where you can win big prizes. For instance, BetUS sportsbook offers prizes of up to $50,000 in contests including plenty of cash to be won on NFL picks.
Check out our online sportsbook review area where you'll find plenty of these kinds of things going on at the best sportsbooks online.
-
How do I enter the 2021 NFL betting contests?
Most of these contests will require you to sign up at a retail sportsbook location in Las Vegas. However, if you aren't in Las Vegas you can use a proxy service to register and make your picks.
Other than that you can enter some online contests, such as the DraftKings Pro Football Millionaire Pick'em and various other free-to-enter contests that you'll find dotted around the online sportsbook world.
Based in California, James William writes about golf, tennis, UFC and the (sometimes complicated) world of betting on sports. A big lover of live poker, James also takes care of casino reviews for Vegas-Odds.com.
