Circa Resort Coming Soon to Las Vegas

A new Circa Resort could be coming soon to Las Vegas, but there is still one more approval that is needed. Owner Derek Stevens has been trying to bring a Circa Resort to the city for quite some time, and his chances got a significant boost earlier this month.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended a license for the Circa casino on September 9, and that was a victory for Stevens and his team. The final decision will be left up to the Nevada Gaming Commission, but all signs point to a license being issued.

September 24 is when the Nevada Gaming Commission will hold an official vote, which could be a historic decision. The new Circa Resort is looking to become the first property built in the Glitter Gulch section of downtown Las Vegas in more than 40 years.

The new resort’s exact location is on Fremont Street, and it will be in the same spot where the Las Vegas Club once stood. The hotel tower is one of the main attractions of the new Circa Resort, but an outdoor amphitheater is also a part of the plan.

Stevens is looking to roll out his operation in phases, with the casino reportedly scheduled to open on October 8. The 777 room hotel will start taking reservations in December and will then be fully operational by the beginning of 2021.

This project’s official cost has not been announced, but insiders have estimated that it reportedly costs close to $1 billion. Stevens is the co-owner of other properties on Fremont Street, including D Las Vegas and Golden Gate. 

Massive Sportsbook Planned

Along with the casino and hotel at Circa Resort, a massive sportsbook is also part of this project. Some experts are calling this new sportsbook the biggest in the world, and it is a three-story venue with giant screens for watching sporting events.

Circa Sports already offers both mobile and retail sports betting in Nevada, but this will be a brand new state-of-the-art facility for sports bettors. Circa Sports previously launched mobile sports betting in the state of Colorado as well. 

The Vegas Stats and Information Network will also broadcast live from the new Circa Resorts Sportsbook. Vegas Stats and Information Network previously launched in 2017, and they help sports bettors by handicapping games and delivering picks. 

An official launch date for the sportsbook has not been announced but is expected to be revealed on September 24. 

City of Las Vegas Facing Criticism

Las Vegas has recently faced some criticism for its attempts to attract visitors to this section of downtown. Circa is set to be built near the Fremont Street Experience, which is a pedestrian mall.

The city has agreed to build a brand new $6.5 million archway on Las Vegas Boulevard to get tourists’ attention. Las Vegas officials hope to bring attention to this part of their city, but it comes at a hefty price tag.

This final product is expected to be completed in November as most of the construction is already done. Electrical wiring is still being installed for the arches to be lit.

Las Vegas has been hit hard financially by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and some residents are questioning why the city chose to spend money on this construction project. The city has countered by stating that there are more than 80 workers employed on this project, and it has helped offer jobs at a time when unemployment rates have skyrocketed.

Rebecca Kont
Rebecca Kont

Rebecca lives in Las Vegas and after completing her degree at Reynolds Journalism school joined the USGS team to pursue her journalism dreams.