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Circa Sports has secured approval to enter Arizona’s sports betting market, picking up a license from the Arizona Department of Gaming in partnership with the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The decision follows a reallocation process that began in May, after Betway, the previous license holder left the market. Regulators confirmed in a Monday update that only two licenses were available in this round, with Circa taking one of the spots.
Arizona welcomes number 13
Arizona has added a new name to its sports betting roster, with Circa Sports becoming the state’s 13th licensed online operator.
The Arizona Department of Gaming said it will now begin working with Circa on the steps needed to launch, though no timeline has been set. The state can authorize up to 20 online sportsbooks, and regulators noted that at least one more operator tied to a pro sports team will be added. Additional tribal partnerships may also follow.
Since legalizing sports betting in 2021, Arizona has grown into one of the busiest markets in the country. Bettors have placed more than $35 billion in wagers, generating over $190 million in tax revenue for the state.
Circa continue to expand beyond Nevada
Circa’s push into new markets has gathered pace, and its latest moves show the operator is no longer defined solely by its Las Vegas roots.
The company recently secured an untethered license in Missouri, a rare approval that allows it to operate without sharing revenue with a casino partner. Only DraftKings received the same type of license, putting Circa in a small group of operators with full control over their Missouri operations.
Back home, Circa’s retail sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas remains central to its identity. It hosts some of the country’s biggest football handicapping contests, including the well‑known Circa Sports Survivor, which has helped build the brand’s reputation for taking large wagers and appealing to serious bettor.
That reputation is already familiar to many in Arizona, a state that sits right next door to Nevada and has long been seen as a natural fit for Circa’s expansion plans.
With Arizona now added to its growing list of markets, Derek Stevens’ company continues to stretch beyond its original base. The move aligns with expectations from several years ago, when industry watchers predicted that Circa would eventually target states close to Las Vegas.
