First Adults-Only Resort In Las Vegas With World’s Largest Sportsbook Opens And The $1 Billion Casino Looks Incredible

With coronavirus cases surging, right now is probably not the most ideal time to open a hotel and casino. But that’s where the spanking new Circa Resort and Casino found itself this week as kicked off its grand opening this week. Circa Resort and Casino officially welcomed guests at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, and it did not disappoint.

The $1 billion Circa Casino is the first adults-only resort in Las Vegas, but that’s just the beginning. The 1.25 million square foot resort boasts the largest sportsbook in the world that is on three different floors that can accommodate up to 1,000 bettors. Plus there’s the Mega Bar, at 165 feet is the longest indoor bar in Nevada and offers 120 beers.

Circa plans to change the game when it comes to Vegas pool parties. Instead of celebrity DJs and steep cover charges, Circa wants to offer a swim-up sports bar atmosphere where you can watch the big game while soaking in 90-degree pool water.

Introducing Stadium Swim, a 12th-floor rooftop pool amphitheater with six different pools where you’ll always have a great view of the game thanks to the 40-foot-high, 143-foot-wide TV screen that packs 14 million pixels. At the pool, there’s also 30 private cabanas, as well as open kiosks where guests who catch a gambling itch can deposit money for poolside mobile wagering.

The Circa, which took five years to construct, is located on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. It is the first opening of a resort built from the ground up in downtown Las Vegas since 1980, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Circa is also the first $1 billion-plus casino to open in Vegas since the financial crisis a decade ago.

Circa CEO Derek Stevens isn’t worried about not being on the Vegas strip.

“Fremont Street is the second-most visited destination in America,” Stevens told The Points Guy. “It does more foot traffic than Disneyland or Disney World. We’re very comfortable with how we have developed our business with a massive amount of walkup business. This project is designed for the [Freemont Street] geography.”

Stevens pointed out that while being a 21-and-over resort may cost them some clientele, it will also enhance the experience. “We did the math, and it takes 15 seconds per ID check or a 2-minute wait for a group of eight people in a restaurant, bar or at a table,” Stevens said. “We estimate we’d have to ID 7,600 people per day, creating a cascading effect of people waiting. There’s also the psychological element of knowing there won’t be kids.”

As far as concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Stevens is optimistic that “Las Vegas will come back on the leisure traveler.”

“We run two other resorts here in Vegas and have been operating since reopening [on] June 4,” Stevens said. “We have followed a number of directives from the governor and [the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. We continue to adjust and learn protocols to keep our guests and employees safe.” Stevens also operates The D and the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.

All guests must go through a temperature check and follow the face mask mandate.

While the Circa Resort and Casino had its grand opening on Wednesday, the 777-room hotel tower is still under construction and is expected to open in late December. Reservations for Stadium Swim, Circa Sports, and the resort’s dining venues are available now.