The 2024 Circa Survivor Pool is one of the largest in the nation, and over one-third of the entries included the Cincinnati Bengals, which thinned the herd tremendously when they lost to the Patriots, 16-10, in Week 1.
Shocking Upset
The Cincinnati Bengals were installed as 7½ point home favorites at the sportsbooks, the largest favorite on the Week 1 board, against the New England Patriots in the opening week of the season. But survivor pools require that the team chosen has to only win the game and not cover the spread for the contestant to advance to the next week.
Unfortunately for 4,895 of the more than 14,000 entries received this year, the Bengals went down in defeat, leaving nearly 5000 contestants standing on the outside looking in and their $1000 entry fee gone after just one game. This represented 34.3% of the Circa Survivor Pool, which is good news for those who remain in the competition.
There were also 192 additional entries that were eliminated in Week 1 with straight-up losses on 12 other NFL teams and 45 contestants who failed to submit an entry, thus forfeiting their entry fee. This translated to 5,518 entries eliminated in the opening week of the 2024 season—or 39% of the 14,206 Circa Survivor entries.
It was hardly surprising that so many contestants sided with Cincinnati, as they were 9-8 last season playing against a Patriots team that went 4-13 in 2023. The Bengals also had a healthy Joe Burrow under center but were without their No. 2 wide receiver, Tee Higgins, to begin the season.
Nevertheless, strong defense by the Patriots and a series of miscues by the Bengals proved to be the recipe for the biggest upset of the opening week of the season. The loss sent shockwaves throughout survivor pools, and there are none bigger than Circa’s.
Guaranteed Money
A maximum of 10 entries per contestant are allowed in the Circa Survivor Pool, and after tallying all 14,000 plus entries, the total prize is $14,266,000. The last remaining entry without a loss wins the money. There are 5000 more entries than in last year’s contests. Coincidentally, there were nearly as many entries eliminated in the Bengals’ Week 1 loss as there were additional entries this season.
Speaking of last year, four contestants finished a perfect 20-0 with each splitting the $9.26 million prize pool or a whopping $2,316,750 for their efforts.
This year the stakes are even higher, and along with the Circa Survivor Pool is the Circa Million VI contest that is different in that it is a handicapping contest in which contestants must choose teams against the spread. Both contests are highly publicized, and participation is growing every year.
“14,206 entries into Circa Survivor is really amazing. Great for Las Vegas and great for football fans,” Circa owner Derek Stevens said.
“We almost got to $6 million in the Millions but were able to cut the overlay down from last year. I consider the $183,000 overlay our gift to Circa Sports customers,” Stevens added.
