Circa Resort & Casino will debut its Sports Gambling Hall of Fame on Aug. 11. The new space will feature bookmakers and bettors who have made the sports gambling industry what it is today.
Visitors will find the Sports Gambling Hall of Fame inside the sportsbook at Circa.
The inaugural class will have 10 inductees. Notables in the first class of the Sports Gambling Hall of Fame are Billy Walters, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Roxy Roxborough.
Derek Stevens, Circa’s CEO and founder, said:
“It’s an honor to have our sportsbook serve as the physical location for the Sports Gambling Hall of Fame. At Circa, we are all about recognizing those who have made our city and industry what it is today. We look forward to celebrating these individuals and ensuring that their legacy is cemented.”
Circa will induct the first class during BetBash. This event is a sports betting networking conference that will draw novice and professional sports bettors to Las Vegas.
Last year BetBash was a good time for non-residents to visit Las Vegas to sign up for the Circa Millions and Survivor contests. The Sports Gambling Hall of Fame should give potential guests on the fence about the networking event and contest registration an incentive to visit Las Vegas.
Inaugural Sports Gambling Hall of Fame Class
Walters, Rosenthal and Roxborough are three of the 10 being inducted. The rest of the class will be announced at a later date.
The initial inductees are among the most famous people in sports betting history.
- Walters is widely known as the greatest sports bettor of all time.
- Roxborough was one of the sharpest oddsmakers in the 1980s and 1990s. He introduced mathematical formulas, computer models, and technology to the sports betting industry.
- Rosenthal was a professional sports bettor and former Las Vegas casino executive. Robert DeNiro portrayed him in the movie “Casino.”
This year, the 16-person selection committee for Circa’s Sports Gambling Hall of Fame will name five living inductees. The other five will be honored posthumously. Most, if not all, of the selection committee members will eventually be in the Hall of Fame themselves.
The Sports Gambling Hall of Fame website will have information when new inductees are announced.
Bet Bash 2023
Bet Bash is a gathering of professional and amateur sports bettors, bookmakers, and others adjacent to both sides of the betting counter. The networking event was started by professional sports bettor Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos three years ago.
Gaming Today describes last year’s event as:
“Folks from the sports betting community together to make new connections, exchange ideas, and catch up with old acquaintances.”
There will be four days of activities at Bet Bash this year. Events will take place at The D or Circa. Stevens owns both casinos. Here’s the schedule for BetBash:
Tuesday, Aug. 8
- 6 pm-9 pm: Opening Night Registration Cocktail Party at Bar Canada (Open Bar)
Wednesday, Aug. 9
- Morning Event: Speed Networking event
- Evening Event: Open Bar Cocktail Party at Bar Canada
Thursday, Aug. 10
- Morning Event: Downtown Las Vegas Scavenger hunt $20k in prizes
- Evening Event: Circa Sports Book and Stadium Swim Football Watch party (open bar and food included)
Friday, Aug. 11
- Morning Event: Expert Panels with lunch buffet included
- 6 pm-10 pm: Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony (open bar and four-course dinner included)
- 10 pm-2 am: VIP Legacy Club Closing Cocktail Party (open bar)
Bet Bash is for those serious about sports betting. Tickets for BetBash cost $699-$899 plus fees. Visit BetBash online for more information.
Circa Sports Contest Announcements Coming Soon
In addition to having the world’s largest sportsbook, Circa Sports is known for its two $1 million pro football contests.
Circa Sports Millions is the weekly pro football handicapping contest where players select five games against a static point spread. Circa Survivor is the sportsbook’s take on a pro football survivor contest.
Details on the two NFL sports betting contests for 2023 should be coming soon. Last year, details of the contests were revealed in late May.
Circa recently released a teaser video to get potential participants ready.

Last year, winners between the two contests took home more than $12 million in prize money.
All participants must register in person at a Circa retail location in Nevada. However, players can take part in the contest from anywhere in the world. They just need to hire a proxy service to submit weekly picks.