Derek Stevens’ Company Partners With Sanjan Southern Paiute Tribe to Become State’s 13th Online Operator
Circa Sports has secured official approval to enter Arizona’s regulated sports betting market after 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 initiated in May after Betway, the previous license holder, exited the market.
Regulators confirmed that only two licenses were available in this current round, with Circa successfully capturing one of the spots to become the state’s 13th licensed online operator.
The Arizona Department of Gaming will collaborate with Circa Sports on the necessary steps required for launch, though an official timeline has not yet been set. Arizona can authorize up to 20 online sportsbooks, and regulators noted that at least one more operator tied to a professional sports team will be added, alongside potential future tribal partnerships.
Since legalizing sports betting in 2021, Arizona has established itself as one of the busiest markets nationwide, accumulating over $35 billion in wagers and generating more than $190 million in state tax revenue.
Expanding Beyond Las Vegas Roots
Circa’s ongoing push into new jurisdictions highlights its evolution beyond its traditional Las Vegas base. The company recently secured a rare untethered license in Missouri, granting full operational control without requiring a revenue-sharing casino partner, a status shared only with DraftKings.
Back home, Circa Sports’s retail sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas remains central to its brand identity, hosting major high-stakes football handicapping contests such as the Circa Sports Survivor. Given Arizona’s close proximity to Nevada, industry watchers long anticipated that Derek Stevens’ company would naturally target the neighboring state as part of its wider growth strategy.
