LAS VEGAS, Nevada, May 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steve Carp, Managing Editor of Gaming Today, recently sat down with Fremont Street casino power player Derek Stevens in an exclusive interview to discuss his new Circa Sports sportsbook operation. The interview is wide ranging and can be read in its entirety by going to GamingToday.com.
There is nothing ordinary about Derek Stevens. He is larger than life and dominates whatever room he walks into. Yet Stevens prides himself on staying in touch with his customers and can often be seen chatting it up with them at the 110-foot Long Bar at The D, a bar he designed as a place where he would love to hang out and just watch a game.
The majority owner of Golden Gate Hotel & Casino and the D Las Vegas, Stevens has been involved in casinos since 2008, when legend tells of how he and his brother decided to buy the Golden Gate casino property while on vacation. Their plan became a reality later that year.
An example of his excellent business savvy came in 2008 when he bought the MLB minor league team Las Vegas 51s, selling it three years later for $20 million.
Derek is a native of Detroit and is extremely proud of where he comes from. His family business, Cold Heading Company, was originally started by his grandfather selling nuts and bolts to the automobile industry in Michigan. Stevens took over as CEO in 1994. Not only is he savvy, he’s highly educated, having graduated from the University of Michigan in 1990 and later obtaining his MBA from Wayne State University in 1994.
The following are key excerpts and quotes by Stevens from the article written by the award-winning Steve Carp for the iconic Las Vegas sports and gaming publication, Gaming Today:
Introduction
Not everyone gets to live their dream. Then again, not everyone is Derek Stevens.
The owner of the D Las Vegas and the money and power behind the under-construction Circa Resort and Casino always wanted to run his own sportsbook. He loves sports and betting on them. He also loves the idea of being on the other side of the counter.
Saturday at the Golden Gate on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Stevens’ dream becomes reality. Circa Sports, the newest sportsbook operation in Nevada, will take its first bets after receiving approval from the state’s gaming commission last month.
In addition to the Golden Gate operation, Circa Sports will have its book at the D in mid-June after breaking away from its partnership with William Hill, which had run the book there for Stevens while he attempted to get licensed as a bookmaker.
And it’s all a prelude to the big one—the multi-level megabook at Circa come December 2020.
“We’re ready to go,” Stevens said. “The final details are being worked out and we’re really excited. We’re going to make everyone feel welcome. Whether you’re a big bettor or a small bettor, doesn’t matter. We want you to come in, place a bet, catch the games, have some fun.”
Catering to Sharps
The big bettors are a big part of Circa Sports’ vision. Stevens wants to return to the old days of Las Vegas where the mantra was “If you can bring it, you can bet it.”
“We’re not going to shy away from the big bettors,” Stevens said. “I’m not a guy who forgets this is gambling.”
He has had conversations with several known professional sports bettors, including Gaming Today columnist Bill Krackomberger. And they provided Stevens some valuable input as he goes forward with his Circa Sports venture.
“We’re going to take their action,” he said. “We’re going to welcome them in.”
Mobile Betting App
Stevens is also excited about the Circa Sports mobile phone app. He is cognizant that in-game wagering and the ease of placing a bet without a trip to a brick-and-mortar establishment is a fact of life in 2019 and he wants his app to be user friendly, convenient, and secure.
“It’s going to be a unique way for people to get involved,” he said. “Sure, we’d love for them to come visit us at the Golden Gate and the D, and eventually, when we open the book at Circa. But the phone app is very popular, especially for young people, and that’s an audience we’re trying to attract.”
No Vig Promotion
As an incentive to get customers to come visit Saturday, Circa Sports will not apply a vigorish to bets made at the Golden Gate property.
The zero-cent lines will apply to the NBA Finals, Major League Baseball, and the Champions League soccer final between Tottenham and Liverpool.
LINK TO FULL INTERVIEW:https://www.gamingtoday.com/article/82945-Circa_Sports_looks_to_book_big_action_at_Golden_Gate
About Gaming Today:
Established in 1976, Gaming Today has been a staple for sports and gaming industry news in Las Vegas and across the country. It is the nation’s only newspaper dedicated to providing valuable up-to-date information on the casino industry and pari-mutuel race wagering. GamingToday.com contains news and features, plus expanded coverage in key areas—race and sports analysis, picks, tips, and handicapping.

Today, after several years of purchases, Stevens now owns the D Las Vegas, the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and the Circa Sportsbook. But it's the budding Circa Resort & Casino that has him. The D Las Vegas Casino Hotel (formerly Fitzgeralds) is a 34-story, 638-room hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, owned and operated by Derek and Greg Stevens. The D Las Vegas also consists of a dinner theater called Showroom at the D.

Attachments

Some locals and visitors to Las Vegas claim the downtown area is where the city really comes to life. Others feel it’s the shadier, less attractive part of the city compared to the Strip. Several companies have been working to make downtown LV just as exciting as the area on South Las Vegas Boulevard. This week, Derek Stevens gave an update on Circa Resort & Casino.

This new property is one of the biggest and most impressive ever built downtown. It’s expected to draw in a huge number of tourists once it’s finally opened. Here’s what we’ve just learned about this massive casino-resort.

Construction Continues on Downtown LV’s Circa

Downtown Las Vegas is home to many popular casinos. In fact, this is where the real Las Vegas was born. Some historic gambling venues are located here, such as the Golden Nugget, which first opened to the public in 1946.

Unfortunately, some still have an unfavorable opinion about the downtown area. Most of the venues are smaller and less visually appealing than the biggest hotel-casinos on the Strip. Gambling revenue in this area is also significantly less than what it is on the Strip.

Some see an opportunity here. Derek and Greg Stevens currently own several hotel-casinos in the downtown area. In 2015, these brothers purchased the Las Vegas Club. A year later, they bought the Mermaid Club, both located downtown. In 2019, the pair announced they were constructing Circa Resort & Casino.

Construction on this property officially began in April of 2019. In June, reports showed there were more than 600 construction workers on the project. It’s likely the most ambitious casino-resort ever built in downtown LV.

Derek Stevens D Casino &

As of now, this property is slated to open in December of 2020. Its owners believe that Circa will completely change the way downtown Vegas is thought about.

Derek Stevens Offers Update On Circa Resort & Casino

As we just mentioned, Derek and his brother Greg Stevens own several major properties in downtown Las Vegas. This includes the D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate. Both men believe that Circa will be their crowning achievement.

This week, Derek Stevens spoke with the media and offered a major update on Circa Resort & Casino. Based on what he’s saying, this is going to be a truly incredible venue.

One of the most interesting things that Stevens revealed was that the casino-resorts’ pools will be open 24 hours a day.

“These pools are going to be heated in a way similar to what you would have in Vail or Aspen (Colorado), you have an outdoor pool product in the middle of the winter, so we’re going to be using these pools year-round,” Stevens said.

It’s an impressive piece of news, especially considering there will be six different pools located on the resort’s roof. Stevens also commented on the “Garage Mahal,” a massive nine-story parking garage for guests.

“It’s the very first fully integrated ride-share hub designed into a new hotel-casino resort,” Stevens said. “The whole first floor of Garage Mahal is the ride-sharing area. It’s going to be very important for Uber, Lyft and everybody else who comes in after them.”

It’s always fun to receive an update on Circa Resort & Casino. Soon, we’ll begin to get a glimpse of what the inside of this new venue will look like.

Las Vegas Gambling Revenue Fluctuates in 2019

Las Vegas is having an interesting year. At first, competition from Atlantic City seemed to be taking a toll here. Over the past several months, however, things have been improving considerably. 2019’s third-quarter brought a major increase in gambling revenue in Las Vegas.

Several of the biggest casino operators here, including Caesars Entertainment, saw their revenue earnings increase significantly between July and September. Caesars’ experienced a revenue increase of 2.3% during this time period.

The majority of money still comes from the Las Vegas Strip. Downtown Las Vegas is beginning to generate more money in recent months. With the addition of Circa, this area of the city may soon begin competing with the Strip.

Derek Stevens D Casino

Derek Stevens has just given a major update on Circa Resort & Casino. More information on this gambling venue will come out over the next few months.

Make sure to stay tuned for more Las Vegas casino news over the next few months!