- German sportsbook Tipico is on the agenda for licensing in Colorado this week.
- Tipico previously announced plans to enter the Colorado market in partnership with Century Casinos.
- Tipico launched in New Jersey in late 2020 partnering with Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
Tipico is a well known sports betting name in Europe though the company is just now building their brand in the United States. They launched in New Jersey late last year in partnership with Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City and not longer after that announced plans to enter the booming Colorado sports betting market in partnership with Century Casinos. Century Casinos owns and operates properties in Central City and Cripple Creek, Colorado. They’ve been responsible for what are arguably the most interesting partnerships in the Colorado sports betting industry hooking up with Nevada based Circa Sports as well as an announced but yet to launch relationship with UK based Bet365.
When Tipico announced their move into Colorado last October they quickly put up a ‘Coming Soon’ page for the state but were somewhat vague about a launch date saying only that they ‘will complete the necessary application and approval process with the State of Colorado’. It now looks like a launch may be imminent or at the very least closer than it was. Tipico is on the agenda for the May 20, 2021 meeting of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission where they’re expected to receive approval for a Temporary Internet Sports Betting Operator License. This is typically done to allow companies to start taking bets while the more in-depth licensing process continues:
Also on the licensing agenda is data provider Genius Sports who signed a data rights deal with the National Football League in early April of this year. Genius Sports also owns the data rights for the English Premier League soccer circuit giving them the two most valuable sports league properties in the world.
At the time of their initial announcement, Adrian Vella, Managing Director, US Business, Tipico, praised partners Century Casinos and spoke of their excitement at entering the booming Colorado sports betting market:
“Tipico is thrilled to partner with Century Casinos, a highly respected name in North American casino entertainment, to bring our fully mobile sports betting experience to Colorado and introduce sports fans throughout the state to our brand and proprietary technology.”
Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos, returned the pleasantries and commended the Division of Gaming for their excellent launch of sports betting in Colorado:
“We are very excited to be partnering with Tipico Sportsbook, one of the top sports betting companies in the world, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. The Colorado Division of Gaming has done an excellent job launching Sports Betting and we believe Colorado will be an ideal market for Tipico as they continue their expansion and growth in the United States.”
As of today, Colorado has 21 different sports betting apps licensed by the state’s Division of Gaming. The tribal Sky Ute Casino also has a sports betting app for a total of 22 statewide. That number is expected to grow between now and the start of NFL season. Waiting in the wings are Bally’s Corporation with their ‘Bally’sBet’ app, 888 Sports and a ‘coming soon’ app from Colorado’s other tribal casino, Ute Mountain. There’s also been talk of a launch of a Barstool Sportsbook mobile app in the state to go with the retail location at Penn National’s Ameristar Black Hawk property.
