- Sports betting launched in Colorado on May 1, 2020
- Colorado’s sports betting industry is off to a solid start despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Over 20 different sports betting companies have or will launch a mobile app in Colorado during 2020.
In the past week we’ve already reported on an online sports betting provider from Europe making their first move into the US sports betting market in Colorado (Betsson) and a new retail sportsbook (Wildwood Casino) at 9,593 feet above sea level in Cripple Creek. Based on the agenda for the most recent meeting of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission there looks to be yet another online sports betting provider heading to the state.
In the agenda for the July 16 meeting of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission you’ll notice that a company called Elite Sportsbook–Colorado LLC is applying for a Temporary Sports Betting Operator License and a Temporary Internet Sports Betting Operator License. These are issued to allow companies to get their Colorado plans in motion for retail and mobile betting respectively while their final licensing is being processed.
Elite Sportsbook–Colorado is a recently incorporated branch of Iowa based Elite Sportsbook. Elite Sportsbook operates the sports betting at two Iowa gaming properties: Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, IA and Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, IA. and They also offer an online betting platform. These two properties along with Grand Falls Casino Resort in Larchwood, IA are owned and operated by Elite Casino Resorts meaning that the sportsbook operation is another division of the casino operation. Interestingly, the retail sportsbook at the Great Falls Casino Resort is operated by Betfred. The ownership group behind Elite Casino/Sportsbook goes way back in Iowa gaming–in fact, Robert and Ruth Kehl who are majority owners were granted the first riverboat gaming license in Iowa back in 1990.
Given the company’s deep roots in Iowa’s gaming industry they should have no problem getting licensed. It’s unclear what their specific plans are in Colorado but obviously if they didn’t have something in the works they wouldn’t go through the expense and effort to get licensed. I haven’t done an updated tally of all of the companies that are heading to Colorado but with the addition of Elite Sportsbook it has to be pushing 25 at this point. Stay tuned for further developments.
