- Sports betting launched in Colorado on May 1 as planned despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
- May was a challenging month for the entire Colorado gaming industry with all of the state’s casinosa closed and few sports available on the betting board.
- DraftKings becomes the third retail sports betting location in Colorado.
DraftKings is now the third retail sportsbook open in Colorado. The sports betting/daily fantasy powerhouse is operating a location at the Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk as well as offering web/mobile sports betting throughout the state.
Colorado becomes the fifth retail sports betting state for DraftKings joining Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey and New York. Overall, Mardi Gras Casino is the 7th DraftKings retail location in the United States. Currently, DraftKings is operating out of a temporary retail space on the first floor of the casino. The temporary facility has one cashier window, eight self service betting kiosks and several flat screen TVs. Construction on the permanent sportsbook is underway which will include a large bar, a massive video wall and VIP lounge access.
DraftKings Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz had these comments on the opening of their Colorado location:
“As our partners at Mardi Gras Casino work to expand their current operations and location, we are thrilled to come together to provide the most exciting, real time gaming opportunities as sports begin to make their return. DraftKings and Mardi Gras Casino are committed to providing a safe, immersive and entertaining gaming environment to ensure sports fans in Colorado have the most enjoyable experience possible.”
George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Twin River Worldwide Holdings (parent company of Mardi Gras) gave these comments:
“This partnership with DraftKings allows us to provide an unmatched sports betting experience to Coloradans, not only with their mobile betting access, but also with this exciting DraftKings retail sportsbook location. We are looking forward to introducing our guests to the fully renovated space in the coming months and until that time, are glad to be able to give our guests the ability to safely start placing bets as many professional sports begin to resume in the coming weeks.”
Twin River owns a total of three casinos in Colorado–in addition to the Mardis Gras they own the Golden Gates Casino and Golden Gulch Casino in Black Hawk. They also own the Arapahoe Park horse track along with 11 off track betting locations in Colorado. The company also owns gaming properties in Rhode Island, Mississippi, Delaware and Missouri.
Given the challenges of launching sports betting during the COVID-19 pandemic Colorado has done a remarkable job. DraftKings is now the third retail sportsbook that has opened since the state’s gaming industry emerged from lockdown in mid-June. UK sportsbook BetFred launched the first retail location in the state at Saratoga Casino in Black Hawk days after the property reopened. Monarch Casino in Black Hawk opened their eponymously branded sportsbook near the end of June.
