- 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 25 different sports betting companies have or will launch a mobile app in Colorado during 2020.
Iowa based Elite Gaming has wasted no time as they get up and running in Colorado. On July 19, we reported on the consideration of their sports betting license application at the July 16 meeting of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission. They received approval and the launch of their mobile betting app in Colorado is ‘imminent’.
The launch date listed on the Colorado Division of Gaming website is August 6 but as of this writing they’re not up and running yet. Elite Gaming has partnered with the Red Dolly Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado. Although they’ve received licensing for a retail sportsbook at this time there doesn’t appear to be plans for a ‘brick & mortar’ operation at the property. They will have kiosks on site at Red Dolly Casino but like so many other operators in the social distancing era they appear to be biding their time to launch an actual retail sportsbook.
Here’s what Elite Gaming said about their plans to launch in Colorado in a press release:
Elite Casino Resorts announced that it received approval from the Colorado Division of Gaming to launch the ELITE Sportsbook ™ in the state of Colorado. The launch date is yet to be determined but is expected to be in August.
ELITE Sportsbook will offer mobile and online betting through www.elitesportsbook.com. A mobile app will also be available. Customers can bet from their phone while in Colorado*. ELITE Sportsbook betting kiosks will be available at Red Dolly Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado for sports bettors that wish to place bets in person.
Once the Colorado site goes live, sports bettors can set up a wagering account through www.elitesportsbook.com. Customers will be able to make online deposits for sports betting by setting up and funding their account through the website or by visiting Red Dolly Casino to make a cash deposit.
Dan Kehl, CEO of Elite Casino Resorts had this to say about their move into Colorado and partnership with Red Dolly Casino:
“We are excited to offer ELITE Sportsbook in Colorado in partnership with Red Dolly Casino. With a best in class easy to use platform, ELITE Sportsbook will be able to offer unique betting options. Our connection to our local markets and a strong partner like Red Dolly, gives us great insight into unique wagers and promotions that the Colorado customers are going to love!”
Craig Ramirez, General Manager at Red Dolly Casino, had these comments about their new sports betting partner:
“I am very excited about Red Dolly’s partnership with ELITE Sportsbook and Elite Casino Resorts. The Red Dolly and ELITE Sportsbook share the same customer focused vision for casino operations. Teaming up with ELITE Sportsbook will allow the Red Dolly Casino to offer sports betting kiosks in the casino as well as on-line sports betting to our current and new customers alike. We are looking forward to a long successful partnership.”
The Red Dolly Casino also has a ‘coming soon’ page for ELITE Sportsbook up on their website:
A couple of interesting things about ELITE Sportsbook (they stylize the sportsbook name in ALL CAPS but the company name in regular case format which makes it hard to keep track of)–they will be offering progressive parlays and claim that they’ll be the only one to do so in Colorado. Progressive parlays offer a lower payout for winning tickets in exchange for some degree of ‘forgiveness’ in the event of a loss. For example, an 8 team progressive parlay would pay 75/1 if all games win, 10/1 if only one loses and 2/1 with two losses. You can see the progressive parlay pay chart at the ELITE Sportsbook website:
PROGRESSIVE PARLAY PAY CHART AT ELITE SPORTSBOOK
Also–and apropos of a sportsbook with roots in Iowa–they offer more betting action on Pro Bull Riding than I’ve seen at any sportsbook. For example, they offered round by round wagering on the recently completed PBR Dakota Community Bank & Trust Invitational in Bismark, ND. I’d imagine they’ll be taking action on the forthcoming PBR Bullnanza in Guthrie, Oklahoma this weekend.
ELITE Sportsbook along with soon to launch theScore Bet will be mobile sportsbooks #10 and #11 in Colorado. There’s also the sportsbook app from the Sky Ute Casino Resort tribal property which operates under a compact with the state and is not directly licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming so in actuality there will be an even dozen mobile apps available once ELITE and theScore get up and running. This is why the sports betting scene in Colorado is so awesome–in addition to the number of ‘outs’ there’s the variety with sportsbooks from Europe, Nevada, Iowa, Australia and elsewhere entering the red hot market.
