- German sportsbook giant Tipico has launched online and mobile betting in Colorado.
- Colorado is the second state for Tipico–they launched in New Jersey last year.
- Tipico recently signed a $100 million USD partnership deal with USA TODAY publisher Gannett.
German sports betting powerhouse Tipico is now live in Colorado with mobile and online betting. They gained licensing in Colorado in late May and wasted little time in getting their operations up and running in the state. Colorado is the second US state for Tipico following New Jersey–they entered the Garden State market in partnership with Ocean Resort and Casino in late 2020. The retail sportsbook at the Ocean Casino is operated by Caesars Entertainment owned William Hill.
Tipico announced their plans to enter Colorado in October, 2020 and are partnered with Century Casinos, more specifically with the Century Casinos property in Central City, Colorado. As of now, there’s no indication that a retail sportsbook at Century Casino & Hotel in Central City is forthcoming though you think they’d go with a few Tipico kiosks as there’s currently no sports betting option at the property. Century Casino’s Cripple Creek property also has no retail sports betting options. That property does have a mobile/online partnerships with Nevada based Circa Sportsbook. Century has previously agreed to a partnership with English sports betting company Bet365 though as of yet there’s been no indication that a launch is imminent.
Although the launch of the Tipcio mobile platform in Colorado was done in a low key fashion the principals for the sportsbook at Century Casinos weighed in at the time of the original partnership announcement. Adrian Vella, Managing Director, US Business, Tipico, praised partners Century Casinos and spoke of their excitement to enter 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.”
Here’s the press release blurb outlining Tipico’s corporate profile:
Tipico is a U.S. sportsbook originally founded in Europe in 2004. As the leading sports betting provider in Germany and one of the top sports betting companies worldwide, Tipico offers digital and mobile betting entertainment across 30 different sports and invests heavily in the development of technologies that make the sports betting experience better and safer, placing the highest value on player protection. Tipico Group Ltd. employs over 1,800 people worldwide and another 4,200 people working in the Tipico associated franchise network. Launched in the United States in 2020, Tipico is a fast-rising player in the space, with established U.S. operations and business headquarters in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In late July, Tipico announced a very intriguing and somewhat surprising partnership with US media company Gannett, best known as the publisher of the USA TODAY newspaper. Gannett has a number of other platforms as the press release announcing the partnership details:
Gannett Co., Inc today announced an exclusive agreement with Tipico USA Technology, Inc. (“Tipico”), a U.S.-based subsidiary of European based Tipico Group of Companies, the leading sports betting provider in Germany, utilizing their Tipico Sportsbook brand. This strategic alliance leverages the power and breadth of the USA TODAY NETWORK consisting of more than 250 daily local sites including The Indy Star and Detroit Free Press, and its USA TODAY Sports Media Group, including in-depth USA TODAY Sports coverage across the country with over 200 additional sports sites in the portfolio, such as For The Win, Golfweek, and MMA Junkie.
In addition to a number of promotional and marketing initiatives, Tipico becomes the exclusive odds provider for Gannett properties. The five year agreement should go a long way in establishing the Tipico brand in the United States.
With the recent addition of Barstool Sportsbook’s mobile app there are now 24 mobile sportsbook operators licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming with one more (888 Sports) listed as ‘coming soon’. Throw in the mobile sportsbook app offered by the Sky Ute Casino Resort tribal gaming property and that makes 25 separate sports betting options available throughout Colorado with more on the way.
