DraftKings will open its first retail sportsbook in Colorado Friday when the company launches a temporary facility at Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk.
The location will feature eight self-service betting kiosks, a cashier window, and several large flat screened TVs. Colorado will mark the seventh DraftKings-branded retail sportsbook, joining locations in Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York.
Mardi Gras is one of three Colorado casinos owned by Rhode Island-based Twin River Worldwide Holdings.
“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 Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz said in a statement.
DraftKings is also operating mobile sports wagering in Colorado, which became the 18th state with legal sports betting in the U.S. in May. DraftKings and Twin River hope to capitalize on the planned resumption of professional sports later this month.
Twin River paid $51 million in January for the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Mardi Gras casinos in Black Hawk, which serves the Denver market. Twin River also owns the Arapahoe Park racetrack near Denver.
Construction of the permanent sportsbook at Mardi Gras is underway. Once complete, DraftKings and Mardi Gras Casino will unveil the state-of-the-art sportsbook which will include a large feature bar, an expansive wall of TVs, and VIP Lounge area access.
“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,” Twin River CEO George Papanier said in a statement. “We are looking forward to introducing our guests to the fully renovated space in the coming months.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
