The most destructive wildfire in the history of Colorado destroyed over 1,000 Boulder County homes and businesses last week, and one sportsbook in the state is stepping up in an effort to help. MaximBet, which went live in the state in September, announced late last week it was donating $10,000 to the Boulder County Community Wildfire Fund and would match any and all donations made by MaximBet … [Read more...]

In the second of three scheduled stakeholder discussions on the prospects of fixed-odds horse racing in Colorado, facilitated by the state’s Department of Revenue, the issue of how those bets would be handled and regulated – as sports wagers, as horse wagers, or in a hybrid system – was a main topic of discussion. Most involved in Wednesday’s discussion, which was conducted via video … [Read more...]

April 30 marked the official end of the first year of live sports betting in Colorado … but seven weeks later, problem gambling programs are still waiting for money to flow from the Department of Revenue into their accounts. And advocates say that the $130,000 earmarked for problem gambling initiatives in Colorado isn’t nearly enough. Given Colorado’s population of about 5.7 million, that … [Read more...]

Changes to Colorado’s COVID-19 dial framework are giving Blackhawk casinos a double dose of good luck — allowing them to increase capacity just in time for one of the biggest sports betting days of the year. Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced changes to the metrics that determine dial level this week. Under the new guidelines, Gilpin … [Read more...]

Cripple Creek’s casinos are staying open on a week-by-week basis as talks with the state continue. Cripple Creek City Administrator Ray White reported at last week’s city council meeting that Teller County representatives met with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to keep casinos open for another week with the state at COVID-19 Level Orange. They’ll keep meeting to keep … [Read more...]

When Colorado legalized sports wagering back in 2019, bettors across the state jumped for joy. Economists put forth a wealth of predictions regarding revenue possibilities, and many officials stood hopeful for a steady stream of earnings. So, what’s the bottom line? As the first legal year of sports betting comes to a close in the Centennial State, here’s what we know about the tax proceeds and … [Read more...]

One question has loomed over this state since May. Why can’t Colorado quit Russian table tennis? In the year of 2020, it’s the question of our time. At least when it comes to the Colorado sports betting market. It’s been obvious since sports betting launched that this state has an affinity for the sport made famous by Forrest Gump. The fact Colorado is unique and weird is not entirely … [Read more...]

In addition to the Elks and the casino, Pam Brady, a Woodland Park resident, collects toys and blankets throughout the year to supplement the toy collections, Brazill said. While the Elks’ project is part of tradition in southern Teller County, in the year of COVID, the coordinator has had to adjust. “This year has been the most challenging as we try to work within guidelines, different … [Read more...]

The continued phased-in reopening of the BlueWater Resort & Casino continued this past week with a limited reopening of the resort’s hotel. This is the latest phase in the reopening that began in Sept. 14 after the BlueWater was closed for almost six months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The gaming floor was the first thing to reopen. This was followed by the BlueWater Cinemas reopening … [Read more...]

Las Vegas-style bets are coming to Colorado. The City of Black Hawk announced Tuesday city council voted to approve unlimited single-bet wagers in addition to allowing casinos to offer new games. These new rules go into effect May 1, 2021, and are part of the voter-approved Amendment 77 that authorized local control of gaming in Colorado. … [Read more...]

Denver-based sportsbook operator PointsBet has officially launched its mobile app and digital sports-betting offering in Colorado, the company announced Wednesday. PointsBet has partnered with Double Eagle Hotel & Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado, for its launch in the state. The company is refurbishing the casino's existing poker bar space to create a "digital sportsbook" that will offer … [Read more...]

PointsBet is now live in the Colorado sports betting market, a state where the brand made a big impact before taking a legal bet. The mobile app is live through an agreement with Double Eagle in Cripple Creek. A retail sportsbook will open at the casino at a later date. The Australian-born sportsbook made a splash in the state two months ago. PointsBet became the first US sportsbook to sign … [Read more...]

Blackjack, poker are among table games being shut down at casinos in Black Hawk and Central City. Gilpin County recently announced it will move to Level Yellow: Concern on the COVID-19 color dial on Friday. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sent a letter to Gilpin County on Tuesday stating while incidence rates are “aligned” with Level Orange, they will gradually … [Read more...]

Throughout my eight years as a state senator, I have held strongly to my conviction that government should support local economic development, not stand in its way. That is one reason I’m supporting Amendment 77. Amendment 77 gives residents of Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek the right to decide what is in the best interests of their economic future. Specifically, the amendment gives … [Read more...]

The coronavirus cast its shadow on Monarch Casino Resort’s third-quarter earnings, sending revenue down as health protocols limited casino capacity in Black Hawk, Colorado. But that revenue and per-share earnings smashed Wall Street forecasts and Reno-based Monarch posted record adjusted cash flow. In a statement Thursday, Monarch said its net income was $10.7 million, or 57 cents per share, … [Read more...]

Casinos are wagering an amendment to the state’s constitution will help lure the high rollers that typically leave Colorado to gamble. Coloradans are voting this election on Amendment 77, which would let residents of the state’s gambling towns decide whether to lift a statewide cap on how much a person can risk on a single bet. The measure also includes addig new games. Supporters of the … [Read more...]

Century Casinos has finalized an agreement with Tipico to become the company's third internet sports betting partner in Colorado. Through a subsidiary, Central has already obtained its master license with the state of Colorado. After Tipico completes the necessary application and approval process, it will operate an internet and mobile sports betting app under the Tipico brand. "Century Casinos … [Read more...]

It’s unknown how much new revenue would be generated from a constitutional amendment on this fall’s ballot that would give the areas of the state that are allowed to have casinos the authority to set bet limits and decide what types of games they can offer. But because Amendment 77 impacts a ballot measure approved by voters more than a decade ago that expanded bet limits and added specific … [Read more...]

DraftKings, which already has a presence in Colorado through its mobile sports wagering app, will open a retail sportsbook Friday at the Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk. The casino, which is owned by Rhode Island-based Twin River Worldwide Holdings, will have 40 televisions, 22 seats, large video boards dedicated to displaying odds, several self-service betting kiosks, and a full-service … [Read more...]

Citing evidence of the reduction of the number of COVID-19 cases in Teller County, the commissioners requested a variance this month to allow the return of table games in Cripple Creek casinos. If approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the restrictions proposed by the commissioners would allow three players at the blackjack table and four for roulette. If the … [Read more...]

Sin may keep a person out of heaven, but it will provide big tax revenues for the State of Colorado. The odds are that this Amendment 77 will be passed by voters. What I know about gambling could fit into a pair of hollow dice, but it seems that there is always an effort to make the approval of our sins more palatable by tying it to the funding of some worthwhile cause such as, in this case, the … [Read more...]

Like many corners of Colorado that had high hopes for 2020, the state’s gambling capital of Gilpin County has absorbed some serious body blows in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel coronavirus shut down casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and across the state from March 17 through mid-June. Now Gilpin leaders are trying to reckon with a more than $4.5 million hole in the county’s … [Read more...]

After years of talking and doing studies about a critical local issue, the workforce housing chants are getting louder and may finally result in a new tangible, real-life project in Cripple Creek. Last week, the Cripple Creek City Council, with virtually no objections, granted a special exception green light for the Wildwood casino and owner Joe Canfora for a phased plan to convert part of the … [Read more...]

Canadian sports and gaming company theScore announced Wednesday that theScore Bet has launched its popular mobile app and mobile sportsbook in Colorado as it rolls out its multi-state initiative beyond New Jersey, where it launched last year. The Score gained market access in Colorado through a previously announced agreement with Gilpin Casino, a subsidiary of U.S. gaming operator Jacobs … [Read more...]

Teller County is on the right track in its battle against the coronavirus activity and won’t face any more COVID-19 mandated restrictions by the state. More importantly, local businesses and casino operators don’t have to worry about any pending shutdowns or temporary closures. In fact, the county’s designation as a problem area may get changed to moderate, which marks a big improvement from … [Read more...]

Less than three weeks before the scheduled start of the 2020-21 college football season, the Colorado sports betting market is still reeling from a major setback on Tuesday when two Power 5 conferences postponed the fall sports schedule for the remainder of the calendar year. The delay of the Pac-12 football season, combined with the postponement of the Mountain West fall football season a day … [Read more...]

Colorado-based Century Casinos said Wednesday it was selling Century Casino Calgary to 2267166 Alberta for $7.5 million (10 million in Canadian dollars), plus a three-year quarterly earn-out as specified in the agreement. In a statement, Century said the $7.5 million was non-refundable. Century, through a subsidiary, will continue to operate the sports bar, bowling, and entertainment at the … [Read more...]

Sports betting became legal in Colorado on May 1, with one minor issue: There were no sports, at least none familiar to most Americans. The major sports leagues had shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Colorado casinos, by that point, were also closed. Still, the early data showed that Colorado bettors found plenty of ways to stay busy online: Table tennis matches — mostly held in … [Read more...]

DENVER — Sports betting became legal in Colorado on May 1, with one minor issue: There were no sports, at least none familiar to most Americans. The major sports leagues had shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Colorado casinos, by that point, were also closed. Still, the early data showed that Colorado bettors found plenty of ways to stay busy online: Table tennis matches — mostly held … [Read more...]

Rod Smith, the Super Bowl-winning former wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, is getting in on the sports betting game: He's now chief brand ambassador with Denver Sports Betting, a local sports betting analysis website. "Everybody thinks they know every game, who's going to win, who's going to score how many points. Now you can put your money where your mouth is," says Smith, who has called … [Read more...]

Colorado could see more types of casino games and higher bet limits. Supporters of a measure that would allow gaming towns to raise the stakes and legalize new games turned in signatures this week. Right now, if casinos in Colorado want to raise the limit on how much people can bet, the whole state has to approve it. Under the ballot measure, only Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek … [Read more...]

Local governments all across the country are being hit hard by the pandemic. Between stay at home orders and other restrictions since March, it's resulted in a loss of revenue across the board. For a casino town like Cripple Creek in Teller County, the three-month-long closure of its casinos is just one part of the equation when it comes to losing money. "The town was virtually a ghost town … [Read more...]

More sportsbooks, a bigger handle, and a continued affinity for table tennis marked the Colorado sports betting revenue report for the month of June released Tuesday by the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Gaming Division. The state agency reported a handle of slightly more than $38.1 million for June, an increase of 49% compared to its initial report for May. In contrast to the initial month … [Read more...]

After weeks of speculation, sports betting has arrived in Cripple Creek, just in time for the opening pitch for Major League Baseball on Thursday (July 23). Last week, the town’s first official in-person wagers on professional sports contests occurred at the new retail sportsbook at Wildwood Casino, with a revamped Woody’s Sports Bar and Grill. “I hope to see the first bet made today,” said … [Read more...]

William Hill US will launch its first sports betting operation in Colorado Friday with six kiosks in Isle Casino Hotel and Lady Luck Casino in Black Hawk. The locations mark the first deal between William Hill and the newly launched Caesars Entertainment, which was created through the $17.3 billion merger between Eldorado Resorts and Caesars. Eldorado as the acquiring company and took on the … [Read more...]

The gold rush may have ended long ago in the city of Black Hawk, but the team at the Monarch Casino hopes it's coming back. "I would say the gold rush is still alive," said Erica Ferris, the director marketing at the Monarch Casino. Most towns have seen a bust since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Businesses are laying off thousands of people, and Colorado's unemployment rate was … [Read more...]

Cripple Creek city leaders put their St. Nick holiday hat on for the third time in the last few months and granted the gaming industry another big waiver on their betting device fees. But this time, Creek gaming establishments only got a break for the first two weeks of June, marking another period in which no gambling action occurred in Cripple Creek due to the mandated casino closures ordered … [Read more...]

Colorado’s sports betting industry kicked off May 1 during a global pandemic and in the absence of most major league sports. But that didn’t stop fans from placing bets — particularly on ping pong. According to the Division of Gaming, Coloradans wagered more than $25.6 million on various competitive events during the first month of legalized betting. Table tennis was the most popular sport … [Read more...]

Colorado has become something of a test market for legal sports betting. It is the first U.S. jurisdiction in which a tribal property launched an online sportsbook that’s available statewide; where Circa expanded outside of Nevada; where the SuperBook will expand out of Nevada; where the U.K.-based Smarkets made its American debut; and where the Australia-based PointsBet has established its U.S. … [Read more...]

Betsson, a Sweden-based operator, has reached a deal with Dostal Alley Casino to enter the United States through the Colorado sports betting market. It plans to launch its sportsbook in early 2021 after it receives regulatory approval. Its initial agreement with Dostal Alley will last for 10 years. Betsson CEO and president Pontus Lindwall said in a release the company has … [Read more...]

Circa Sports will launch its sports betting mobile application Wednesday in partnership with Century Casinos, advertising that it will take bigger bets than many other online wagering providers.Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens said the company will take $5,000 to $10,000 bets on almost any sport allowed for betting in Colorado and $100,000 bets are "pretty frequent." He said bet limits will … [Read more...]

When Gilpin County provided a green light to casinos last week for reopening following an unprecedented three-month shutdown, Bryan Bennett had an inclination that Betfred USA would be among the first operators in Colorado to accept wagers at a retail betting window. Bennett, who serves as the chief operating officer at Betfred USA, surprised even himself. One week after launching a sportsbook … [Read more...]

When sports return to America, the Denver Broncos have their wingman. On Monday, the Broncos announced a multi-year agreement with sports betting website FanDuel to become their "official team sportsbook". The move makes the Broncos the first NFL team to announce such a partnership with a daily fantasy website in league history. "You look at the Broncos and their affinity across the … [Read more...]

The Denver Broncos are the first NFL team to sell an official sportsbook sponsorship. The Broncos and FanDuel announced Monday that the two had struck a deal that would make FanDuel an official sports betting partner of the team. Last season, the NFL only allowed teams to sign deals with casinos. And for casinos that had sportsbooks, they were not part of the deal. Then in February, the … [Read more...]

Forgetting things? You’re in luck. There’s never been a better time for a sports fan to have a terrible memory. Can’t remember the Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady matchups at Mile High? No worries. Flip on NFL Network, and the 2013 and 2015 AFC championship games are probably replaying at some point. Don't recall how the Nuggets upset the Sonics way back in Game 5? Fire up Altitude TV. See if … [Read more...]

Casinos sat dormant for nearly three months but in less than a week, the flashing lights and sounds of slot machines will come alive. The state has approved the reopening of casinos in Gilpin and Teller counties, with a list of new guidelines. Since casinos closed their doors, the vibrancy and tourism in Black Hawk and Central City grew eerie and the towns look desolate. COVID-19 marked a … [Read more...]

Southern Teller, including the gaming community of Cripple Creek, is slowly awakening from a several- month hibernation, resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. But the big lingering question: When will the casinos reopen? Early next week, according to local and state officials, after COVID-19 cautionary staff training is completed and other details are worked out. This follows the approval of … [Read more...]

Teller County can reopen casinos, bars and places of worship, among other venues, as well as host public gatherings, thanks to a state variance received Sunday. The waiver also allows for the reopening of gyms and movie theaters. The reopening of casinos involves only the operation of slot machines; the reopening of game tables will be considered again in three weeks, said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, … [Read more...]

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has approved Gilpin County’s request for a variance that will allow casinos to reopen. The variance approves slot machines to be operational. “An evaluation of the appropriateness to open table games will happen in three weeks,” a spokesperson from Gilpin County said. The opening date for casinos will be June 17. This will give … [Read more...]

A lack of major sports didn’t dampen the pent-up demand for Colorado sports betting in its launch month. Sports bettors wagered $25.5 million in Colorado in May after the industry officially launched May 1. That handle was spread across six operators, including some of the biggest names in sports betting: BetMGM BetMonarch BetRivers DraftKings Sportsbook FanDuel Sportsbook … [Read more...]

Communities that are home to Colorado’s casinos are forging ahead with plans to reopen, even as they struggle to understand exactly how they get approval to do so. Government and business leaders in Gilpin County have submitted a 50-page request for a variance from the state’s “safer-at-home” restrictions so the pinging of slot machines can rev up again. Teller County will likely resubmit its … [Read more...]

With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down casinos across the U.S., Saratoga Harness Racing has terminated its previously announced agreement with American Gaming Group to purchase Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Both parties deemed the termination necessary because of the economic impacts of the health crisis. "At this time, we believe it's in the best interest of both companies, … [Read more...]

The world’s largest online sportsbook operator, bet365, is heading to the Colorado sports betting market. The firm today announced a licensing and revenue share agreement with Colorado property Century Casinos. Following the agreement, bet365 said it would complete the necessary approval process to obtain a CO sports betting license. The company will launch an online betting site and app … [Read more...]

The proposition was supposed to be simple: legalize and tax sports betting, fund the state water plan and solve a critical growth problem for Colorado. In the dealer's choice of taxing and spending, everybody wins. There are, however, no sure bets in politics and policy. "The playbook has kind of gone out the window," said Dan Hartman, director of Colorado’s Division of Gaming. He said … [Read more...]

Friday is the day Colorado regulators and operators have had circled in red on their calendar since November 2019  when voters legalized sports betting in Colorado via referendum. The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) will have a final pre-launch day meeting Thursday, and Friday, four operators say they will go live with their mobile platforms. According to Colorado law, … [Read more...]

The City of Black Hawk is helping 15 casinos that have been shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic. The city has waived another $700,000 in fees for the month of April. The city did the same thing in March. The city is also allowing casinos to defer rent payments to a later date. The gaming industry has been excluded from loans provided by the government to help businesses stay alive … [Read more...]

Colorado sports betting is pushing ahead with a May 1 launch date despite the absence of actual sports. It’s at odds with the choice made over in Washington, D.C., where the Lottery will wait until sports return to launch its platform. Doing the opposite of D.C. is probably the smart move when it comes to sports betting, though clearly that wasn’t Colorado’s rationale. Dan Hartman, director … [Read more...]

When the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved its catalog of sports wagers last week, it did so with a few sports that don’t appear to be available to wager on anywhere else in the U.S.: pesapallo and bandy. If those words don’t roll off your tongue when you’re thinking of sports, it’s no surprise — they find their roots in Scandinavia. Pesapallo is a Finnish version of baseball … [Read more...]

When the first legal sports bet is placed in Colorado, there will be no shortage of bet types to choose from. Colorado regulators earlier this month unveiled their “sports betting catalogue,” which lists 48 specific sports or events that can be wagered on and includes more than 1,000 specific types of bets. An amended version of the catalog was approved by the Limited Gaming Control Commission … [Read more...]

While Major League Baseball explores the possibility of having all 30 teams play only in Phoenix with no fans and the NBA considers how to finish its season in a bubble, it’s pretty clear that there will be no live professional sports happening in the United States by May 1. COVID-19 shut down all major professional American sports on March 12. But DraftKings and FanDuel, which have both gained … [Read more...]

Cripple Creek is a gambling town and the city government is upping the stakes by betting big on the future of the gaming industry. Last week, in a special meeting, attended by the maximum people permitted, the elected leaders opted to waive the device fees for the local casinos for the month of April, resulting from the mandatory closures enacted through the coronavirus crisis. They unanimously … [Read more...]

Gaming regulators approved 32 more licenses related to Colorado sports betting, including six online operators and eight casinos. There were 64 casino, sportsbook or online sportsbook applications submitted as of April 1. That includes all of the state’s 33 commercial casinos, 12 retail sportsbook operators and 19 online sportsbooks. The Limited Gaming Control Commission did not touch on … [Read more...]

The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) approved 18 sports betting licenses Thursday signaling its intent to launch legalized sports gambling this year despite the immense challenges presented by the spread of COVID-19. Following Thursday’s licensing actions, the LGCC has issued nearly three dozen sports betting licenses since the process began in February. The new law sets a May … [Read more...]