As reported several days ago, gaming regulators for the state of Colorado have just approved thirty-two more licenses for the state’s thriving sports betting industry. This time around, the sports betting approvals were granted to six online sports betting operators as well as eight casinos operational in the state. As of the 1st of April, sixty-four sports betting licensing applications were submitted to Colorado gaming regulators.
Online gambling and betting operators alongside commercial casinos and retails bookies are all interested in being granted such licensing. So far, sports betting activities in the state of Colorado should start on the 1st of May. Nonetheless, this may be postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the state’s Limited Gaming Control Commission has yet to provide more details regarding the date when sports betting is supposed to begin. So As of the 6th of April, no changes have been made.
According to the Limited Gaming Control Commission’s officials, the commission’s authorities will meet again on the 16th of April and this time around they will discuss the date set. This meeting will be the last time that the Limited Gaming Control Commission’s officials meet before the 1st of May.
Discussion of the Sports Betting Launch
As revealed recently by the Division of Gaming’s Director Dan Hartman, discussions related to the sports betting launch which is currently scheduled for the 1st of May will take place on the following Limited Gaming Control Commission’s meeting set for the 16th of April. When it comes to the most recent sports betting approvals granted by gaming regulators and authorities for the state of Colorado, some big brands and big casino operators were given online sports betting licenses.
Some of these brands granted temporary licenses include Roar Digital, Rush Street Interactive, William Hill and Penn Sports Interactive. According to the Roar Digital officials, the gambling operator will have their iconic BetMGM gambling app all set to go live in correspondence to the Colorado regulator’s proposed timeline. The company’s officials also revealed that Roar Digital was also granted temporarily licensing related to land-based sports betting. At the same time, William Hill was granted sports betting licenses for Isle of Capri and Lady Luck casinos.
In the case of the sports betting launch date not being moves, the only left option would be online and mobile services due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has caused the vast majority of USA land-based casinos to shut down their doors. The federal government recommends social distancing to all residents of the states while the facilities affected will remain closed at least until the 30th of April when a reevaluation of the situation will take place. Naturally, if casino facilities are not allowed to reopen by the sports betting launch date, then mobile and online gaming services would be the only sports betting format available to residents of Colorado.
Sports Betting and Gambling in Colorado
When it comes to gambling laws in the state of Colorado, there are no online poker or online casino gambling sites operational here. The last time the state’s lawmakers tried to get such a gambling bill passed was back in 2013, but the effort was short-lived and resulted in no changes. Today, Colorado offers daily fantasy sports and all operations are governed by the state’s Division of Gaming which also crafts a set of regulations and rules for the state’s sports betting industry which is currently thriving. When it comes to retail sports betting, it is limited to licensed and regulated sportsbooks within the state’s licensed casinos located in the cities of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk, etc.
