Legal wagering launched in Colorado on May 1, with four operators going live, while a further tranche of licenses were handed out at yesterday’s Limited Gaming Control Commission meeting.
By the end of the day, DraftKings – in partnership with Twin River’s Golden Mardi Gras Casino – will roll out a mobile app and website. FanDuel, meanwhile, launched a website in partnership with Golden Gates Casino, another Twin River property.
Roar Digital, the joint venture between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings, rolled out a betMGM branded site under the master license awarded to Triple Crown Casinos’ Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino.
However Rush Street Interactive was first to market, rolling out its Kambi-powered BetRivers site, in partnership with another Triple Crown venue, J.P. McGill’s Hotel and Casino.
The site went live at 10am MT today (1 May). While the sporting calendar has been significantly reduced by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, it will offer betting on sports from around the world including Korean baseball, Taiwanese basketball, Russian ice hockey and English darts.
Customers can also =bet on Ukrainian and Russian table tennis, with Rush Street said had proved to be the most popular sport for customers in other sportsbook markets. Futures bets will also be available for all major sports, with the operator planning to resume offering odds on all sports as and when they resume.
It also offers betting on esports events such as eNascar, League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
“We are thrilled to debut our BetRivers.com brand in Colorado and offer sports bettors our unique and compelling player experience that our customers in other states already enjoy,” Rush Street Interactive president Richard Schwartz said.
“We know sports bettors throughout the state of Colorado are really going to appreciate the ease and convenience of being able to place wagers online from the comfort of their homes. We are eager for Colorado players to give our BetRivers.com web/mobile site a try to see why so many players in other states have chosen to bet with our sportsbook.”
JP McGill’s chief executive Larry Hill added that Rush Street had built “an outstanding reputation” with its sportsbook in other states, which influenced the decision to choose them as a partner.
“That success and expertise is critical and when you combine that with their exceptional customer service and commitment to player integrity and transparency, it was the smart decision to partner with them in launching BetRivers.com in Colorado.”
The launch comes after the state’s Limited Gaming Control Commission handed out yet more licenses after its meeting yesterday (30 April).
This saw the Sasquatch Casino awarded a master sports betting license, as well as a distributor license for slot machines. The Wild Card Saloon, another Black Hawk property, also secured a master sports betting license.
Carousel Group, an igaming business established in 2017 that operates the Sportsbetting.com and Racebetting.com brands, was approved for a temporary internet sports betting license.
Swish Analytics, meanwhile, was handed a vendor major license, while vendor minor licenses were handed out to 26 service providers, including high-profile affiliates Better Collective and Gambling.com Group.
“As more states move to legalize sports betting, we will be there in each state to ensure bettors are aware of the differences between locally regulated and offshore options,” Gambling.com Group chief executive Charles Gillespie said.
“Whether you’re a Broncos, Rockies, Avalanche or Nuggets fan, our team of journalists, analysts and handicappers will give Colorado sports fans the best chance to beat the sportsbooks in what will surely be one of the most exciting sports betting markets in America.”
Data solutions provider Continent 8, payment processor PayPal and the Sports Wagering Integrity Monitoring Association were also approved for vendor minor licenses.
Colorado legalized sports betting through a statewide referendum, held in November 2019. This followed the passage of regulations through the state legislature in May that year.