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Indiana sports betting launched days before the start of the 2019 NFL season. That early-September date was only for in-person retail sportsbooks at Indiana casinos, racinos, and off-track betting parlors. The first Indiana sports betting apps began rolling out on October 3, with BetRivers and DraftKings Sportsbook christening the online market.

Saratoga Casino has partnered with Betfred USA for its sports betting platform. Betfred operates more than 1,500 locations in the UK. Betfred’s sportsbook was the very first retail window to open in Colorado, giving it a first-mover advantage. Not-Yet-Launched Sportsbooks Barstool Sports (Penn National Gaming) Retail Partner: Ameristar Casino. Ameristar Casino Sportsbook. Ameristar Casino Black Hawk launched a temporary sportsbook in July 2020, which was rebranded as Barstool Sportsbook later that year. Barstool Sportsbook at Ameristar features a 24′ by 12′ video wall, large odds board, and a generous helping of. Download Today and Get $10 mycash® and 5M credits at mychoice® casino. Get real-time updates on your account with the all-new mychoice® rewards loyalty app. Plus, get $10 mycash® and 5M credits to play for fun at mychoice casino when you download the app today! Barstool Sportsbook at Ameristar East Chicago is your ticket to real odds, point spreads and over/unders. There’s no better place to place your sports bets! Featuring 23 betting kiosks, great food and drink specials and a giant video wall for viewing the best games — our Barstool Sportsbook.

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Ameristar, a massive hotel and casino in Black Hawk, is about to make a big splash in the Colorado sports-betting pool: On November 5, the casino, which is operated by Penn National Gaming, will open the country's first retail sportsbook with the Barstool brand name.

'We know that sports betting is a younger demographic than our casino demographic. This really gives us an opportunity to introduce ourselves to new guests, new players,' says Sean Demeule, Ameristar general manager.

Penn owns 36 percent of Barstool Sports, an online sports and pop-culture company that has tens of millions of loyal followers — many of them young and male.

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Ameristar's Barstool Sportsbook will be something of a sports bettor's paradise. Next to where fans can place bets in person, there will be seating for 196 people (75 or so in the COVID era), in front of a 24-foot digital screen and 800-inch TVs. Guests will also have access to a bar, three blackjack tables and a roulette table, all in the same space.

'You can play blackjack and watch some sports. It'll be a cool place to be. The vibe of it will be laid-back and fun,' says Kevin Dawn, Ameristar's sportsbook manager. 'Our retail space will really set aside what we’re doing.'

It will also build anticipation for the Barstool Sportsbook app that will drop in Colorado sometime in 2021. The app first went live in Pennsylvania in September; Penn is now focusing on getting it ready for Michigan, whose sports-betting market will go live soon.

Right now, FanDuel and DraftKings are the two biggest mobile sports-betting apps in the United States. 'Our CEO has said our goal is to be top three in every state that we’re in,' explains Demeule.

'I definitely think that this is going to be one of the more highly anticipated launches that Colorado has,' says Ian St. Clair, lead writer at PlayColorado.com, who has covered the Broncos since 2004. 'It’s the brand.'

Founded by Massachusetts native Dave Portnoy in 2003, Barstool Sports tapped into a market of sports fans who were eager to consume sports journalism content that sounded like a conversation they might have in a bar with another fan. In the years since, the company has exploded in size, developing massive social media followings and some of the best podcast series in the sports world, and attracting investors. Penn bought its stake in Barstool Sports earlier this year.

Among Barstool's strengths are the hilarious, opinionated and at times controversial personalities producing content.

'Barstool is very interesting, because they were more like a media conglomerate than anything, and now they’re becoming a sportsbook. It’s a unique situation that we haven’t really seen before,' says Ben Cary, a local handicapper who runs CapWize, a sports-betting advice website

Just as Barstool has fans, though, it has plenty of haters. Critics accuse it of misogyny and casual racism.

Denver resident and sports-betting fanatic Ryan Hess says he won't be using the Barstool Sportsbook app when it drops 'In a nutshell, the founder of Barstool is a giant prick, and I feel like the company capitalizes on toxic masculinity,' he explains.

'There are people who support it and will defend it, and then there are the people who are a little more put off by Barstool,' notes St. Clair. 'I think that’s why there’s so much anticipation.'

Because Barstool 'already has brand awareness,' Cary suggests that marketing and customer-acquisition costs in Colorado will be significantly lower than those of other companies. 'They’re not really doing anything that aggressive, because I don’t think they really need to at this point,' he says.

Barstool personalities have already generated plenty of hype, which will bring a new market to Ameristar. 'Especially with Colorado, you’re trying to find people who may have not done it before,' says St. Clair.

When the NFL season kicked off in September, the amount of money bet on sports in Colorado jumped from $128.6 million in August to $207.6 million the next month. That figure barely topped Indiana's total take for September, and was only behind the totals of New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Eighteen states, as well as Washington, D.C., now allow some form of legal sports betting.

'When you look at the numbers, you can see what the market is capable of,' says St. Clair.

At the same time, the state generated just under $70,000 in tax revenue in September, which was much lower than the almost $190,000 collected in August. The reduction was attributed to the wave of free and low-risk promotional bets offered by apps to gain new users as football started up; going forward, tax revenues, which come directly from casino winnings, should rise.

Colorado's sports-betting market opened in May, after the state's voters approved Proposition DD in November 2019. Under the stipulations of Prop DD, a majority of the state tax revenue generated from sports betting goes to fund the Colorado Water Plan.

And now another big company is ready to take the plunge into the market.

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Retail sportsbooks at casinos and mobile betting apps are coming to Colorado courtesy of a law passed in 2019 and approved by voters via statewide referendum.

The first mobile sportsbooks in Colorado launched on May 1^stand the first retail sportsbooks followed shortly thereafter.

Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) meetings held in February, March and April of 2020 have issued sports betting licenses, approved regulations and created a list of sports events upon which operators may accept wagers.

Mobile Sportsbooks in Colorado

Each casino in Colorado may launch a single sports betting app capable of accepting wagers from across the state. Sports fans 21 or older and located within state lines may sign up for accounts, make deposits, place wagers and receive payouts from anywhere in Colorado.

Numerous mobile sportsbooks have launched in Colorado and more are set to follow suit pending final approval.

Mobile sportsbooks that are now live in Colorado:

• SuperBook
• SportsBetting.com
• Elite Sportsbook
• theScore Bet

Other operators that have received licenses:

• Betsson (partnered with Dostal Alley Casino for a 2021 launch)
• 888Sport (plans to launch in 2021 in partnership with Colorado Grande Casino)
• Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool Sportsbook)
• Wynn Sports Interactive (WynnBET)
• Digital Gaming Corp.
• ISI Race & Sports
• Bet.Works
• IGT
• Kambi

Additional operators that have either already confirmed plans to enter Colorado or that are likely to do so include:

• Unibet
• Caesars Interactive

Retail Colorado Sportsbooks

Black Hawk, Central Cityand Cripple Creek are home to 32 land-based casinos that hold a total of 33licenses (one property holds two licenses for a single location). As a result,Colorado can support up to 33 retail sportsbooks at full capacity under currentlaw.

To date, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission has issued sports betting licenses to 30 casinos. These licenses allow each casino to operate a retail sportsbook on site and to contract with third-party operators for mobile betting.

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Mardi Gras Casino opened in July 2020 and offers betting on a large catalog of professional and college sports.

Noteworthy features at the sportsbook include a massive video wall made of nearly three dozen 55-inch TVs, nearly a dozen more 65-inch TVS located throughout the venue, eight self-serve betting kiosks, and two off-track horse racing betting terminals.

DraftKings Colorado also offers statewide mobile betting through its partnership with Mardi Gras Casino and now operates as one of the state’s most popular online sportsbooks.

Address:

300 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Ameristar Casino Black Hawk launched a temporary sportsbook in July 2020, which was rebranded as Barstool Sportsbook later that year. Barstool Sportsbook at Ameristar features a 24′ by 12′ video wall, large odds board, and a generous helping of TVs located throughout the venue. Customers can also place bets at any of the sportsbook’s 13 self-serve kiosks 24 hours a day.

Address:

111 Richman Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Saratoga Casino Sportsbook in Black Hawk is managed by Betfred, which is a UK-based sports betting operator that has been in business since 1967. With no shortage of experience in sports betting, Betfred comes to Colorado with a full betting menu and plush sportsbook setting. Betfred also plans to launch mobile betting in Colorado at some point.

Address:

101 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Monarch Casino operates a retail sportsbook and mobile betting with technology provided by Stadium Technology Group. The retail sportsbook at Monarch Casino offers generous odds and a robust comp program for customers.

Address:

488 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Wildwood Casino operates a retail sportsbook at Woody’s Sports Bar & Grill plus mobile betting via BetWildwood.com in partnership with ISI Race & Sports.

Address:

119 Carbonate Street
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

The sportsbook at Johnny Nolon’s casino consists of self-serve betting kiosks developed by ISI Race & Sports out of Las Vegas.

Johnny Nolon’s Casino also has a deal in place with Carousel Gaming, an online gaming provider based out of Malta, to offer in-person and mobile betting under the SportsBetting.com banner.

Address:

301 E Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Colorado Grande operates self-serve betting kiosks right across the street from Johnny Nolon’s in a historic atmosphere that is emblematic of the Cripple Creek experience. In December 2020, Colorado Grande announced a partnership with international gaming provider 888Sport to offer statewide mobile betting.

Address:

300 E Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

The Red Dolly Casino offers in-person and mobile sports betting in partnership with Elite Sportsbook. Mobile sports betting commenced in August 2020 and Red Dolly Casino followed with the installation of self-serve betting kiosks throughout the property.

Address:

Ameristar Sportsbook Odds

530 Gregory St.
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Isle Casino Black Hawk is partnered with William Hill to operate a retail sportsbook and self-serve kiosks. Additionally, William Hill’s larger partnership with Isle Casino parent company Caesars Entertainment extends to statewide mobile betting.

Address:

401 Main St.
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Lady Luck Casino is also partnered with William Hill to offer a full retail sportsbook plus betting kiosks.

Address:

340 Main St.
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Sasquatch Casino offers in-person sports betting through self-serve kiosks designed by IGT. An IGT press release hinted at Sasquatch Casino offering mobile betting in partnership with IGT but did not provide an estimated start date.

125 Gregory St.
Black Hawk, CO 80422

The Wild Card Saloon features a small bank of betting kiosks by IGT and accompanied by a handful of TVs to watch the action live.

120 Main St.
Black Hawk, CO 80422

BetAmerica Sportsbook at Bronco Billy’s Casino opened in September 2020. The sportsbook features ten self-serve betting kiosks and two staffed windows.

Bronco Billy’s and BetAmerica plan to launch mobile betting sometime in the near future. Additionally, Bronco Billy’s parent company Full House Resorts has a separate partnership with Smarkets to offer online betting under the SBK Sportsbook brand.

233 E Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

McGill’s Casino, the Brass Ass Casino, and the Midnight Rose Casino share a sportsbook managed by BetRivers. Triple Crown Casinos, parent company of all three properties, also offers statewide mobile betting through BetRivers.com.

232 Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Other Casinos with Sports Betting Licenses

Black Hawk

• Golden Gates Casino
• Golden Gulch Casino
• Bill Durham Casino
• Gilpin Casino
• The Lodge Casino
• Z Casino

Central City

• Dostal Alley
• Century Casino & Hotel
• Easy Street Casino
• Grand Z Casino Hotel
• Johnny Z’s Casino
• The Famous Bonanza Casino

Cripple Creek

Ameristar East Chicago Sportsbook

• Double Eagle Casino
• Century Casino Cripple Creek

Additionally, Sky Ute Casino Resort in Igancio, Colorado is authorized to offer in-person and online betting.

Sports BettingPartnerships and Plans

Numerous casino operators have partnerships in place with name brand online gaming providers. Most of these partnerships include plans to launch online/mobile betting and a retail sportsbook at each casino.

Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino is partnered with Roar Digital, parent company of BetMGM, to offer mobile sports betting in Colorado. Midnight Rose has not detailed any plans it has for a retail sportsbook, but it does share BetRivers sportsbook with McGill’s Casino and the Brass Ass Casino.

Address:

256 Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Cripple Creek’s Double Eagle Hotel & Casino got an early start on sports betting by forming a partnership with PointsBet back in July 2019, well before voters had even approved the new law.

PointsBet Colorado is now live, but Double Eagle Casino does not yet offer a retail sportsbook. According to an older press release, PointsBet plans to open a “multi-faceted sports entertainment venue” consisting of an in-person sportsbook, multi-screen video wall, an odds wall, and on-site viewing parties.

PointsBet CO offers traditional sports wagers as well as PointsBetting wagers, which allow customers to bet a specific dollar amount on the margin by which each wager is won or lost.

For example, a PointsBetcustomer betting on a Broncos vs. Chiefs game could wager $10 per point and win$10 for every point by which the Broncos exceed the spread. If the Broncos werefavored by 1 point and actually win by 14 in this example, the bettor would win$130 (13 points over the spread at $10 per point).

Address:

442 E. Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio was the state’s first tribal casino to enter the sports betting business. Sky Ute Sportsbook launched in mid-2020 with mobile betting apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Sky Ute Casino is partnered with USBookmaking, a Las Vegas-based sports betting services provider led by longtime gaming executive Vic Salerno.

Address:

14324 Hwy 172 North
Ignacio, Colorado 81137

Century Casino Sportsbook (Cripple Creek and Central City)

Century Casinos Inc., which manages properties in Cripple Creek and Central City, is partnered with Circa Sports LLC to offer mobile sports betting across Colorado. The partnership between Century Casinos and Circa Sports is set for an initial 15-year period.

Century Casinos holdsthree CO casino licenses in total, which means it still has two slots open topartner with other mobile providers and the ability to launch up to threeretail sportsbooks.

Circa Sports is arelatively young sports betting operator that manages retail sportsbooks in LasVegas and a mobile betting app available across Nevada.

Ameristar Casino Sportsbook App Download

Cripple Creek Address:

200 E Bennett Ave
Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Central City Address:

102 Main St
Central City, CO 80427

The Lodge Casino and Gilpin Casino Sportsbooks

Jacobs Entertainment Inc. (JEI), parent company of The Lodge Casino and Gilpin Casino, has agreements in place with two sports betting operators.

In one agreement, JEI is teaming up with theScore Bet for mobile betting. A JEI press release indicates the agreement is only for mobile betting.

theScore Bet is operated by the same group behind the extremely popular sports news app of the same name. theScore entered the mobile betting business in 2019 after launching in New Jersey and offers users not just a familiar name, but also extensive cross-app integration. For example, theScore users can create betting slips from within the news app, place those wagers through the betting app and then monitor the statuses of those wagers in real time through both apps.

In a second agreement, JEI is partnered with the one and only SuperBook USA out of Las Vegas. SuperBook, which runs the Westgate SuperBook in Vegas, is arguably the most high-profile sportsbook in the world, often cited as the source for odds and home to a gargantuan variety of wagers.

A SuperBook press release states the agreement includes the construction of a retail sportsbook at The Lodge Casino and statewide mobile betting.

The Lodge Casino Address:

240 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

The Gilpin Casino Address:

111 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

Dostal Alley Casino in Central City is partnered with Swedish online gaming operator Betsson to offer mobile sports betting in Colorado. In a press release, Betsson announced it has reached a 10-year partnership agreement with Dostal Alley to mark its first entrance into the US market.

Address:

116 Main Street
Central City, CO 80427

CO Sports Betting Law Basics

The Colorado sports betting law has set the stage for a vibrant and competitive industry. Licensing fees of $2,000 for casinos wishing to offer sports betting and $1,200 for operators that plan to manage in-person or online betting on behalf of casinos and a 10% tax rate provide low barriers to entry.

Additionally, each Colorado casino may operate one independent retail sportsbook and one mobile betting app. That leaves space for up to 33 retail sportsbooks and 33 mobile sportsbooks. Given the number of available slots and low barriers to entry, it is likely most of the nation’s major online betting operators will make an appearance in Colorado sooner or later.

Licensed CO sportsbooks are authorized to accept wagers on a wide range of sports and leagues. Bets on pro sports, college sports and esports are all legal under Colorado law. The LGCC maintains a list of events on which wagers may be accepted, and the list is extensive with more than 40 sports on offer.

Readers may download this Excel file from the LGCC website to see a full list of sports, leagues and types of wagers that are authorized. For some context, the LGCC has approved more than 400 types of wagers for NFL betting alone. The options run the gamut from betting on the outcome of the game to whether or not a player other than a quarterback will attempt a pass.