Amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has forced the closure of the state’s casinos, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday as usual.
In adherence to the new social distancing norms, the CLGCC convened through a live broadcast via a virtual meeting platform or conference call, ensuring that it was accessible to the general public.
Despite the 2-hour, 15-minute duration of the meeting, a significant number of 16 learn and modest sports betting licenses were granted to various entities including casino operators, casinos, advertising firms, and payment processing companies. Both the CLGCC and the state’s Division of Gaming conveyed their assurance that the May 1 deadline for in-state sports wagering will be met, even after the meeting.
Sportsbooks Fox Bet, FanDuel, and PointsBet receive approval
On Thursday, the list of approved sports-betting certificates featured three renowned sporting book companies: Fox Bet, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
Certificates for online sports betting were applied for and granted to only PointsBet and Fox Bet, with PointsBet opening its second US office in Denver and Fox Bet being operated by The Stars Group Interactive US Services. These certificates will remain valid until 2022.
Fox Bet, FanDuel, and PointsBet have been granted approval to join the growing list of approved and licensed operators in the Centennial State, alongside DraftKings, theScore Bet, and Betfred.
Six games, approved minor-vendor licenses
On Thursday, the king permissions were granted to six Colorado casinos, as well as the three primary national sportsbooks. The recipients of these permissions were:
- Mardi Gras Golden
- Golden Gates
- Golden Gulch
- Casino Bronco Billy and
- Christmas Casino and Bronco Billy’s Inn
- Billy’s Casino
The first three properties in Black Hawk are owned by Twin Rivers Worldwide Holdings, while the last three properties in Cripple Creek belong to Full House Resorts. These authorized licenses will continue to be valid until 2022.
Furthermore, OBeP Payments, LLC PopOdds Inc. and Fan Leads INC. received approval for first-vendor small certificates on Thursday. Additionally, BetWorks (US), Stadium Technology Group LLC, and Sports Information Systems Limited LLC had their temporary contractor key license applications approved.
State is also planning to launch activities betting on May 1.
Colorado has not been exempt from the impact of the coronavirus, leading Governor Jared Polis to take action by mandating the closure of various establishments and businesses, including state-licensed casinos. This closure was implemented on March 17 and will remain in effect for a minimum of 30 days.
Despite continuing to conduct business, the Colorado Division of Gaming offices will remain closed to the public until April 18.
«At the meeting on Thursday, Kristen Blessing, the couch of the CLGCC, emphasized that these times are truly unprecedented. Despite the devastating impact on businesses and casinos, we must all remain resilient and persevere.»
Chairman Dan Hartman of the Colorado Division of Gaming remains optimistic about the state’s plan to launch sports-betting on May 1. He expressed confidence in the state, game division, and the games progressing as planned. However, Hartman mentioned that the topic will be revisited in April, possibly during the CLGCC & meeting on April 16.
During the public forum section of Thursday’s meeting, Hartman acknowledged that we have consistently failed to meet the designated start time. However, he assured everyone that we are actively making progress in obtaining the necessary licenses and taking all necessary measures to ensure that we can proceed by May 1. Additional discussions will be held in April to assess the evolving situation surrounding the COVID crisis and evaluate the state of the casino industry at that point.
Afterwards, a representative from the Colorado Division of Gaming backed up Hartman & Company’s statement that meeting the May 1 deadline is still possible.
According to a spokesperson who responded via email after Thursday’s meeting, The Division of Gaming is confident that the May 1 deadline for adopting rules, approving licenses, and implementing procedures for sports betting in Colorado will be met. However, the spokesperson also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the current situation, including the duration of closures and the possibility of additional steps and procedures being implemented.
In an attempt to gain clarity on the current situation, the Division of Gaming and the Limited Gaming Control Commission plan to discuss these matters and other related issues in April. Their aim is to develop a comprehensive understanding of our current position and the ongoing developments.
At that juncture, pivotal decisions will be taken regarding the approach we adopt to reach Colorado’s sports betting date of May 1.
