The executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue told a conference of state lawmakers that Colorado is in a push to legalize online gaming. The state already offers retail, online and mobile sports betting.
Speaking at a Denver meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, Colorado Department of Revenue Executive Director Mark Ferrandino said “talks are underway about legalizing online casino gaming in the state.” That would require the legislature to pass an online casino bill and a referendum for voter approval. Once approved, more than 30 casinos in Colorado would be able to apply for licenses and partner with online operators.
Online operators and brick-and-mortar casinos are already forming partnerships in advance of legislative action. PlayStar Casino partnered with GF Gaming, which owns Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos in Central City, last October.
“PlayStar is a brand that’s committed to providing players in the U.S. with a genuinely unique online casino experience, and by teaming up with GF Gaming in Colorado, we’re already looking ahead to how we can expand these plans into the next market when regulation allows,” Adam Noble, PlayStar’s co-founder and chief business development officer, said in October, according to PlayColorado.com.
PlayStar is live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Colorado Legislature approved a sports betting bill in the spring of 2019 and voters made legal sports wagering available in November 2019. Colorado’s 20 sportsbooks have been among the most successful in the U.S.
Assuming successful legislation and voter approval, spring of 2025 would be the earliest Colorado online casinos would start to launch.
