The only legal Off Track Betting operation in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon, is one of ten such operations in the state.
It has a horse and dog race betting license and the upcoming running of the Belmont Stakes will probably be one of its busiest days of the year.
Owner Kyle Scott would like to see his customers betting on football, baseball, golf and other sports. “Betting is a cool little part of our business,” he said. “Our intention is to grow it and make it better.”
Now that the Supreme Court has lifted the ban on sports betting, he’s hoping the legislature opens this door for him. He told the Coloradoan, “We’d be ready for it. We have the betting knowledge and security measures already in place. We would make it a large part of Sundance.”
He may have a wait. No one in the legislature has proposed any sports betting bills. What’s more, it’s likely that an amendment to the state constitution would also be required. So, the earliest anything could happen is next year.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t any interest in doing so, however. According to Flavio Quintana, the director of the Colorado Gaming Division, the interest is very high. He describes is as “immense.” “But it would be a stretch to think it will be offered up anytime soon,” he told the paper.
Governor John Hickenlooper has opined, “it’s just a matter of time,” but so far hasn’t taken any action on his own. Research suggests that sports betting could add as much as $259 million to the state’s budget.
However, the state appears to be waiting to see what other states do first. Quintana says one of the biggest challenges is developing the infrastructure for regulating the industry—and especially to ensure consumer protection.
Currently the only gambling allowed in the state is in three cities, Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek, and two tribal casinos operated by the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian tribes.
