Seven Colorado casinos have reportedly filed applications to get master licenses for sports betting. These licenses will give each an opportunity to operate sportsbooks that are not only located in casinos but also available online and for mobile users.
The Denver Post published a report discussing the state of affairs on sports betting. Voters approved the legislation in November.
According to the report, the legislation states official sports betting procedures could begin on May 1, and casinos were quick to apply for a license. To operate an on-site sportsbook or make deals with betting operators to create online and mobile offers, all casinos must have a master license.
The seven who expressed an interest: the Double Eagle Hotel and Casino, Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino, JP McGill’s Hotel and Casino, Saratoga Casino, Monarch Casino Resort Spa, The Brass Ass Casino, and Dostal Alley Casino.
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission will decide which casinos will receive the master license. Once granted, casinos will be able to offer wagering, even eSports. In exchange, the gambling halls pay 10 percent of their betting earnings to the state. The state hopes to earn approximately $29 million a year.
According to Buddy Schmalz, co-owner of Dostal Alley Casino in Central City, said casinos needed separate licenses for physical and online sportsbooks. Double Eagle already signed a deal with PointsBet USA, a company from Australia which would probably oversee both online and land-based sports betting.
