The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission has awarded a further eight licenses for legal sports betting in the state, including two permits for DraftKings.
Lady Luck Casino, Isle Casino Hotel and Ameristar Casino, all of which located in Black Hawk, Colorado, were issued with master sports betting licenses.
Crown Gaming, in partnership with DraftKings, secured temporary sports operator and internet operator licenses. Score Media Ventures, the holding company of Canadian media giant turned sportsbook operator theScore, picked up temporary internet operator and vendor major licenses.
In addition, the Commission awarded a vendor minor license to Global Payments Gaming Solutions.
Colorado vendor major licenses are valid for two years and apply to companies that contract with or on behalf of an establishment licensed to operate sports betting.
Such licenses cover companies that manage, administer or control wagers or with which bets are made on a sports betting gaming system, as well as those that maintain or operate software or other hardware related to sports betting.
Meanwhile, a vendor minor license is applicable to any person or business that is employed for, contracts with, or acts on behalf of a licensed establishment and is involved in the operation of sports betting. These licenses are also valid for two years.
Applicants for a master license must possess a facility deemed suitable for sports betting by the Commission and satisfy all health and safety requirements. Each licence allows for retail sports betting and one online betting skin, and cost an initial $10,000 application fee plus a $125,000 licence fee if approved.
Sports operator and internet operator licenses cover the different channels for sports wagering.
In January, DraftKings agreed a deal to launch a retail and digital sportsbook in Colorado via a partnership with Twin River Worldwide. FanDuel also has a deal in place with Twin River in the state.
Score Media and Gaming, a division of theScore, also in January struck a deal to launch mobile sports betting in Colorado in partnership with gaming operator Jacobs Entertainment Inc. (JEI).
Confirmation of the eight licenses comes after the Commission last month also awarded master licenses to Monarch Casino and Saratoga Casino in Black Hawk, Dostal Alley Casino in Central City and Double Eagle Hotel & Casino, J.P. McGill’s Hotel & Casino, Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino and Brass Ass Casino in Cripple Creek.
Colorado legalized sports betting statewide through referendum in November of last year, with the proposition receiving 51.1% of the vote.