Bet365 approved to run Colorado online sportsbook with Century Casino; 2nd US state

bet365 has been approved to operate an online sportsbook in the state of Colorado. The British online gaming operator received the permit at a Thursday meeting of the state’s Limited Gaming Control Commission.

While bet365 has been initially granted a “temporary” license in the state, a standard procedure for new operators in Colorado, the company can be granted a fully operating license after appropriate background investigation by the state regulator.

The online sportsbook license was approved unanimously by the five commissioners of the Limited Gaming Control Commission. bet365 has not yet indicated a date on which it plans to launch its online sportsbook in the state.

The British online gaming operator teamed up with casino partner Century Casino for its Colorado license. Century Casino, which has locations in Cripple Creek and Central City, is also a partner of Tipico Sportsbook and Circa Sportsbook.

Following bet365’s approval, Colorado now has 26 licensed online sportsbook operators and 17 retail operators. It has also now become the second US state to grant the British business operating rights, following a license secured for the New Jersey market.

Earlier this year, the operator also applied for a mobile sports betting license in New York. However, bet365 was not among the nine operators selected to launch in 2022 by the NYS Gaming Commission.

During the Thursday meeting, commissioners for the Limited Gaming Control Commission also unanimously approved retail and master license renewals for four Black Hawk casinos: Ameristar Casino Black Hawk, Bally’s Black Hawk North, Bally’s Black Hawk East, and Bally’s Black Hawk West.

Moreover, the regulator also approved 19 sports betting vendor licenses, granted to entities that provide services or act on behalf of sports betting operators. Among the parties licensed are the PGA Tour, Elias Digital Solutions, Don Best Sports, and Betclever.

bet365’s deal with Century Casino to enter Colorado was first unveiled earlier this year, in September. The agreement is for 10 years, and includes a minimum annual revenue guarantee and a percentage share of net gaming revenue to be paid to the casino.

bet365 was founded in 2000 and launched its sports betting operations in Europe in 2001. While it has been in the United States market for a couple of years now, its operations have yet to reach the success they show in other countries. The operator makes nearly $4 billion annually, and is operational in a number of legal markets around the world.