Casino operator Twin River Worldwide Holdings has secured high-profile sports betting partners for its newly acquired casinos in Colorado as the state prepares to open up mobile and retail wagering.
Twin River announced Monday that it has teamed up with FanDuel and DraftKings in a deal that will expand both sports betting operators’ presence to a new market and will further cement their position as two of the leaders in the nascent US athletic gambling space.
Colorado will be the fifth state in the US where FanDuel will bring its sportsbook platform and the sixth state to offer DraftKings Sportsbook experience.
Twin River closed on Friday the previously announced acquisition of three casinos in the historic mining town of Black Hawk, Colorado. The company purchased Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Mardi Gras casinos from Affinity Gaming for an undisclosed amount.
Combined, the three properties feature 36,000 square feet of gaming space with nearly 20 table games, around 700 slot machines, and a poker parlor. With the addition of the three casinos, Twin River also obtained the right to three sports gaming licenses in Colorado.
Two of the licenses would go to the casino operator’s two new sports betting partners. Twin River said that it would retain the third license for its own use in future.
Aside from the three newly acquired casinos, Twin River also owns the Arapahoe Park racetrack in Aurora, Colorado with 13 authorized OTB licenses.
Joining the Sports Betting Frenzy
Colorado legalized sports betting last November when state residents approved Proposition DD, a piece of legislation that authorized wagering at retail facilities and through digital channels.
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission was tasked with processing sports betting license applications from interested operators and issuing permits. The regulator is set to initially grant 33 retail and online sports betting licenses. According to sources, the commission has received applications from more than 50 companies.
The gambling regulator is set to award the first batch of licenses by early February. However, the approved operators will not be able to start conducting wagering activities before May 1.
Twin River’s New Sports Betting Partnerships
Not much about Twin River’s deals with FanDuel and DraftKings has been disclosed to the public. Yet, it became known that both operators will provide mobile betting experience to Colorado sports fans. In addition, DraftKings will run a retail sportsbook inside Mardi Gras Casino.
Commenting on the two high-profile sports betting partnerships, Twin River President and CEO George Papanier said that “these newly-formed partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel allow us to provide an unmatched sports betting experience to Colorado.”
DraftKings Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz commented that “coast to coast, DraftKings is committed to providing states across the country with the ultimate experience in legal sports betting” and that they are looking forward to working with their latest casino partner.
FanDuel Group CEO Matt King added that “Twin River has been engaged in sports betting since the beginning in Rhode Island and Mississippi and they are an ideal partner as we continue to enter states that open up online and mobile sports betting.”
Source: Twin River Worldwide Holdings Announces Partnerships with DraftKings Inc. and FanDuel Group
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the day’s top casino news stories
