Bet365 still is coming to Colorado.
It’s just that one of the planet’s largest sportsbooks will launch a little later than originally expected.
That’s according to its partner, Colorado Springs-based Century Casinos.
Sept. 1 is new probable target date
Bet365’s temporary Colorado sports betting license was approved last December.
And the sportsbook originally targeted Q2 to join Colorado’s online sportsbook contingent.
But that looked increasingly unlikely as Q2 was coming to a close in late June. And at that time, Century Casinos co-CEO Peter Hoetzinger confirmed to PlayColorado sister site Legal Sports Report that bet365’s launch was being pushed back.
“The new launch date is, most likely, Sept. 1,” Hoetzinger told LSR.
Hoetzinger did not elaborate on the cause of the delay. And the United Kingdom-based bet365 has refused comment as well.
Bet365 to be Colorado’s 28th online sportsbook
A Sept. 1 launch will enable bet365 to be up and running for the NFL and college football regular seasons.
The majority of FBS college teams open play over the extended Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-5). And the NFL regular season kicks off Sept. 8.
Bet365 is joining a jam-packed Centennial State sportsbook slate. With its launch, bet365 will be Colorado’s 28th online sportsbook — a US high.
Century Casinos — which has retail locales in Cripple Creek and Central City — is partnered with three online sportsbook apps.
Bet365 joins Circa Sports as partners with Century Casino Cripple Creek. Meanwhile, Tipico Sportsbook is paired with Century Casinos Central City.
In May 2020, bet365 and Century announced a 10-year partnership agreement.
Centennial State only second US market for bet365
While bet365 is an internationally known brand, Colorado will be only its second US license.
The sportsbook has been live in New Jersey since 2018.
Bet365 also tried to secure a highly coveted New York license last year. But that bid was rejected due primarily to tax rate considerations.
2022, though, still has been quite the busy year for bet365.
In April, it switched from a gray to regulated Canadian operator and launched in Ontario.
Then, two months later in June, the operator became the first non-US-based sports betting partner of the PGA Tour. That deal covers the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and Canada.
In the meantime, though, bet365’s slow US rollout is puzzling to many in the industry.
“Bet365 is the biggest enigma in sports betting,” an unnamed US sportsbook executive told Legal Sports Report in February. “Here is the one company that could seriously come in and compete on the top tier. They’ve got limitless cash flow coming in from every corner of the globe. And yet they have done almost nothing in the US.”
