DraftKings is launching another retail sportsbook in Colorado.
The brick-and-mortar sportsbook will find a home at the Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk. It will open on Friday, July 10.
This is the second retail sportsbook to open in Colorado. The first was at the Saratoga Casino in conjunction with Betfred in mid-June.
It’s the seventh physical sportsbook for DraftKings in the US. The company also has retail outlets in the following states:
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- New York
As the DraftKings press release notes, this is a temporary location until the permanent one is completed in time for football season.
That leads to a key question: why launch the retail sportsbook now?
A DraftKings spokesperson told PlayColorado:
“We want to provide entertainment to sports fans in time for the return of major sports like NBA, MLB, and NFL. As outlined in the release, Mardi Gras is taking the proper precautions and safety measurements.”
What to expect at the DraftKings retail sportsbook
If you head to Black Hawk on Friday, here’s what you can expect when you step into the sportsbook on the first floor of the Mardi Gras:
- Eight self-service betting kiosks
- A cashier window
- Several large flatscreen TVs throughout the space
In terms of what you can bet on at the retail sportsbook, you can legally wager on all major US sports. You can place your bets in-person and online. Since Russian table tennis is apparently a huge hit in Colorado, that’s included, too.
This has been an unusual time to launch sports betting, to say the least. But this is yet another exciting step for a market that seemingly everyone wants a piece of.
“We are thrilled to provide the most exciting, real-time gaming opportunities as sports begin to make their return,” Ezra Kucharz, DraftKings’ chief business officer, said in the release. “DraftKings and Mardi Gras Casino are committed to providing a safe, immersive and entertaining gaming environment to ensure sports fans in Colorado have the most enjoyable experience possible.”
Here’s a look at the new sportsbook:
Permanent sportsbook set for football season
As for the permanent retail sportsbook, construction is underway and DraftKings and the Mardi Gras aren’t holding back.
According to the release, the state-of-the-art sportsbook will include:
- A large feature bar
- An expansive wall of TVs
- VIP lounge area access
George Papanier, president and CEO of Twin River Worldwide Holdings, which owns Mardi Gras along with two other Colorado casinos, said in the release:
“This partnership with DraftKings allows us to provide an unmatched sports betting experience to Coloradans, not only with their mobile betting access, but also with this exciting DraftKings retail sportsbook location. We are looking forward to introducing our guests to the fully renovated space in the coming months, and until that time, are glad to be able to give our guests the ability to safely start placing bets as many professional sports begin to resume in the coming weeks.”
Sportsbook will follow same guidelines as Colorado casinos
The retail sportsbook will follow the same operational guidelines as the state’s casinos since they reopened in mid-June.
That includes:
- Requiring face coverings for all individuals
- The use of handheld thermometers
- Requiring guests utilize social distancing
- Increase in cleaning and disinfecting of all areas
It’s been a topsy-turvy two months of sports betting in Colorado. But as major US sports inch closer to their return and another retail sportsbook enters the field, exciting times are ahead.
