The Colorado gaming regulator has now published their catalog of approved sports bets, listing 48 sports that bettors can wager on in more than a thousand different ways. The catalog was amended prior to its approval by the Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) last week, just in time for the Colorado betting industry’s slated May 1 launch.
The LGCC plans to hold a meeting in May to discuss whether wagers on NCAA games should be allowed in light of the law’s prohibition of bets on individual college athletes.
Colorado has mandated that regulators must be ready by May 1 should gambling firms wish to launch their operations—a number of operators have already stated that their mobile platforms will be ready to go by May 1.
Colorado’s roster of sports betting options is exhaustive and diverse. In addition to mainstream sports, Colorado will also allow bets on niche sports such as pesapallo—a Finnish game similar to baseball and the Nordic game of floorball, also known as bandy. The Gaelic Games will also be covered by Colorado’s catalog, with 29 betting options included, although sportsbooks are limited to just Gaelic Games’ soccer matches.
Colorado will also allow snooker, darts, badminton, cricket, and beach volleyball. Olympic wagers will also be included. Winter games are allowed as well, which will encompass both traditional sports in the Winter Olympics as well as in the X Games. Colorado bettors will also be able to bet on fantasy sports and eSports, which have begun to gain in popularity due to the lack of mainstream sports today.
Colorado Set to be Fourth Legal Betting State
Colorado residents voted to legalize sports bets via referendum last November. The LGCC has since worked double time to meet the May 1 date set in the bill. 30 Master Licenses have been handed out since, with temporary Internet Sports Betting Operator licenses granted to a number of prominent firms, such as William Hill, Rush Street Interactive and Circa Sports.
Colorado’s launch of legal sports betting on May 1 will make them the fourth state to allow live betting platforms this year. Industry giants FanDuel and DraftKings have already gone on record to confirm their plans to launch mobile platforms on that date.
Even if these sports bettors go live on May 1, the amount of traffic can only be measured accurately only when all major sports events resume around the world!