DraftKings and FanDuel enter Colorado with Twin River partnerships
DFS operators to develop mobile and online sportsbook as well as retail betting arm
DraftKings and FanDuel have agreed separate market access partnership deals with US-casino chain Twin River that will see them offer mobile and online sports betting in Colorado.
Under the deals, both operators will receive the required permissions to operate mobile and online sportsbook in the Centennial State.
In the case of DraftKings, the agreement will also see the development of a retail betting operation at Twin River’s Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado.
Mardi Gras Casino was acquired last week from fellow operator Affinity Gaming in a deal that also included the Golden Gates and Golden Gulch casinos.
DraftKings currently operates retail sportsbooks in four other US states: Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey and New York.
DraftKings’ mobile sportsbook app is currently available in Indiana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FanDuel’s online and mobile sports betting app is live in four other US states.
Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings, highlighted the deal as being part of the Boston-based company’s plan to provide legal sportsbook operations to customers US-wide.
“Twin River holds a mutual pledge to providing exciting, real-time gaming opportunities, and we look forward to working alongside them to introduce Colorado sports fans to our award-winning product,” Kucharz added.
Matt King, CEO of Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel, said Twin River was an ideal partner, citing the casino company’s previous experiences in the state of Rhode Island.
“Colorado has a sensible framework for sports betting, and we are excited to partner with a renowned gaming company like Twin River to bring our market-leading online sports betting experience to Colorado sports fans,” King added.
In addition to its three casinos, Twin River also owns the Arapahoe Park racetrack in Aurora, Colorado as well as 13 off-track betting licenses.
Discussing Twin River’s recent multi-casino acquisition, CEO George Papanier confirmed the inclusion of three sports betting licenses in each of the casinos, something which he claimed would help to expand the firm’s Colorado footprint.
“These newly formed partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel allow us to provide an unmatched sports betting experience to Colorado, not only with their mobile betting access but also with an exciting DraftKings retail sportsbook location inside one of our newly acquired casinos.” Papanier added.