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Sports betting preparations underway in Cripple Creek

Posted at 10:18 PM, Apr 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-01 15:14:48-04

CRIPPLE CREEK — Despite no major sports playing due to COVID-19, preparations are still underway for sports betting to come online May 1st in Colorado.

"There will be some sports available," Matt Andrighetti, Manager of Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek said, "there's a lot of different sports betting and events."

With a matter of days before sports betting is expected to begin- there are several preparations underway for casinos.

"We're full forced in getting all that prepared," , he added the casino recently got its licensed and is working with it's provider for mobile and web platforms, "we're not sure what it's going to look like, we're in the mood of, we will make the best of whatever we have to offer," Andrighetti said.

In Cripple Creek, a majority of the city's revenue comes from casinos. Elected leaders are working to manage the expected loss. One of the ways they're doing this is by waiving device fees for casinos- something that's costing the city about $300,000.

"When they take a hit, we take a hit and I think we all kind of know that," Meghan Rozell, City Councilwoman said.

There is one benefit as far as working on the city's infrastructure during this time, while city leaders say no one wants this loss of revenue. They are able to get major construction projects done in the city with the decreased traffic.

"In some ways the lockdown, if you want to call it that, has helped us, and in other ways it has hurt us, tremendously," said Mayor Pro Ten Tom Litherland.

With the potential for sports betting on the horizon in Colorado, Cripple Creek leaders say it could provide some financial relief for the city.

"Anything that adds to the business, yes I'll be very hopeful and very happy," Litherland said.

The approved catalog of events and wagers can be found here: Colorado Sports Betting