With the Denver Broncos in the thick of a crowded field for an AFC wild card spot, Monarch Casino Resort Spa may have picked an opportune time to open a new retail sportsbook.
Last week, the Black Hawk casino launched a new, in-person sportsbook days before the Broncos’ critical matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. In fact, Monarch Casino Sportsbook Manager Nick Epstein struggled to find an empty seat inside the book’s VIP viewing area.
“Can we call this a sell-out crowd? Fans and sports bettors turned out to watch the game. In fact, we didn’t have a premium seat open for the entire game,” Epstein told CO Bets. “With that being said, there are still a number of different areas adjacent to the BetMonarch sportsbook where our guests can still comfortably take in a game.”
State-of-the art amenities
Although Monarch Casino launched the BetMonarch app in May 2020, near the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail book has been a work in progress. Much like every casino statewide, sports bettors at Monarch were forced to place wagers online over a period of weeks in the spring of 2020 when the state temporarily closed all casino properties. When Monarch reopened in midsummer, customers were able to wager on sports at a Monarch Rewards desk perched on the second floor of the casino.
The retail sportsbook is replete with a new sound system, as well as an expansive monitor that measures 16 feet from corner to corner, Epstein said.
The Monarch Sportsbook is officially now-OPEN!! #BetMonarch #MonarchCasino #NowOpen #Sportsbook #BetonFun pic.twitter.com/sNxO2gxYYr
— Monarch Casino Resort Spa (@monarchcasino) December 11, 2021
Epstein has been pleased with the response to a promotion that rewards bettors with even-money lines on Colorado home football teams throughout the season. For the moment, Monarch does not offer same-game parlays that are prevalent among industry leaders such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. But Monarch does offer a slew of prop wagers on prime-time matchups, a perk bettors noticed earlier this week when the NFL had four evening games on Monday and Tuesday as a result of COVID-related postponements.
An Omicron surge
While a slew of professional sports leagues have been hit hard by an influx of COVID-19 cases over the last week, Monarch is prepared for a possible decline in foot traffic if cases from the Omicron variant continue to spike. As with many other sportsbooks across the state, Monarch offers customers the convenience of placing wagers from home via its BetMonarch app.
A total of 47 players were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list today, all as a result of a positive test. That's the most ever for a single day that the NFL has ever had.
Notable names include Travis Kelce, Joey Bosa and Jared Goff.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 20, 2021
Epstein pointed to the state’s mandatory casino shutdown in 2020 as evidence that Monarch can flourish from a sports betting standpoint in spite of a challenging brick-and-mortar environment.
“Despite not being able to visit our property, guests used the BetMonarch app to place wagers on UFC, MLB, and the NBA,” Epstein said. “If they choose to stay home, the ability to bet on sports anywhere in the state of Colorado using the BetMonarch App and outreach to our stellar sportsbook team is a convenience that remains.”
