Colorado Rapids Soccer Player Suspended for Alleged Role in Global Match Fixing Scheme

Written by:
Ean Lamb
Published on:
May/11/2023

Sports Betting in Colorado

We have all the latest news pertaining to Colorado and the sports betting industry there.

Your regulated apps include the following (25) sportsbook companies:  DraftKings, PointsBet, FanDuel, Caesars, BetRivers, BetMGM, SuperBowl, Fox Bet, BetFred, Bet365, WynnBET, Betway, Tipico, SBK Sportsbooks, Barstool Sports, SI Sportsbook, PlayUp, Bally Bet, Elite Sportsbook, Betsafe, Play Maverick, BetMonarch, Circa Sports, Sky Ute, ClutchBet.

The tax you will have to pay betting with one of these regulated websites is 4.63 percent state and around 25 percent federal.

Colorado Rapids Soccer Player Suspended for Alleged Role in Global Match Fixing Scheme

(May 11, 2023) - The Colorado Rapids issued a statement Wednesday after it was revealed that a midfielder had been pulled from the team for alleged activities in connection with unlawful sports gambling.

21-year-old midfielder Max Alves had received a sum of money in exchange for picking up a yellow card during a match in the 2022 MLS season.

From SI.com:

According to Gustavo Guimaraes of Territorio MLS, Alves’s name appears on a document which was released by Brazilian authorities, indicating he’d received R$60,000 (roughly $12,100 USD) to be booked in a match against the LA Galaxy.

The match in question occurred on Sept. 17, 2022, during which Alves was substituted into the game at the 64th minute. He was booked with a yellow card in the 65th minute.

Brazil prosecutors charged 16 as part of an alleged football match-fixing scheme.

The probe of the state of Goias initially targeted matches from last season in Brazil’s top flight, but has expanded into second-division matches.

Brazil soccer clubs implicated include Santos, Juventude, Cuiaba, Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional and Fluminense.

From SportStar:

Santos defender Eduardo Bauermann is accused of receiving at least 50,000 reais ($10,000) to get a yellow card in a match against Aval last year, according to the documents.

Gabriel Tota, Paulo Miranda, Igor Carius, Victor Ramos, Fernando Neto and Matheus Gomes are among the other players charged, according to the documents.

“We are aware of the reports regarding a Colorado Rapids player in connection with unlawful sports gambling. We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the dignity of the game. The player has been removed from all team activities while MLS conducts an investigation into this matter,” said the Rapids in their statement. 

Colorado Lawmakers Resurrect Controversial Casino Loan Bill

(May 7, 2023) - A controversial piece of legislation is back as some Colorado lawmakers seem intent on passing a measure that would allow for state casinos to loan gambling money to customers.

In other words, bill SB23-259would allow casinos to offer lines of credit.  This is something much frowned upon by nearly all states that have gotten into the sports betting game in recent years.

Supporters aren't beating around the bush as to what they're trying to accomplish here.  Extending credit in the casino is a way to keep wealthy gamblers happy.

There is one small problem.  You would need to extend credit to "poor gamblers" as well, otherwise it's discriminatory. 

“It’s really trying to attract folks that want to gamble … Gives them the opportunity ahead of time to apply for credit with the casino,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, a Democratic sponsor, describing it as a tourism bill. “It’s something that the casinos feel will help them to build and maintain (their) customer base.”

The bill once again will be met with enough resistance to make this an epic fail.  The fear is that credit will be extended to those who simply cannot afford it.

“If you’re having to borrow money to gamble that means you already spent the money you had to spend on gambling, and now you’re wanting to get in the game without any money,” said Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf.

Colorado Division of Gaming released March Sports Betting Figures

(April 28, 2023) - The Colorado Division of Gaming (part of the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR)) released the March 2023 monthly sports betting figures.

Handle $494.4M (-2.2% Y/Y)
Gross revenue $45.9M (+62.7% Y/Y)
Gross hold 9.3% (+370 bps Y/Y)
Net Revenue $35.4M (+171.5% Y/Y)

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ClutchBet Launches in Colorado

(April 27, 2023) - The ClutchBet mobile online sportsbook has announced its launch via a partnership with The Wild Card Saloon & Casino, located in Black Hawk, Colorado.  ClutchBet becomes the 25th regulated online sports betting app currently available in the state with its population of just shy of 6 million.

ClutchBet currently offers $1000 in free bets and claims that residents can set up an online wagering account in under 2 minutes.

The company is owned by BlueBet Holdings.

On the retail side of things, ClutchBet Lounges are open at Gary Dolphins Iron Bar, in Dubuque, The Leaderboard Sports Bar, in North Liberty, and Vine Tavern and Eatery, in Iowa City.

BlueBet chief executive officer, Bill Richmond, said: “We are excited to go live in Colorado, our second US state. It’s a homecoming for us, with ClutchBet’s headquarters located in downtown Denver. We’re really pleased with our progress in the US, as we move towards the next stage of our “Capital Lite” US market entry strategy.

“Our US team has worked hard to deliver a memorable betting experience for our US customers, who have responded strongly to our differentiated brand, with initial uptake very encouraging. The multijurisdictional capability of our scalable proprietary technology platform enables us to expand faster in the US and to progress our B2B Sportsbook-as-a-Solution offer, which is attracting interest from potential partners. I would like to congratulate and thank The Wild Card Saloon & Casino, our valued partners in Colorado, and the BlueBet team, who made this moment possible.”

- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com

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