With most major sporting events making their comebacks in the past few months, Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson is hoping for one of the biggest events to make a major impact with its sports betting opportunities.

Wild Rose Jefferson General Manager Travis Dvorak recalls the anticipation of having the college men’s basketball tournament and sports betting for the first time last year.

“If you go to (Las) Vegas, it’s the biggest weekend of the year is the opening weekend of March Madness. So I was excited to have it because it was going to be our first one. And then instead of March Madness, we just had the madness of COVID in March. Understandably so, things got cancelled and I don’t disagree with that. The sports fan in me is disappointed, of course.”

Fast forward to this year, Dvorak says Wild Rose now has DraftKings and BetRivers to bet on sports, along with making changes in Coach’s Corner so that it remains open whenever there are basketball games. Wild Rose Jefferson saw a 68.5-percent increase in sports betting from December to January and Dvorak points out the success didn’t stop there.

“Well we’re already seeing a jump (in sports betting). Last weekend we had the conference (basketball) championships. We saw a jump, not just with the internet and mobile, but the retail as well. People are ready to come out, I mean the COVID is getting a little bit better. We’re still not out of it but it looks like we’re getting there.”

Dvorak adds there will be specials in Coach’s and Draftkings during the basketball tournament.