The Division of Gaming is a cash-funded agency, meaning no state general fund tax dollars are used for its operation or expenses. The Division operates on the revenues generated from the gaming tax, application and license fees, any fines levied by the Division and other revenues.
All revenues generated from gaming - gaming tax revenues along with license and application fees paid by casinos and other revenues - are placed in the Limited Gaming Fund. Before any monies are distributed via the Limited Gaming Fund, the expenses of running the Commission and the Division of Gaming must be paid and two months of operating expenses for the Division must be placed in escrow. After these obligations are met, the remaining money is distributed according to the following formula to the original recipients of the Limited Gaming Fund. The formula for the remaining monies for the current distribution:
- 50% to the "state share" which was statutorily distributed to the
- State General Fund,
- Colorado Travel & Tourism Promotion Fund,
- Advanced Industries Acceleration Cash Fund,
- Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media Operations Cash Fund,
- Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Fund,
- Innovative Higher Education Research Fund, and
- Creative Industries Cash Fund
- 28% to the Colorado State Historical Fund
- 20% (of the 28%) distributed by the State Historical Society to the governing bodies of Cripple Creek, Central City and Black Hawk (in proportion to the revenues generated in the respective cities)
- 80% (of the 28%) used for historic preservation and restoration throughout the state
- 12% to Gilpin and Teller Counties, in proportion to gaming revenues generated in these counties
- 10% to the cities of Black Hawk, Central and Cripple Creek in proportion to gaming revenues
- The tax revenues attributed to the implementation of Amendment 50 are as follows:
- 78% to the state's public community colleges, junior colleges, and local district colleges to supplement existing state funding
- 12% to Gilpin and Teller counties in proportion to gaming tax revenues generated in each county
- 10% to the cities of Black Hawk, Central and Cripple Creek in proportion to gaming tax revenues generated in each city
For a listing of historic tax rates or a detailed breakdown of the distributions, please see the Fact Book & Abstract on the Industry Statistics page.