For Immediate Release
Contact: Suzanne Karrer
Communications Supervisor
303-621-4063 (c)
suzanne.karrer@state.co.us
Colorado Sports Betting Continues Upward Trend with Another Record-Breaking Month
Wagers on football accounted for almost half of all October bets
LAKEWOOD, Tuesday, November 30, 2021– Total wagers in October 2021 broke another record with the highest handle so far to date that the state has seen since legalization on May 1, 2020. Wagers placed on football contributed to the record-shattering month with almost half, 45.4%, of all bets placed in October 2021 on NFL and NCAA football games.
The total handle for October 2021 was $491,453,341, a 20.36% increase over the total handle of the prior month and a 133.23% increase from the total handle for October 2020 of $210,719,821. Taxes collected by the state in October 2021 from sports betting wagers totaled $1,246,804.
Mobile betting continues to account for almost all of the total betting handle, with over 98% of wagers made online and less than 2% of bets placed in retail locations. Twenty-five online operators and seventeen retail operators are currently open and running in Colorado.
In October, American Pro Football continued to dominate the total wagers placed for the month, with $171.2 million in bets placed with retail and online operators. Basketball followed in second with $63.3 million; third was NCAA Football with $51.97 million. The fourth spot went to Baseball with $37.4 million, and Tennis rounded out the top five sports with $14.1 million. Table tennis continues to sit in the top ten list, placing in seventh, with $10.3 million bets placed.
View the October 2021 Sports Betting Monthly Proceeds report on the Division of Gaming's website at sbg.colorado.gov/sports-betting-monthly-proceeds-reports.
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On November 6, 2019, Colorado voters passed Proposition DD, establishing Colorado as one of many states across the country to allow people to place legal bets on sporting events since the Supreme Court ruling struck down a law that banned sports betting in most U.S. states. With the passage of Proposition DD and the Colorado General Assembly's legislative bill in May 2019, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission and the Colorado Division of Gaming became the statutory authority over the legalized sports betting regulation in Colorado. Legalized, regulated sports betting began in Colorado on May 1, 2020.
The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Division of Gaming ensures honesty and integrity in the Colorado gaming industry.
The Colorado Department of Revenue works to be a trusted partner to every Coloradan to help them navigate the complexities of government so they can thrive.