Colorado Casinos Make $94.2 Million in October, Tribes Fight Sports Betting Ruling

Colorado’s three regulated commercial casinos combined for a total of $94.2 million in revenue during October, according to the latest numbers.  

Slots generated $81 million in October, rising 4.3% from the $77.6 million in 2024, while table games revenue remained stable, with a minor increase of 1.3% from $13.1 million to $13.3 million.  

The strong performance of the state’s casinos comes at the same time as the sports betting sector in Colorado has been rocked by the news that BetMGM has been fined for accepting bets on the individual performances of college athletes.  

Black Hawk Dominates Colorado Revenue Table 

The Colorado Department of Revenue, the state regulator, has released its latest report, which shows that of the three regions in the state, two experienced year-on-year revenue increases, while one saw a decline in revenue. 

Black Hawk casino remains the largest revenue generator in the state, with 18 of the state's 38 casinos operating in the region. In October, it generated a total of $71.1 million, representing a 4.2% year-over-year increase from $68.3 million, and accounting for a 75% share of the combined revenue in the state.  

The state’s second-highest revenue generator, Cripple Creek, produced an even more impressive growth figure of 5.3%, from October 2024’s total of $16.1 million to $17.0 million this year.  

Central City was the only region to see a year-on-year revenue decline, dropping by 2.9% from $6.4 million to $6.2 million. 

BetMGM Fined for Illegal College Prop Bets  

Meanwhile, the sports betting sector in Colorado has drawn unwanted attention with the news that Colorado regulators have fined betting operator BetMGM for taking prop bets on individual college athletes, which is illegal under state gambling law.  

The Colorado Gaming Control Commission imposed a $50,000 fine on the company, although BetMGM can reduce this figure by half if it avoids further violations for the next two years. 

According to the stipulation agreement, BetMGM accepted eight college prop bets totaling $346 during the 2023 National Invitation Tournament, 35 wagers worth $443 during the 2024 women’s NCAA basketball tournament, and five wagers totaling $90 during a 2024 UNLV–Oregon State football game. The agreement did not disclose which athletes were targeted. 

Rival betting operator DraftKings was fined $90,000 in July for similar violations, and prop bets have become the focus of national scrutiny after a string of allegations against athletes over the manipulation of in-game events linked to these bets.   

Colorado Tribes Criticize Ruling Blocking Online Betting 

Online sports betting in Colorado has also come under scrutiny due to a dispute between Colorado and two southern Colorado tribes, following a recent federal court ruling.  

The ruling bars the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes from offering statewide online sports betting, but tribal leaders called it an extension of a ‘troubling legacy’ of broken agreements between governments and Indigenous nations. 

Both tribes launched sportsbook apps in 2020, but state regulators warned that they were operating without a Colorado betting license. In response, the tribes shut down their operations and sued, arguing their gaming compacts allowed online wagering. 

US District Judge Gordon Gallagher dismissed the case last month, ruling that bets placed off-reservation fall under state jurisdiction. The tribes say they are evaluating next steps in the dispute.