Colorado Commercial Casinos Generate $9.1 million in November, up 7.9% Year-on-Year

Commercial casinos in Colorado generated $91.1 million in November, a 7.9% year-on-year increase from the $84.4 million generated in November 2024.  

 Of the total, slots generated $79 million, a 10% year-on-year increase from $71.8 million. However, slots faced a 4% revenue decline in November, falling from $12.5 million to $12 million. 

 In other news, the Colorado Division of Gaming is currently facing a lawsuit after the seizure of skill-based games from Gaming Operator Trey Franzoy, after his business was falsely accused of illegal gambling.  

Positives All Around for Colorado Casinos  

According to the latest report from the Colorado Department of Revenue, which reports the revenue of the state's 33 commercial casinos by region, all three areas in the state that have casinos saw revenue rise year-on-year in November.  

 Cripple Creek saw the most significant revenue rise in November, increasing by 13.7% year-on-year from $13.2 million to just under $15 million. Table games saw a double-digit revenue increase of 19.1% from $744,026 to $886,167. Slots revenue also rose in November, increasing 13.3% from $12.4 million to $14.1 million.  

 The highest revenue was reported by the Black Hawk region, which saw a 6.8% year-on-year increase from $65.5 million to just under $70 million. While slot revenue rose in the area by 9.3% from $53.9 million to $58.9 million, table games revenue fell 4.7% year-on-year from $11.6 million to $11.1 million.  

The Central City region reported the lowest revenue in November of $6.1 million which represented a 7.1% year-on-year increase from the $5.7 million generated the year prior. Slots in the region saw revenue rise 9% year-over-year from $5.5 million to $6 million. In contrast, table games revenue saw a significant decrease, falling 57% from $165,352 to $71,146.  

Skill Game Seizure Results in Colorado Lawsuit  

After seizing over $100,000 and multiple gaming machines from Trey Franzoy’s business, Charlie Chedda’s, and Patriot Contest & Games in 2023, the Colorado Division of Gaming is now facing a lawsuit.  

 Earlier this year, a judge ruled that the machines were skill games, not slot machines, and ordered the return of his assets. 

 Franzoy has since filed a lawsuit against both the Colorado Division of Gaming and three cities in Colorado, alleging that some of his assets are yet to be returned, and is also seeking compensation due to the loss of business the seizure caused.  

 One military club in Pueblo, which featured some of Franzoys' machines, was not able to get its liquor license renewed. 

 In a comment to local news network , Franzoy said that while the skill-games machines may have a similar appearance to slot machines, the way they function for users is different.  

 "You physically have to pick [an option]. If you don't pick anything, nothing is just given to you. If I let this timer run out, don't make any selection. I'm not going to be awarded a prize. There's no chance awards or anything like that involved in these games," he said.  

 Despite the ruling of the return of Franzoy’s machines, some would still argue that the machines are gaming devices under the Colorado constitution, which defines the devices as "where results are determined by reason of the skill of the player or the application of the element of chance, or both," as a "Simulated gambling device." 

 The lawsuit is still in its early stages, with the defendants having been granted an extension to the end of the year to respond to the complaint.