Colorado Division of Gaming: “The Division is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in Colorado’s gaming industry”

A representative of the Colorado Division of Gaming has shared insights about the state’s gaming market.

Exclusive interview.- Colorado’s gaming market is growing rapidly, marking record-breaking figures for sports betting in fiscal year 2024-25. To know more about this milestone, Focus Gaming News spoke with a representative of the Colorado Division of Gaming.

The representative also shared insights about the expectations for the next year, and the measures it is taking to ensure responsible gaming practices and a safe gaming environment.

The Colorado Division of Gaming has announced record-breaking figures for sports betting in fiscal year 2024-25, with over $6bn wagered and approximately $37m in tax revenue. To what do you attribute this significant growth, and were these figures in line with the Division’s projections?

The Division of Gaming cannot speculate into the exact cause of the growth. However, Colorado’s sportsbooks offer a wide variety of sports to bet on, and Colorado has many established and successful professional sports teams that have large, devoted fanbases.

The sports betting market is expanding rapidly, what is your forecast for the coming months?

If the current run rates continue, the Division anticipates another strong year. However, a number of factors drive revenue, such as entertainment dollars players have available and exciting sports storylines and matchups. Of course, with the start of any new season, there’s always a renewed interest in that market, especially for our Colorado teams.

With such substantial growth, what measures is the Colorado Division of Gaming taking to ensure responsible gaming practices are upheld and to address any potential increase in problem gambling?

The state is committed to a balanced approach that supports a regulated and responsible sports betting market while prioritizing public health. The Division of Gaming administers a grant program that provides support for efforts that impact, improve and support responsible gaming and problem gambling programs in Colorado along with the issues that come with increased gaming and gaming options. The responsible gaming grant program is meant to provide meaningful funding and encourage prevention, education on gambling addiction, additional counselors, public awareness, treatment, recovery, data, and research in Colorado. The Division, through the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission has awarded over $7m in responsible gaming grants. For more information about these grants please visit https://betsmart.colorado.gov/responsible-gaming-grants.

“If the current run rates continue, the Division anticipates another strong year.”

The Division of Gaming regularly conducts outreach and attends events with stakeholders to raise awareness of problem gambling. The Division routinely visits college campuses and hosts an annual Problem Gaming Awareness Day at the state capital. Additionally the State does extensive outreach to industry partners by attending problem gambling conferences, and attending events hosted by our responsible gaming partners such as the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado and Free Recovery Community.

In February 2025, the division launched BetSmart.Colorado.gov, a responsible gaming website that contains resources and information about responsible gaming.

The Division also reaches out to Coloradans via social media in an effort to help raise awareness for problem gambling and the resources available. People can find the Division of Gaming on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Division maintains a self-exclusion list where a person may voluntarily apply to be self-excluded from gaming in Colorado. Individual self-exclusion means that a person has made a conscious, voluntary effort to exclude themselves from all forms of gaming under the regulatory purview of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission and the Colorado Division of Gaming.

How is the Colorado Division of Gaming combating illegal operators? What measures do you take to ensure a safe gaming environment?

The Division of Gaming works extensively with operators to ensure a safe gaming environment. Additionally, the Division of Gaming offers a Combating Illegal Gaming Grant that is intended for combating illegal gambling. This reimbursable grant is available to law enforcement agencies and local government agencies.

“The Division of Gaming works extensively with operators to ensure a safe gaming environment.”

Looking ahead, what are the Division’s expectations for the sports betting market in Colorado for the upcoming fiscal year, and are there any new initiatives or regulatory changes on the horizon to further support or manage this growth?

The Division is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in Colorado’s gaming industry. This involves continuous collaboration with industry partners and stakeholders, rigorous evaluation, and strategic updates to best practices. By fostering strong relationships and open communication, the Division safeguards fairness, transparency, and public trust, ensuring regulatory excellence and the sustained health of Colorado’s gaming sector.