This marks the second consecutive month with record handle, making October 2021 the most productive month since legal betting launched in 2000.
The state fell just short of becoming the fifth US state to generate $500m in legal sports wagers during a single month. Overall volume showed a 133% increase compared to October 2020.
Online and retail sportsbooks in Colorado accepted a record of $491.5m in wagers for October, up 20% from the previous record of $408.3m for September. Online operators generated 98% ($483.3m) of wagers, proving again bettors’ interest in online gambling.
October offered bettors five full weekends of college football, as well as a postseason of baseball and the opening of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche seasons.
Pro football generated the most wagers for the month, with handle of $171.2m; basketball drew $63.3m in wagers and college football attracted $51.2m in bets. Baseball followed with $37.4m, football generated $15.9m in bets, tennis represented $14.1m, hockey generated $13.2m and table tennis $10.3m.
Analysts are confident the betting market in the state is still expanding as, Ian St Clair, Lead Analyst for PlayColorado explained: “Importantly, the base of sports bettors in Colorado continues to expand, and those bettors are wagering more than this time last year, as they become more comfortable with in-game betting at online sportsbooks. Altogether it points to a bright future for the industry.”
