When sports betting debuted in Colorado in May 2020, the state had no plan to address an oncoming addiction crisis.
Read more Does the Denver Post’s reporter who covers sports betting bet on sports?
It’s not clear how many Coloradans are struggling to control their online sports gambling, but those who work in the mental health field say it’s a growing problem in the state. Since May 2020, more than 45,000 people have called 1-800-GAMBLER, a hotline for those who need help, and 1,245 people are currently on the state’s self-exclusion list, which means they have banned themselves from betting for at least five years.
The Denver Post is publishing this three-part series examining the impact of sports betting in Colorado in the six years since it was legalized.
Teams and leagues that once kept sports betting at arm’s length have embraced sportsbooks as business partners. That relationship is evolving as scandals have erupted, most recently involving Texas Tech’s quarterback, and as athletes report increasing harassment from angry gamblers who lose money.
Still, thousands of Coloradans regularly bet without going overboard, saying putting a little money on games makes them more exciting to watch. And bettors have generated more than $154 million in taxes, money that has gone toward funding water conservation projects across Colorado, helping preserve the state’s reservoirs, rivers and creeks for people and wildlife.
Here’s what we learned:
Part 1: Sports betting threatens to be Colorado’s ‘next big public health crisis’ if addiction isn’t addressed
Colorado plunged headfirst into legalized sports betting in 2020, and residents have bet more than $30.6 billion since then on games and the athletes who play them. But mental health experts are sounding the alarm about a growing addiction crisis that the state was not prepared to handle. Read more ►
Read more How sports betting became Colorado’s ticket to funding $140 million in water conservation projects
Part 2: How sports betting became Colorado’s ticket to funding $140 million in water conservation projects
Since sports betting became legal, Colorado has collected more than $154 million in taxes and funneled $140 million to projects that preserve and conserve the state’s water. Supporters say the gambling money is a godsend for ranchers, fishermen, paddlers and more. Read more ►
Part 3: Sports betting is changing the game for Colorado’s fans and athletes as big money adds new pressures
Legalized sports betting is changing the face of sports and fandom in Colorado as people wager billions annually. Athletes are feeling the pressure to perform or provide inside information, and gambling is threatening the integrity of sports itself. Read more ►
Interactive dashboard: What sport does Colorado bet on the most?
Colorado sports betting has taken in more than $30.6 billion since 2020. Explore the data in an interactive dashboard that looks at what sports make the most money. Read more ►
Plus: Does the Denver Post’s reporter who covers sports betting bet on sports?
Reporter Noelle Phillips answers the question she asked everyone she interviewed about Colorado sports gambling: Do you bet on sports? Read more ►
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