The first September with legal Colorado sports betting proved as fruitful as expected with more than $200 million wagered.
The Colorado Division of Gaming released its September revenue report on Friday. It showed the Centennial State took quickly to mobile CO sports betting and loves a variety of sports, including cult favorite table tennis.
Nearly 98% of bets placed at legal Colorado sportsbooks came in via mobile platforms. Just $3.7 million of the state’s wagers took place at a retail location in the three remote mountain towns where casinos sit.
National surge rolls on
The $207 million wagered tops August handle by 61%, according to state regulators. That strong showing continues a national surge that includes record monthly handle in:
- New Jersey: $748 million
- Pennsylvania: $462 million
- Indiana: $207 million
With close to $1 billion in wagers expected from Nevada and Illinois, a figure as high as $2.5 billion could be in play.
Colorado does not break down its report by operator, so individual sportsbook performance is not available.
Promos and free bets likely factored heavily into Colorado wagering in September as well, as they do elsewhere. Colorado launched its legal sports betting market in May and features 11 mobile operators vying for customers.
Sports bettors win the battle in September
Colorado operators held just 2% of wagers placed in September, totaling $4.1 million and producing nearly $70,000 in tax revenue. That continues a national trend of strong performance by bettors in September, even as the return of NFL betting benefitted sportsbooks.
In the CO sports betting market, baseball reigned in the final month of the MLB regular season. Sportsbooks took more than $47 million in baseball bets and lost more than $3 million to Colorado bettors.
NFL football ranking second behind any sport qualifies as a surprise in Colorado or anywhere else. Professional football generated $38.6 million in bets last month and operators kept less than $2 million in profit on those wagers.
Here’s the full breakdown of betting by sport in Colorado:
CO sports betting market loves its table tennis
International table tennis earned a special place in the hearts of Colorado bettors and bookies during the COVID-19 sports shutdown. Late-night matches from Russia and other countries provided a diversion for those looking to get down some bets without major sports in action.
Table tennis maintained its popularity following the resumption of professional sports, though, and continues to perform well. Wagers topped $5.3 million in September, outpacing soccer, NCAA football, and golf betting.
Table tennis draws action in Oregon as well, where it maintains a top-five ranking by sport among bettors.
