Colorado became the 19th U.S. state to legalize
some form of sports betting as election
officials tallied this week a surprisingly close
vote in which ballots for the measure narrowly
surpassed “no” votes.
More than 1.3 million Coloradans voted on
Proposition DD, a bipartisan ballot measure
crafted by lawmakers that legalizes sports
betting next year and taxes it to fund a state
water conservation plan.
It led by a 51%-49% margin mid-afternoon
Wednesday, according to unofficial returns.
Legal sports betting has spread since New Jersey
won a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2018 allowing
all 50 states to offer it. But most states have
generated limited tax revenue.
An Associated Press analysis showed that seven
states that reported on sports betting revenue
for the fiscal year that ended in June generated
just $74 million in state taxes.
Starting next May, Colorado’s 33 casinos can offer
in-person and online wagering on professional,
collegiate, motor and Olympic sports.