Colorado's sports betting handle sees 21% monthly drop, softened by local MLB All Star game

The top sports spot for July was taken by baseball, which accounted for $61M in wagers placed through both retail and online operators. The 2021 MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver, July 13, was a key event during the month.

2021-09-03

United States

Reading time 1:34 min

Figures were released by the Colorado Division of Gaming, with total handle for July of $181.3 million in a typically slow month for betting. Almost all of the total wagering handle came from mobile gambling, which accounted for 99% of bets, while only 1% were placed in retail locations.

The Colorado Division of Gaming released July 2021 sports betting figures on Thursday, reporting total handle for the month of $181.3 million and gross gaming revenue of $15.6 million.

This marks a 21% decrease in total handle compared to the prior month, June 2021, which saw the third-best gross gaming revenue in the state’s history with $19.7 million. July is typically considered a quiet month in terms of sports, which impacts betting in the US.

Despite this negative result compared to June, the total handle for July 2021 marked a 206% increase in comparison to the same month 2020, which saw handle of $59.1 million. Taxes collected by the state in the month of July from sports betting wagers totaled about $1 million.

Almost all of the total betting handle came from mobile wagering, which accounted for 99% of bets with $179.1 million. Only 1% of wagers were placed in retail locations, a total $2.2 million. Twenty-five online operators and seventeen retail operators are currently open and running in the state.

The top sports spot for July was taken by baseball, which accounted for $61 million in wagers placed through both retail and online operators. The second spot belonged to basketball, with $27 million in wagers; and soccer followed in third with $13 million.

This is explained by major events including the 2021 MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field in July 13, and the NBA Finals between Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, July 6 to July 20. Moreover, the month saw the first week of the Summer Olympics, in Tokyo.

The top five is completed by tennis in the fourth spot, which accounted for $12 million in wagers, retail and online. Table tennis secured the fifth spot, with $8 million. Golf, MMA, Summer Athletics, Hockey (ice) and Football were out of the top five, in that order.

According to a press release, distributions to beneficiaries from the sports betting cash fund for the fiscal year 2020-21 will be made at the next Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission meeting, slated for September 23, 2021, in Cripple Creek, Colorado.