As the pandemic wanes, gamblers venturing up to Colorado’s three mountain casino towns are wagering record sums at the machines and tables, totaling just short of a billion dollars last year, according to a report released this week by the Colorado Department of Revenue.
Earlier this month, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved distribution of $148,655,614 from the state’s original and extended gaming funds for fiscal year 2021-22. The money will be directed to traditional recipients for gambling revenues, including the state’s general fund.
That new figure is up 39% over the previous year when casinos were shuttered or restricted during COVID spikes. Taxes, according to the Department of Revenue, increased by more than $41 million over the past fiscal year.