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PlayColorado.com: Betting falls below $250 million as state closes first year of sports betting
Colorado officials confirmed Tuesday that sports betting volume dropped in April, a product of seasonal pressures that will likely slow the state’s sportsbooks until football season, according to PlayColorado, which tracks the state’s regulated sports betting market. But as sports betting in the state turned 1, a modest decline hardly dampens the outlook for a state poised for more growth in Year 2.
“In U.S. sports betting, there isn’t any real substitute for the popularity of the NFL or the NCAA Tournament,” said Ian St. Clair, analyst for PlayColorado.com. “But even with a monthly decline in wagering, Colorado continues to fare well compared with similarly sized states. The circumstances now are radically different from last year’s pandemic-plagued launch, and there is reason to believe that the state will be back to full speed once football returns.”
Colorado’s online and retail sportsbooks took in $244.5 million in April, down 18.8% from $300.1 million in bets in March, according to data released Tuesday afternoon by the Colorado Division of Gaming. The state’s official tally is slightly less than the unaudited data that was reported by the Division of Gaming earlier this month.
Bettors placed $8.1 million bets per day in April, down from $9.7 million per day in March. Those bets led to $17.6 million in gross gaming revenue, down 13.8% from $20.4 million in March. Promotional credits worth $6.4 million whittled net sports betting proceeds to $10.5 million, yielding $1.1 million in tax revenue.
From the industry’s launch on May 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021, Colorado sportsbooks generated:
- $2.3 billion in wagers
- $147.4 million in gross gaming revenue
- $61.5 million in net betting proceeds
- $6.6 million in state taxes
“The outlying metric continues to be the state’s take, which may yet need to be adjusted to ensure that the industry is working for every stakeholder,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayColorado. “Still, considering the circumstances of its launch, the first year of sports betting in Colorado was a success.”
A drop in wagering was to be expected with the lighter sports schedule. Every state with legal sports betting has reported a month-over-month decline in April wagering. Of the largest sports betting markets in the U.S. that have already reported April data, Indiana (-25.4%), Iowa (-26.7%), and Michigan (-30.5%) all experienced a more dramatic month-over-month decline than Colorado, though New Jersey (-13%), Tennessee (-13.6%), and Pennsylvania (-14.4%) were modestly better.
The NBA remained king in April, which has been the case in most markets. Betting reached $84.3 million, down from $106.9 million in March. Baseball betting in the season’s first month was second with $48.3 million, a total likely dampened by the struggles of the Colorado Rockies. The Colorado Avalanche propelled hockey betting to No. 3, with $10.6 million, while table tennis ($9 million) continued to show atypical popularity.
“Colorado’s unique mix of betting interests does help flatten some of the seasonal swings that some other major markets experience,” St. Clair said. “If the Nuggets and Avalanche can make deep playoff runs and the Olympics pique interest, Colorado stands a good chance of avoiding the worst of the typical summer swoon.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Colorado, visit PlayColorado.com/news.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches (including PlayColorado.com, PlayIndiana.com, and PlayNJ.com) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
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DraftKings is set to launch its top-rated online sportsbook and casino, along with its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand, in Alberta on July 13. Alberta will become the second Canadian province and the 34th jurisdiction across North America where DraftKings Sportsbook is available. With the launch, DraftKings Casino will be available in five U.S. states and Golden Nugget Online Gaming casino in four U.S. states, with both brands available in Alberta and Ontario in Canada.
“We’re thrilled to launch DraftKings Sportsbook and DraftKings Casino, as well as Golden Nugget Online Gaming in Alberta and continue expanding our presence in Canada. Alberta is home to a passionate sports fan base, and we’re excited to bring customers across the province our industry-leading sports betting and online casino experiences. Launching during one of the biggest moments in global sports, with the World Cup taking place across North America, makes this an especially exciting time to welcome Albertans to DraftKings,” said Greg Karamitis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports at DraftKings.
To celebrate the launch in Alberta, DraftKings employees will volunteer with Food Banks Alberta and present a $150,000 donation to the organization. The funding will purchase over 40,000 pounds of essential food items to be distributed through Food Banks Alberta’s network of member food banks, ensuring resources reach communities both large and small throughout Alberta. This donation will help provide essential food support, including high demand items like fruits and vegetables and baby formula to individuals and families facing hunger, while strengthening local food banks’ ability to meet growing demand.
Eligible customers in Alberta will have access to DraftKings’ comprehensive suite of sports betting and online casino offerings. From same-game parlays, live in-game wagering, and special odds boosts on DraftKings Sportsbook to thousands of casino games, including fan-favorite titles like “Wheel of Fortune – Triple Extreme Spin,” exclusive slot titles, as well as progressive jackpots across Golden Nugget Online Gaming and DraftKings Casino, DraftKings delivers one of the industry’s most robust and engaging entertainment experiences.
DraftKings leads the industry in responsible engagement by promoting customer awareness and use of budget and control tools and resources like deposit limits, cool off periods, and self-exclusion to help customers have a fun source of entertainment with a brand they can trust.
The post DraftKings Set to Launch its Online Sportsbook and Casino in Alberta appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
High 5 Games, the creator of premium casino content for the land based, online and social gaming markets announced it has secured supplier approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), extending its games beyond Play Alberta to all licensed operators in the province’s newly opened commercial iGaming market.
High 5 Games has entertained Alberta players since 2024 through Play Alberta, the province’s government operated gaming platform, where titles such as DaVinci DeluxeWays, Billionaire’s Bank, Green Machine and more have become established player favourites. With Alberta’s commercial market now open, that same proven portfolio is available to all licensed operators entering the province.
Alberta’s commercial iGaming market will be opening on July 13, 2026, making it the second Canadian province after Ontario to welcome private sector operators. Overseen by AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), the market launched with nearly 50 registered operator brands, one of the most anticipated regulated market openings in North America this year.
The approval extends High 5 Games’ regulated North American footprint, which includes New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia. Alberta players will gain access to High 5’s catalogue of player favourite titles, including DaVinci DeluxeWays, Billionaire’s Bank, Green Machine and other titles through launch partnerships with operators.
“Alberta players already know and love our games through Play Alberta, that is a head start no newcomer to this market can claim. With the open market live, every operator in the province can now offer their players the award winning High 5 titles they have been playing for years, from day one.” says Tony Singer, CEO at High 5 Games.
High 5 Games’ content is certified across New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ontario, British Columbia and the studio has developed more than 300 games over three decades of game making.
The post High 5 Games Expands Across Alberta’s Open iGaming Market Following AGLC Supplier Approval appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The supplier can now distribute its online casino titles beyond Play Alberta to all licensed operators in the province.
High 5 Games has secured supplier approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allowing the studio to supply its online casino content to all licensed operators in Alberta’s newly opened commercial iGaming market.
The company has been live in the province since 2024 via Play Alberta, the government-operated platform, where it said titles including DaVinci DeluxeWays, Billionaire’s Bank and Green Machine have become player favourites. With the commercial market now open, High 5 Games said the same portfolio can be offered across operators entering Alberta.
Alberta’s commercial iGaming market is set to open on July 13, 2026, becoming Canada’s second province after Ontario to allow private-sector operators. The market is overseen by AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) and launched with nearly 50 registered operator brands, according to the company.
“Alberta players already know and love our games through Play Alberta, that is a head start no newcomer to this market can claim. With the open market live, every operator in the province can now offer their players the award winning High 5 titles they have been playing for years, from day one.” says Tony Singer, CEO at High 5 Games.
High 5 Games said the AGLC approval expands its regulated North American footprint, which it listed as including New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. The company said it has developed more than 300 games over three decades.
The post High 5 Games wins AGLC supplier approval ahead of Alberta iGaming launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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