The November ballot in Colorado includes a measure that would allow the state's casinos to "take bets on baseball and football games and more" starting in May '20, according to a front-page piece by Anna Stayer of the DENVER POST. Proposition DD, as the measure is known, also would "legalize limited online gambling" through sports betting apps, though it would not "expand in-person betting beyond the borders" of three cities -- Central City, Cripple Creek and Black Hawk. Colorado-based pollster Floyd Ciruli said that it currently is a "coin toss when it comes to the proposition's chances in November, but he's still betting on the 'yes' campaign convincing enough voters to put DD over the top." The bipartisan legislative sponsors of Proposition DD -- state House Majority Leader Alec Garnett and Minority Leader Patrick Neville -- rejected the "requests of off-track betting owners to include them in the sports betting measure" (DENVER POST, 9/23).
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: In Colorado Springs, Jerd Smith reported part of the proceeds from Proposition DD would "help pay for water infrastructure -- thus creating an oddfellows relationship between gambling interests and some environmental groups." The measure would "impose a 10% tax on sports betting in casinos and dedicate the revenue to helping fund the Colorado Water Plan." A "wave of television ads touting Proposition DD" began airing last week, with funding coming from some Central City casinos, FanDuel and the Environmental Defense Fund, among others (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 9/23).
