Press Releases
PlayColorado.com: Sports betting back on the rise thanks to Nuggets, Avs playoff runs
Colorado’s sportsbooks returned to growth as interest in the playoff runs of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets pushed the state’s betting volume to nearly $250 million in May. The month’s results show how valuable the success of local teams can be to bookmakers, especially in what is the offseason of sports betting, according to PlayColorado, which tracks the state’s regulated sports betting market.
“The U.S. jurisdictions that have fared best over the last two months have tended to be those like Colorado where a local team thrived or a locally held event drew heavy interest,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayColorado.com. “The biggest takeaway is that Colorado’s bettors remain engaged, and that will prove important once football season kicks off and robust growth returns.”
Sportsbooks accepted $249.0 million in May wagers online and in retail sportsbooks, or $8.0 million bets per day in May, according to data released Friday afternoon by the Colorado Division of Gaming. Those wagers were up 1.9% from $244.5 million in bets in April and up nearly 10-fold from $25.6 million in wagers in May 2020, the first month of sports betting in Colorado.
May’s wagers produced $15.2 million in gross gaming revenue, down 13.7% from $17.6 million in April but up from $2.6 million in May 2020. After promotional credits, sportsbooks reported $5.9 million in net sports betting proceeds, which yielded $635,641 in tax revenue.
The nation’s largest legal sports betting markets have been a mixed bag over the last two months, the beginning of a relatively slow period in sports betting that will last until football season. Of the Top 10 U.S. markets that have reported May data, Colorado’s month-over-month increase in wagering was smaller than New Jersey (up 8.9%) and Indiana (up 7.6%), but larger than Iowa (down 2.9%), Michigan (down 6.0%), and Pennsylvania (down 6.7%). Colorado’s handle did drop 18.8% in April, but all of the nation’s 10 largest markets saw at least a 13% decline in betting from March to April.
“Colorado’s sportsbooks are in a good position relative to most other legal states,” said Ian St. Clair, analyst for PlayColorado.com. “The seasonal slowdown will continue to be a factor until the NFL and college football returns. For now, though, the state’s sportsbooks are doing what they can to keep interest up by taking advantage of the opportunities, such as playoff appearances by the Nuggets and the Avs, as they come.”
With the Nuggets beginning their playoff journey in May, the NBA spurred $86.9 million in basketball wagering, up from $84.3 million in April. Baseball was the second-most popular sport with $49.1 million, up from $48.3 million in April despite the struggles of the Colorado Rockies. The Avalanche pushed hockey betting to $15.5 million from $10.6 million in April. Table tennis ($10.3 million), soccer ($9.9 million), and tennis ($8.2 million) also drove significant interest from bettors.
“With both the Avalanche and Nuggets eliminated and the Colorado Rockies struggling, Colorado won’t be as lucky as it has been for the remainder of the summer months,” St. Clair said. “But baseball’s All-Star Game should generate some interest, as well as an influx of out-of-state bettors. And the state’s sportsbooks will be creative in maximizing interest in events such as The Olympics.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Colorado, visit PlayColorado.com/revenue.
Following the success of its installation at Winpot Puebla, Zitro strengthens its partnership with the Mexican operator by launching its innovative line of CONCEPT cabinets at Winpot Boca del Río.
CONCEPT arrives with Zitro’s perfect game combo: Legendary Sword and King Fu Frog. Thanks to their high-quality graphics and innovative mechanics, both titles are designed to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. The machines feature the Magic Lighting system, which synchronizes lights and sounds with the game, in addition to their modern Screen Deck, providing greater comfort and functionality for players and the operations team, among many other features that make it a worldwide success.
Anuar Haua, Operations Director of Winpot, commented: “After our success with the CONCEPT cabinets in our Puebla venue, it was natural to bring this experience to the Boca del Río public. The response from our players has been incredible, and with this new installation, we reaffirm our commitment to offering the best of the market, hand in hand with Zitro.”
Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, founder of Zitro, added: “We are proud to see how CONCEPT continues to gain ground in Mexico, now also at Winpot Boca del Río. This collaboration reflects the mutual commitment we share with Winpot to elevate the player experience through technology, design, and innovation.”
Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
LEON Esports, the international esports division of Leon.bet, has officially become the international partner of SAW, one of the leading Counter-Strike 2 teams in Europe.
Based in Portugal, SAW is currently ranked #24 in the global CS2 rankings (HLTV) and maintains a strong position within the Top 30. The team is recognized for its competitive consistency, professional structure, and growing fanbase across Europe.
This partnership marks the second major esports collaboration for LEON Esports, following its ongoing cooperation with FlyQuest. The agreement with SAW reflects LEON’s continued commitment to the development of the global esports ecosystem and its support for high-performing international teams.
The cooperation will include a range of joint initiatives, such as exclusive content creation, community activations, and brand integrations designed to strengthen the connection between the team and its audience.
With this new partnership, LEON Esports continues to expand its presence in international esports and invest in teams that demonstrate both potential and performance on the world stage.
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