Colorado Senate approves sports betting referendum
The Colorado Senate moved sports betting a step closer to the November ballot Thursday by giving a preliminary approval to House Bill 1327.
That means the bill has to get final passage on Friday, the last day of the four-month legislative session.
The bill was introduced late – just two weeks ago – but it enjoys strong bipartisan support.
RELATED: Colorado House backs sports betting
It authorizes betting if voters approve the 10 percent tax on it to support state water planning, as well as provide money to combat gambling addiction.
The purpose of the bill, sponsors contend, is to squeeze out the illegal black market for online gambling.
The bill got some pushback from two Republicans Thursday night.
“Why do you want to make people that much poorer?” asked Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, about the odds that always favor the house.
“To make this so convenient that it’s right there on your phone in your possession all the time,” he said of gambling apps. “I’m just not sure that’s a good direction for the people of this state. What’s next?”
Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley, the former Weld County sheriff and a sponsor of the gambling bill, pushed back.
“It’s already here,” Cooke said of the black market. “Let’s capitalize on it and protect our interests.”
Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, offered an amendment to cap bets at $100, but it was voted down.
Under House Bill 1037, the games could only be offered by existing gaming licenses-holders: casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Those outlets, however, could hire those who offer online wagering.
Home rule has protected Colorado cities for over 125 years
Tom Cronin Bob Loevy
tom-cronin-bob-loevy@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Colorado is currently gripped by a political struggle between the governor plus the state legislature in Denver and populous “home-rule” city governments, mainly on the Front Range, such as Colorado Springs. In the past few years, the legislature has been passing bills that applied to city government policies,...
Colorado Politics calendar Apr. 13-19
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances,...
Minority Leader Peña argues against oil and gas bill | A LOOK BACK
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Forty-Five Years Ago This Week: “The Colorado House of Representatives had just given its final approval to House Bill 81-1152, which created $9 million in tax relief to oil and gas companies. But this came “at the expense of local...
A longshot, upset bid and a few quick takes | SONDERMANN
By Eric Sondermann
by-eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
It is hard to keep up these days. The flow of news often seems overwhelming. Let’s focus today on an unusual congressional race before moving on to a few quick, supplementary observations. Since its creation 54 years ago, Congressional District...
An “-“ends tribute in a week full of “odds” | Capitol M | Week of April 11, 2026
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
The lighter side of the Capitol, usually… The decision to read the budget bill — the long bill, which spans 661 pages this year — put a damper on the House’s already less‑than‑festive mood. So Capitol M decided to catch...
Colorado’s 661‑page budget read aloud after Rep. Bradley invokes procedural rule
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
A rarely used procedural move by Rep. Brandi Bradley, R‑Roxborough Park, has thrown the Colorado House into an extended slowdown, after she invoked her right to have the 661‑page state budget bill read aloud in full. While unprecedented, once Bradley...
Literal reading of budget bill complicates Colorado legislators’ plans for GOP assembly
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 15 hours ago
Republican Rep. Brandi Bradley’s decision to force the full reading of the state budget — called the “long bill” for its obvious length — has not only slowed House business to a crawl but also disrupted her colleagues’ plans for...
10th Circuit provides guidance on police searches of cloud-based data
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 17 hours ago
The Denver-based federal appeals court provided guidance to law enforcement agencies on Monday for ensuring that searches of cloud-based accounts comply with the Fourth Amendment’s requirements. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit noted...
Inflation jumped to 3.3% in March as Iran war drove up oil prices
Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner
zach.halaschak.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 20 hours ago
Inflation spiked in March, rising nine-tenths of a percentage point to 3.3% on the year, as towering energy prices drove up the headline number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the update to the consumer price index on Friday. The...
Colorado GOP votes down bid to ask court to prevent unaffiliated voters from voting in June primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Republican Party’s executive committee rejected a proposal Thursday night to seek an emergency injunction in federal court to prevent unaffiliated voters from participating in the state’s upcoming June primary election. The proposed motion, backed by Colorado...
PREV
PREVIOUS
TRAIL MIX | Can Crisanta Duran repeat AOC's feat?
Crisanta Duran posed a trivia challenge to her Facebook and Twitter followers in late April. What do Barack Obama, Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have in common, she asked. “A: They all challenged a Dem incumbent in a primary,” Duran wrote, and then added: “New energy in positions of power is healthy for our democracy. […]
Colorado legislature passes bill postponing road funding ballot question until 2020
Colorado lawmakers have passed a bill that would delay until 2020 a ballot question asking voters if the state can borrow $2.34 billion for transportation projects. The issue was to appear on the 2019 ballot under legislation passed last year. It would have asked voters if the state could issue $2.34 billion in transportation bonds. […]