Cripple Creek's casinos send a share of gaming taxes back to Teller County

Cripple Creek is one of just a few Colorado towns where limited stakes gambling is legal. The casinos there are not just a tourist draw — they are also part of how money moves in Teller County.

Here is the durable structure. Casinos in Cripple Creek pay a state gaming tax to the Colorado Division of Gaming. That money does not all stay at the state level. The Colorado Constitution sends a share to the two counties that host gaming towns — Gilpin and Teller — based on how much revenue is generated in each county. So when people play in Cripple Creek, a slice of the tax comes back to Teller County government.

There is also a separate state program that helps local governments deal with the everyday impacts of gaming, like roads, public safety, and services in and around Cripple Creek.

Why this matters for a buyer or resident: gaming revenue is woven into Teller County’s budget in a way most Colorado counties never see. It is not a private windfall and it does not lower your property tax bill by itself, but it shapes what the county can fund.

For how the gaming tax and its distributions actually work, check the Colorado Division of Gaming and the state’s Limited Gaming Fund pages.