Proposition DD was voted on and passed Nov. 5, 2019. What Proposition DD entails is the legalization of sports betting with tax revenue for water projects. 

   Proposition DD will allow a 10% tax on the revenue made by casinos or sports betting apps and use that money for Colorado water projects and for the regulation of sports betting and gambling addictions services.

   Those in favor of proposition DD argue that water is becoming more and more scarce in Colorado and will only increase as Colorado’s population grows. Colorado’s way of life and economy will suffer if its water needs aren’t met. By using the revenue made by legalized sports betting, that would allow the much needed financial support to the states’ water projects. 

   Sam Kurucz, social studies teacher who voted for the proposition, said, “I’m all for additional tax revenue and getting it from gambling services seems like a good avenue.”

   Another argument often made is that many Coloradans are already illegally using black market bookies and websites with no regulation or oversight.

   Those opposed to proposition DD argue that proposition DD puts no limits on the amount that a person can bet on sports, making it really easy to lose a lot of money with just the click of a mouse or push of a button on a smartphone. The amount of money going to support gambling addiction services is too small to actually help the people who are harmed by the legalization of sports betting in Colorado. 

   “Legalizing sports gambling can make it easier for people susceptible to a gambling addiction to fall into that, which seems like something we should try to avoid,” said Natalia Lopez, senior.

   Another argument against proposition DD is that it doesn’t provide enough money to actually make a difference in Colorado’s water projects and doesn’t provide enough detail on where exactly the money will go.

   Proposition DD was passed in a 51.42% to 48.58% vote, therefore legalizing sports betting in Colorado and taking a 10% tax on the revenue made to help fund water projects in Colorado.

Lindsey Ellis, Guest Reporter