Table tennis has become one of Colorado’s most heavily wagered sports, despite receiving far less mainstream attention than basketball, football or hockey.
Bettors placed $346 million on table tennis during the fiscal year ending in June 2026, or almost $1 million per day. The figure represented more than 5% of the state’s roughly $6.5 billion sports betting handle and exceeded wagering on soccer, hockey and golf.
The activity has drawn attention to the constant supply of matches available through private leagues, particularly competitions based in Eastern Europe. Many events take place in modest venues and stream online without commentary, creating a steady betting schedule for Colorado customers.
The volume has also raised concerns about gambling harm. Declan Hill, a professor at the University of New Haven specializing in gambling integrity investigations, said: “This is outrageous. It’s crack cocaine pedaled as an innocuous, sweet sports gambling bet,” Hill said. He also argued that the continuous availability of matches could create particular risks for people experiencing gambling problems.
Fast-Moving Markets Concern Gambling Experts
Colorado does not have reliable data showing how widespread sports gambling addiction is in the state. A 2024 study in The Lancet found that about 8% of sports gamblers globally displayed “problematic gambling,” defined as gambling that disrupts family or work circumstances.
Lawmakers responded to wider sports betting concerns during the latest legislative session. New rules limit bettors to six deposits per day and prohibit push notifications encouraging bets or deposits. The state will also collect additional information and publish reports on betting behavior.
The frequency of table tennis markets remains relevant because matches can follow one another throughout the day, leaving bettors with little interruption between wagering opportunities.
Integrity Questions Follow Table Tennis Markets
Regulators in other states have also examined private table tennis leagues. Massachusetts temporarily removed TT Elite and other competitions from sportsbooks after complaints involving suspicious outcomes, abrupt match endings and potential manipulation.
TT Elite says its tournaments have integrity rules prohibiting participants from betting on matches. DraftKings later successfully petitioned Massachusetts to restore TT Elite after the league introduced measures covering match-fixing investigations and player discipline.
Colorado has previously intervened in table tennis markets. The state suspended the Ukraine Table Tennis Federation and Setka Cup following reports of match-fixing and irregular betting patterns. Both were reinstated last year after integrity concerns were addressed.
Colorado Regulators Monitor Betting Activity
Colorado officials say market approval depends on verifiable data integrity and fair play rather than a sport’s popularity.
“We recognize the high frequency and availability of international table tennis creates a fast-paced betting environment,” said Derek Kuhn of the Colorado Department of Revenue. “However, the Division approves markets based strictly on verifiable data integrity and fair play — not on a sport’s domestic popularity.”
Kuhn added that regulators work with licensed sportsbooks and independent integrity-monitoring providers to identify suspicious betting activity.
Despite the concerns, table tennis remains a significant part of Colorado’s betting market. Overall sports wagering increased 2.3% to about $6.5 billion during the fiscal year, while sports betting generated more than $47 million in tax revenue.
Source:
“Coloradans wager nearly $1 million a day on table tennis, raising concerns”, cpr.org,September 8, 2026
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