Colorado
Why Is This Colorado Church Putting Its Chapel On The Blockchain?
Thanks to a slick real estate broker, a network of churches in Northern Colorado is embracing blockchain technology to securitize their sanctuary. Pray for its investors.
By Nina Bambysheva, Forbes Staff
In the Middle Ages, the Church held sway over souls with the sale of indulgences—essentially, money in the form of silver or gold coins exchanged for a faster ticket out of purgatory. Fast forward to the 21st century in Northern Colorado, where a different kind of church token is being offered—one that doesn’t promise salvation but instead aims to purchase Fort Collins’ oldest church.
Move over, GoFundMe. Enter a modern twist on community investment, led by local pastor named Blake Bush, who is spearheading an effort to raise $2.5 million for the purchase of the Old Stone Church, a historic 19th-century stone building his community has been renting for the past two years.
Pastor Blake Bush Photo by Colorado House of Prayer
Bush, 57, is no ordinary clergyman. A former franchise salesman and a veteran of 34 years in ministry, he and his wife founded the non-denominational Third Day Church and later established One Hope of Northern Colorado, a nonprofit ministry leading the Colorado House of Prayer. “We’re not a church,” Bush explains. “We are the church, a network of churches working together to bless our community.” The Colorado House of Prayer, currently housed in the Old Stone Church, is a place where volunteers run the show, and anyone can lead a prayer at nearly any hour. Multiple denominations currently rent the space. For example, every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. the Korean High Mountain Church holds a service.
In the summer of 2022, Pastor Bush fell down the crypto rabbit hole when a friend introduced him to XRP cryptocurrency. Ripple Labs, the company that developed the token, once promised that its digital ledger would replace banks in facilitating trillions in global money transfers, but despite XRP being valued at $31 billion by crypto traders, Ripple has accomplished little in the last decade. Intrigued, Bush bought some XRP and soon found himself immersed in the possibilities of blockchain. “I just began to research and listen, trying to figure out what they’re doing, [Ripple’s] lawsuit with the SEC… who’s the SEC, what do they do, and what does blockchain accomplish? Where is this thing going?” He says the idea of tokenizing real estate “entered his thoughts” in February.
“I heard the Lord say ‘’tokenize the building,’”says Bush. “I was like, what? I didn’t even know what that meant. I’ve been interested in the technology, but I could not have formed that sentence because that’s just not in my vocabulary. I’ve been praying for this for years, and God said, ‘Son, go get my house.’”
Enter REtokens of Spokane, Washington, founded in 2022 by Tyler Vinson, 45, whose real estate brokerage firm Extant shares headquarters with the digital asset operation. Vinson, a local realtor who got his BA in Marketing from Eastern Washington University, boasts more than 20 years of experience and is the author of “Freedom Through Cash Flow.” Tokenizing properties like Bush’s Old Stone Church may be just the gimmick needed to inject new life into Vinson’s Spokane Valley real estate practice.
In late May 2024, REtokens and a Swiss-based private blockchain operator Polymesh announced that they would jointly tokenize $30 million in real estate, “delivering enhanced liquidity and a wider pool of investors to the real estate market.” Not mentioned in the press release was the pair’s only other asset tokenization—a $2.25 million preferred stock offering in August 2023 for REtokens itself. According to the private placement memorandum available to accredited investors, more than $150,000 of the proceeds would go toward paying off a loan to Vinson’s Extant, and ReToken’s payroll, which includes Vinson as CEO, would eat up nearly 24% of the funds annually. When you throw in marketing costs, blockchain fees and convention/travel expenses, “corporate costs” were projected to eat up to 40% of the tokenization proceeds in year one.
While there are no specifics in the offering statement about how investors will actually earn a return from their blockchain-based investment in REtokens, the shares were initially priced at 75 cents each, with a minimum investment of $5,000. Vinson’s new blockchain company intends to take $10,000 upfront for new tokenizations, plus up to 0.74% per year in an “equity fee” from new tokens minted. So far, REtokens has raised less than half of the $2.25 million in tokenized preferred stock it began offering a year ago.
Blake Bush’s Old Stone Church is Vinson’s first real estate tokenization. The first phase, launched on Friday, targets accredited investors with a minimum of $50,000 to invest, and is seeking to raise $2.5 million within the first year to buy the 11,457-square-foot stone building. The Old Stone Church is currently owned by one of Blake’s parishioners, Warren Yoder, owner of a Chevrolet dealership and auto body operations in Northern Colorado, who bought it in 2022 for $2.2 million.
Eventually, the Stone tokens will become available on the secondary market, presumably to non-accredited church congregants at $500 per token, with a minimum investment of $1,500. These tokens will trade indefinitely, or as the initiative’s website puts it, “until Jesus returns or the majority of investors and the board decide to sell.” Already, several locals have joined Old Stone’s board including the mayor of nearby Severance, Colorado, a mortgage broker and an insurance salesman.
Potential investors don’t need a special crypto wallet; instead they will have to create an account with REtokens and complete a know-your-customer process, much like buying stocks on Fidelity, says REtokens’ Vinson. In fact, purchasers are buying securities, not cryptos. The tokens won’t be traded on exchanges like Coinbase or Binance but only marketable through REtokens. And since the small offering falls under regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, Old Stone Church will be exempt from most disclosure requirements. Tokenholders won’t get a say in how the church is managed, either.
When Bush was asked the consequences of, say, a Satanist scooping up the majority of tokens, his response was, “I’d be like ‘great, thank you, let’s introduce you to Jesus.’” The Old Stone Church will be governed by its board and an operating agreement, he explains, so even a majority owner won’t be able to decide how to use the building. Tokenholders will only be able to vote for a president of the board and for or against the sale of the building.
Bush’s Colorado House Of Prayer is non denominational: “All churches who belong to Jesus are welcome to participate, regardless of their theological background.”
Photo by Colorado House of Prayer
Unlike traditional church and synagogue fundraisings, offered by not-for-profits and therefore tax-exempt, congregants wishing to “invest” in their church will not be getting any tax deductions. Tokenholders will be subject to normal income and capital gains taxes, which will come in the form of K-1 partnership distributions. “Even Jesus had to pay taxes and have a treasury,” says Bush.
As for returns, the pitch deck projects “a 2-3% yearly increase on each token in accordance with the rise in real estate value in downtown Fort Collins. In addition, each year, there will also be a small dividend based on the modest rent the LLC receives.” Pastor Bush is serious about managing investor expectations. “You’re not in this to make profits. You’re in this to do good in the community,” he says. The pitch deck notes that investors will be using their money to “advance the kingdom.”
The Old Stone Church is the first tokenized church, according to Graeme Moore, head of tokenization at Polymesh, but it may not be the last. Mark Elsdon, a minister and developer from Madison, Wisconsin, and author of Gone for Good?, writes that as many as 100,000 Christian church properties—a quarter to a third of all churches in the U.S.—are expected to be sold or repurposed in the next decade.
Already, hundreds of these properties are being acquired by businesses for use as offices, restaurants, co-working spaces, and hotels. New Yorkers may recall the 1983 transformation of the Gothic Revival-style Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, built in 1844, into the Limelight nightclub, notorious for its drug-fueled parties. A more recent example is the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Lake Opeka in Des Plaines, Illinois, reborn as an upscale Mediterranean restaurant.
Pastor Bush’s vision stretches far beyond Fort Collins. He dreams of forming a foundation to help others tokenize their historic buildings. He may be onto something. Considering each communities’ zealotry, religion and blockchain may be a match made in heaven.
MORE FROM FORBES
Rain Enhancement Technologies (NASDAQ:RAIN) began operations of its first U.S. Weather Enhancement Technology Array (WETA) in Gill, Colorado, after the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a weather modification permit on November 11, 2025. The permit is valid through October 31, 2026 with a potential five-year renewal. The solar-powered, chemical-free WETA can cover up to 360 square miles (≈230,000 acres) in Weld County and cites peer-reviewed trials indicating potential rainfall increases of 15–18%. The system will operate under strict oversight with real-time monitoring, automatic suspension during National Weather Service severe-weather warnings, and annual target-control evaluations and reporting requirements.
Rain Enhancement Technologies (NASDAQ:RAIN) ha avviato le operazioni della sua prima Weather Enhancement Technology Array (WETA) negli Stati Uniti a Gill, Colorado, dopo che la Colorado Water Conservation Board ha approvato un permesso di modifica del tempo l’11 novembre 2025. Il permesso è valido fino al 31 ottobre 2026 con una potenziale rinnovo di cinque anni. Il WETA alimentato a energia solare e privo di sostanze chimiche può coprire fino a 360 miglia quadrate (≈230.000 acri) nella contea di Weld e cita studi sottoposti a peer review che indicano potenziali aumenti delle precipitazioni del 15–18%. Il sistema opererà sotto stretta supervisione con monitoraggio in tempo reale, sospensione automatica durante gli avvisi di tempo meteorologico estremo del National Weather Service e requisiti annuali di valutazione e reportistica sugli obiettivi.
Rain Enhancement Technologies (NASDAQ:RAIN) inauguró operaciones de su primera Red de Tecnología de Mejora Meteorológica (WETA) en Gill, Colorado, tras que la Colorado Water Conservation Board aprobó un permiso de modificación climática el 11 de noviembre de 2025. El permiso es válido hasta el 31 de octubre de 2026 con una renovación potencial de cinco años. El WETA, alimentado por energía solar y sin sustancias químicas, puede cubrir hasta 360 millas cuadradas (≈230,000 acres) en el condado de Weld y cita ensayos revisados por pares que indican posibles aumentos de las precipitaciones del 15–18%. El sistema operará bajo supervisión estricta con monitorización en tiempo real, suspensión automática durante avisos de tormentas severas del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional y requisitos anuales de evaluaciones de control de objetivos e informes.
Rain Enhancement Technologies (나스닥:RAIN)은 2025년 11월 11일 콜로라도 주 Gill에서 첫 미국 기상 개선 기술 어레이(WETA)의 운용을 시작했다. 이는 콜로라도 워터 컨서베이션 보드가 기상 수정 허가를 승인한 데 따른 것이다. 허가 유효 기간은 2026년 10월 31일까지이며 최대 다섯 년의 재연장이 가능하다. 태양광으로 작동하고 화학 물질이 전혀 없는 WETA는 Weld 카운티에서 최대 360 제곱마일(약 230,000에이커)를 커버할 수 있으며 동료 심사를 거친 연구에서 강수량이 15–18% 증가할 가능성을 시사한다. 시스템은 실시간 모니터링, 미국 기상청의 악천후 경보 시 자동 정지, 연간 목표 제어 평가 및 보고 요건이 있는 엄격한 감독 하에 작동한다.
Rain Enhancement Technologies (NASDAQ:RAIN) a commencé ses opérations avec son premier réseau d’amélioration météorologique (WETA) aux États-Unis à Gill, Colorado, après que le Colorado Water Conservation Board a approuvé un permis de modification météorologique le 11 novembre 2025. Le permis est valable jusqu’au 31 octobre 2026 avec un renouvellement potentiel de cinq ans. Le WETA, alimenté par énergie solaire et sans produits chimiques, peut couvrir jusqu’à 360 miles carrés (≈230 000 acres) dans le comté de Weld et cite des essais évalués par des pairs indiquant des augmentations potentielles des précipitations de 15–18%. Le système fonctionnera sous une surveillance stricte avec un suivi en temps réel, une suspension automatique lors des alertes météorologiques sévères du National Weather Service et des exigences annuelles d’évaluation et de reporting des objectifs.
Rain Enhancement Technologies (NASDAQ:RAIN) nahm den Betrieb seines ersten US-amerikanischen Weather Enhancement Technology Array (WETA) in Gill, Colorado, auf, nachdem das Colorado Water Conservation Board am 11. November 2025 eine Genehmigung für eine Wettermodifikation erteilt hatte. Die Genehmigung gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2026 mit einer möglichen fünfjährigen Verlängerung. Das solarbetriebene, chemiefreie WETA-System kann in Weld County bis zu 360 Quadratmeilen (≈230.000 Acres) abdecken und verweist auf peer‑reviewte Studien, die potenzielle Niederschlagssteigerungen von 15–18% anzeigen. Das System wird unter strenger Aufsicht betrieben, mit Echtzeitüberwachung, automatischer Aussetzung bei schweren Wetterwarnungen des National Weather Service sowie jährlichen Zielkontrollbewertungen und Berichtsanforderungen.
بدأت Rain Enhancement Technologies (المدرجة في ناسداك: RAIN) تشغيل أول شبكة لتقنيات تحسين الطقس (WETA) لها في Gill بولاية كولورادو، بعد أن وافقت لجنة الحفاظ على المياه في كولورادو على ترخيص تعديل الطقس في 11 نوفمبر 2025. الترخيص ساري حتى 31 أكتوبر 2026 مع إمكانية تجديد لمدة خمس سنوات. يمكن لـ WETA القائم على الطاقة الشمسية والخالٍ من المواد الكيميائية أن يغطي حتى 360 ميلاً مربعاً (حوالي 230,000 فدان) في مقاطعة ويلد ويشير إلى تجارب مراجعة من الأقران تشير إلى زيادة محتملة في الأمطار بنسبة 15–18%. سيعمل النظام تحت إشراف صارم مع رصد في الوقت الفعلي، وتعطيل تلقائي أثناء إنذارات الخدمة الوطنية للأرصاد الجوية، ومتطلبات تقييم وتقارير سنوية حول الأهداف.
Positive
- Permit approval for Colorado installation through 10/31/2026
- WETA can cover 360 sq miles (~230,000 acres)
- 15–18% potential rainfall increase cited from peer-reviewed trials
- Autonomous solar-powered, chemical-free operation
Negative
- Initial permit is short-term (expires 10/31/2026) and needs renewal
- Operations subject to automatic suspension during National Weather Service severe-weather warnings
- U.S. effectiveness not yet demonstrated; data collection required per permit
Insights
RAIN’s WETA begins U.S. operations in Colorado under a one-year permit; potential modest rainfall uplift and regulatory oversight matter most.
The system is now operational in Gill, Colorado, under a Weather Modification Permit valid through
Regulatory controls include automatic suspension during National Weather Service severe-weather warnings, real-time monitoring, coordination with local emergency management, and mandated annual target-control evaluations and periodic performance reports to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. These conditions create clear data collection and safety gates that limit operational risk and provide a formal performance record.
Key items to watch over the next 12 months include the permit performance reports, the annual target-control evaluation, and any permit renewal decision; the permit end-date is
This deployment targets agricultural water supply, promising measurable coverage and a stated
The WETA installation is positioned to affect up to 360 square miles of agricultural land in Weld County and is framed as a tool to supplement water for cropping and livestock operations; the release notes Colorado agriculture uses roughly
Operational characteristics—autonomous solar power and minimal maintenance—could lower ongoing costs if performance metrics validate the technology. The permit requires annual reports and target-control evaluations, which will produce the empirical evidence needed to assess whether the system yields agronomic or economic benefit across the stated 230,000 acres.
Concrete near-term monitors are the mandated performance reports and the annual evaluation due within the permit year ending
Company’s WETA Ionization Technology Begins Operations in Gill, Colorado, Marking State’s First Warm Weather Modification Program
NAPLES, FL / ACCESS Newswire / November 11, 2025 / Rain Enhancement Technologies Holdco, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAIN) (“RAIN” or the “Company”), a leading provider of ionization rainfall generation technology, today announced it has commenced operations of its first U.S. installation following approval of a Weather Modification Permit from the State of Colorado’s Water Conservation Board. The Company’s Weather Enhancement Technology Array (WETA) system, installed in Gill, Colorado, in October 2025, marks the state’s first warm weather modification program and is now operational under a permit valid through October 31, 2026, with the potential for a five-year renewal. The installation can enhance up to 360 square miles of agricultural land in Weld County, where the technology has the potential to increase rainfall by 15
“This first U.S. installation represents a transformative milestone for Rain Enhancement Technologies as we bring our proven ionization technology to American agricultural communities,” said Randy Seidl, CEO of Rain Enhancement Technologies. “Colorado’s rigorous evaluation process and forward-thinking approach to water resource management validate the potential of our technology to address water scarcity challenges. We’re proud to pioneer the state’s first warm weather modification program at a time when innovative water solutions are critically needed.”
The ground-based WETA system operates by using electrical charge to create naturally occurring ionized aerosols, which then travel to cloud layers where they enhance condensation and stimulate precipitation. Unlike Colorado’s traditional cold weather cloud seeding that uses silver iodide, RAIN’s chemical-free, solar-powered approach harnesses natural atmospheric processes.
“After years of working with this groundbreaking technology internationally, it’s very exciting to see the growing interest in our solution to address the ongoing water shortage crisis,” said Scott Morris, Chief Technical Officer of Rain Enhancement Technologies. “With the first of our US installations to be deployed, we’re excited to demonstrate the real-world impact of ionization rainfall generation technology at scale. The Gill installation represents years of engineering refinement and will operate autonomously using solar power, making it both environmentally sustainable and cost-effective.”
This marks Colorado’s first warm weather seeding operation, differentiating it from existing cold weather programs in the state that use silver iodide to enhance snowpack. RAIN’s ionization technology has demonstrated effectiveness in warm weather conditions through international deployments, including a six-year trial in Oman’s Hajar Mountains, where results were published by the Royal Statistical Society showing statistically significant rainfall increases. The Colorado installation operates under strict regulatory oversight, including automatic suspension protocols during National Weather Service severe weather warnings, real-time weather monitoring capabilities, and coordination with local emergency management officials.
“We’re encouraged by the potential of this innovative technology to supplement water resources for Colorado’s agricultural communities,” said Andrew Rickert, Weather Modification Program Manager with the Colorado Water Conservation Board. “This program will provide valuable data on warm weather modification effectiveness while maintaining our rigorous safety and environmental standards. Rain Enhancement Technologies’ approach represents a new tool in our comprehensive water management strategy.”
The Colorado installation comes as western U.S. agriculture faces persistent drought conditions that have forced farmers to fallow fields, reduce livestock herds, and seek innovative water security solutions. Colorado’s agricultural sector, which consumes approximately
As part of the permit requirements, RAIN will conduct annual target-control evaluations, submit periodic performance reports to project sponsors, and provide detailed annual reports to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The solar-powered system operates autonomously with minimal maintenance requirements and produces no environmental residue through its chemical-free ionization process.
About Rain Enhancement Technologies, Inc.
Rain Enhancement Technologies was founded to provide the world with reliable access to water, one of life’s most important resources. To achieve this mission, RAIN aims to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ionization rainfall generation technology. This weather modification technology seeks to provide the world with reliable access to water and transform business, society, and the planet for the better. The Company is also developing applications for fog mitigation and snow enhancement to expand weather modification capabilities beyond rainfall generation. To learn more, go to www.investor.rainenhancement.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding expected benefits of the Company’s technology in Colorado; (2) references with respect to the anticipated rainfall increases; (3) references to permit renewals and future installations; (4) the projected effectiveness of the WETA system; and (5) potential expansion of operations. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of RAIN’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties as set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that RAIN does not presently know or currently believes are immaterial. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. RAIN undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation.
Media Contact
Linda Maynard
Rain Enhancement Technologies
Phone: (617) 869-4832
Email: linda@rainenhancement.com
SOURCE: Rain Enhancement Technologies
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
What did RAIN announce about its first U.S. installation in Colorado (NASDAQ:RAIN) on November 11, 2025?
RAIN announced its WETA system in Gill, Colorado began operations under a permit valid through October 31, 2026 with potential five-year renewal.
How much land can Rain Enhancement Technologies’ WETA cover in Weld County, Colorado (RAIN)?
The WETA installation can enhance up to 360 square miles, roughly 230,000 acres of agricultural land.
What rainfall gains does RAIN cite for its ionization technology in the Colorado permit announcement?
The company cites peer-reviewed trial results showing potential rainfall increases of 15–18%.
How long is the Colorado weather modification permit for RAIN’s WETA system effective (RAIN)?
The permit is effective through October 31, 2026 and includes the possibility of a five-year renewal.
What operational safeguards and reporting does the Colorado permit require for RAIN’s WETA (NASDAQ:RAIN)?
Requirements include real-time weather monitoring, automatic suspension during National Weather Service severe-weather warnings, annual target-control evaluations, and periodic performance reports.
Is RAIN’s WETA chemical-based and how is it powered in Colorado (RAIN)?
The WETA system is described as chemical-free and operates autonomously using solar power.
Colorado
2 Colorado Tribes fire back at state, governor after court ruling walls off online sports betting
The leaders of two Native American reservations in southern Colorado recently called the state’s ban on their ability to partake in online sports betting an extension of the “troubling legacy” of broken agreements between governments and the Tribes.
A recent ruling by a federal court judge on the issue, along with a petroleum spill that has aggravated the relationship between the state and the Tribes, has apparently reopened old wounds. Healing them may happen in the coming weeks if the two sides can talk.
A money matter
Colorado voters narrowly approved legalized sports gambling here in November 2019. The amount of betting and the amount of tax paid to the state from it has grown substantially since then. In September alone, bettors from across the nation spent more than $99 million online with casinos in Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek.
Reservation-based casinos are important to Native American economies. In 2023, tribally owned gaming operations nationally generated about $42 billion in revenue. Understandably, those reservations seek to maximize that cash flow.
In Colorado, both the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes started sports betting platforms through their own casinos six months after voters gave online gambling the green light. The Southern Ute Tribe launched the Sky Ute SportsBook through its Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe started its own platform at its Ute Mountain Casino in Towaoc.
According to court documents, the vendor for the Sky Ute Sportsbook received a letter from the Colorado Division of Gaming (CODOG) two weeks after it started.
“[W]e believe that your company is participating in sports betting in Colorado on behalf of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe without complying with Colorado gaming law,” the letter stated.
Later, the vendor working for the Ute Mountain Utes’ operation received the same letter.
The gaming division advised the Tribes to apply for the state betting license, the same license that all other Colorado casinos are required to obtain. With that license would come a promise to pay 10% of net sports betting revenue to the state. The casinos declined, shut down their sports books and sued instead.
“The Tribes claim that Colorado’s actions made their sports betting operations challenging and more expensive,” Judge Gordon Gallagher summarized in last month’s ruling, “effectively freezing them out of the sports betting market.”
Last month, Gallagher dismissed the case.
“Colorado explicitly authorized sports betting, a Class III game, throughout the state,” the Tribes complained in a joint press release following the judge’s decision. “But the State immediately stymied the ability of the Tribes to engage in that activity despite clear authorization under the Gaming Compacts, and instead, elected to benefit out-of-state gaming interests over its relationship with the Tribes. When the Tribes sought to challenge that conduct, the Administration chose to hide behind its immunity. These actions by the Polis Administration in refusing to honor the Gaming Compacts entered into with Colorado’s two federally-recognized Tribes represents one of the lowest points in State-Tribal relations in recent history.”
History
The first gambling approved on a Native American reservation came in 1979 when the Florida Seminoles opened a high-stakes bingo hall. Its legality was challenged, but the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled it was a legal operation.
In 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was enacted, giving way to the growth of casinos on reservation land.
Much has changed since then. First, online sports gambling became legal in most states in 2018, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
That same year, the Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law that banned commercial sports betting in most states. This spurred most states to authorize sports wagering, as Colorado did one year later. This gave those states regulatory authority over such gambling outside reservation boundaries.
Of course, one of the most significant changes to occur was in technology.
“[B]ecause of the ability to place an online bet from a cellular phone or other electronic device, bettors can engage in gambling from
almost anywhere,” Judge Gallagher stated in his ruling. “If the gambler and roulette wheel were on Indian land, IGRA applied. However, in 2025, a gambler can be in Denver and the electronic game processed through a computer server on Southern Ute Indian Tribe land or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe land. Where then does the gaming occur?”
“This is a legal determination for the Court to make,” he stated.
In the end, Gallagher determined that any bet placed off-reservation is regulated by the state.
“That distinction is crucial in this action and fatal to the Tribes’ case,” Gallagher wrote. “A myriad of gambling houses offer legal sports betting in the State of Colorado. To engage in this service, they must remit 10% to the State. The State of Colorado has offered this possibility to the Tribes.”
Anger Spills Over
“The Tribe respects Judge Gallagher and appreciates the time he has given this issue,” the Tribes stated in their recent press release. “We believe a different result is mandated by federal law and will be evaluating how to move forward in the coming weeks.”
But after that expression of hope, the Tribes’ sentiments took a very different tone. The press release referred to the “bitter irony” of the situation – a legal setback over gambling funds, most of which are directed at the state’s effort to protect its water resources, while the Southern Ute Tribe deals with a nearly year-old gasoline spill that threatens the Animas River. Groundwater contamination has forced several residents from their properties.
In the months since CBS Colorado first reported the spill, the company whose pipeline is responsible for it has upgraded the extent of it, from 23,000 gallons to nearly 97,000. The spill is now the largest spill of its kind in Colorado since the state began tracking such incidents in 2016.
“We are confident that had this spill been in Denver instead of a remote, rural part of the state, the response would have been more robust,” the two Tribes stated in the press release. “The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has expended its own resources to ensure the local waterways and resources are protected in our region. It has done so without a single dollar of the millions of dollars in revenue the State has collected from sports betting, and without the benefit of additional revenue from tribally-run sports betting that could have been relied upon had the Gaming Compact been honored.”
The Tribes claimed Colorado Gov. Jared Polis failed to participate in a recent conference call with state and Indigenous leaders about the spill.
“Yesterday’s cancelled call between Governor Polis and (Southern Ute) Chairman (Melvin J.) Baker reflects an alarming lack of urgency on the Governor’s part to work cooperatively with the Tribe on this spill – it brings to mind the troubling legacy of how states have historically disregarded Tribal relations, an approach that is wholly unacceptable in today’s society,” they said. “The history of relations between Tribes and the state and federal governments is one of broken Treaties and agreements. The Polis Administration’s conduct is a reminder that those things we think are an artifact of a distant past still exist today.”
A spokesperson from Gov. Polis’s office responded with a statement:
“We deeply respect the government-to-government relationship the state has with the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes. We are glad that the court ruled in the state’s favor to ensure Colorado can continue to manage sports betting in a way that works best for Coloradans and our state, and continue funding important water projects around the state. We are dedicated to working together with the Tribes on gaming matters, and we look forward to ongoing conversations with the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes on this important issue.”
Elsewhere
The issue is not Colorado’s alone. Today, Indian gaming, as it is called, is played in 29 states. There are 532 gaming operations, which include casinos, bingo halls, travel plazas and convenience stores. These are owned by 243 Tribes. In total, they grossed almost $44 billion in fiscal year 2024.
However, according to Tribal Government Gaming, three of the 10 states containing the largest number of Tribes still do not have legal sports betting seven years after SCOTUS gave states the right to allow it. A ballot initiative is in the planning stages for 2028 in California.
Congress could enact a national standard for online sports betting through tribal casinos, but has not taken up the issue.
Adjacent to Colorado (from Tribal Government Gaming):
- All of Arizona’s Tribes can offer in-person wagering and digital betting on the reservation. But off reservation, the 10 Tribes licensed to offer online sports betting are regulated by the state and pay the same 10% tax rate as commercial operators.
- Nebraska voters agreed to legalize sports betting on the November 2020 ballot, and three years later, the first bets were taken. The Winnebago Tribe is a key player on the Nebraska gaming scene, but in this case, the Tribe is regulated and taxed by the state.
- Oklahoma Tribes are hoping to pursue legalizing sports betting when the current governor’s term limits are reached in 2027.
- New Mexico’s Tribes have their own regulatory body and are not beholden to the state. They also do not pay taxes.
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