Pueblo Considers Legalizing Downtown Casinos to Revitalize City

Mayor proposes up to five new casinos to boost tourism and local business growth.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Pueblo, Colorado's mayor is exploring the possibility of legalizing casino gambling in the city's downtown area in an effort to revitalize the local economy and address vacant storefronts. The mayor suggested opening up to five new casinos to attract tourism and nightlife, similar to the casino towns of Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City.

Why it matters

Unlike many other states, casino gambling in Colorado is currently only legal in a few specific towns. Pueblo's mayor believes that legalizing casinos downtown could help revive the city's struggling economy, bring in new tourism, and fill vacant storefronts - though some may have concerns about the social impacts of expanded gambling.

The details

Pueblo, once the largest city in Colorado, has seen a decline in its downtown area in recent years, with numerous business closures and vacant storefronts. In a recent podcast episode, Mayor Heather Graham suggested that Pueblo could become the next Colorado city to legalize casino gambling, proposing the opening of up to five new casinos in the downtown area. Graham stated that the goal is not to make Pueblo a "casino city," but to use gambling as a way to diversify the city's revenue, attract new businesses and tourism, and utilize the city's existing amenities.

  • Mayor Graham discussed the casino proposal on her podcast 'The Mayor's Mixtape' on February 3, 2026.

The players

Heather Graham

The mayor of Pueblo, Colorado, who is exploring the possibility of legalizing casino gambling in the city's downtown area.

Brett Boston

A Pueblo city council member who was featured in Mayor Graham's podcast discussing the casino proposal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The City of Pueblo is open for business, and we are definitely looking for new opportunities to diversify our revenue. I'm happy to hear that members of City Council like Councilor Boston are looking to attract new businesses, increase tourism and utilize our already vibrant amenities here in Pueblo which then could potentially support legalized gambling.”

— Heather Graham, Mayor of Pueblo (The Mayor's Mixtape* podcast)

What’s next

The Pueblo City Council will likely discuss and debate the mayor's casino proposal in the coming months, with a potential vote on legalizing downtown casinos in the future.

The takeaway

Pueblo's mayor sees legalized casino gambling as a potential solution to revitalize the city's struggling downtown area, attract new businesses and tourism, and diversify the city's revenue sources. However, the proposal may face opposition from those concerned about the social impacts of expanded gambling in the community.