1. Colorado Legal Sports Betting
2. Colorado Legal Sports Gambling
3. Legalized Gambling Colorado
4. Legal Gambling States

Colorado Limited Gaming Act with Constitutional Amendment - updated 5/6/20 November 5, 2020: The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform is currently conducting a sunset review of the Division of Gaming. Analysis is performed to determine if the Division is necessary and should be continued, modified, or repealed. The legal gambling age for DFS in Colorado is 21 years or older. DFS is fully regulated by the state of Colorado, meaning sites like DraftKings or FanDuel have to follow certain protocols. State lawmakers decided that people in Colorado need to be at least 21 years or older to play DFS contests.

History of online gambling in Colorado

Colorado’s beginnings with internet gambling date back to 2016. With many states arguing over the legality of daily fantasy sports (DFS), the Centennial State took initiative and put a DFS bill together.

Voters approved the legislation through a referendum in 2016. The state’s Division of Professions and Occupations now oversees the DFS market.

An even bigger landmark in Colorado online gambling history happened on Nov. 5, 2019. This day saw CO voters pass Proposition DD, which legalized land-based and online sports betting.

The law didn’t take effect until six months later, on May 1, 2020. Four internet sportsbooks launched on the opening day.

CO bookmakers experienced a difficult start due to the coronavirus being in full effect at the time. However, they’ve since enjoyed more success with major sports leagues returning to action.

Legality of CO online gambling

The sports gambling referendum features the following license types:

• Master ($2,000)
• Retail sports betting ($1,200)
• Online sports betting ($1,200)

All 33 land-based casinos in the state can and have applied for a master license. Approved operators retain their master status for two years before a renewal is required.

A CO operator must either hold a master license or partner with a casino that owns one to offer internet gambling. Therefore, online sportsbooks form partnerships with Colorado land-based casinos.

Internet and brick-and-mortar bookmakers must pay a 10% tax on revenue. This tax rate is relatively cheap compared to most states.

Colorado online sports betting

Sports gambling has been legal in the Centennial State since Nov. 2019 (see all Colorado online sports betting sites here). However, operators couldn’t legally accept bets until May 2020.

Since then, several land-based and online sportsbooks have opened up in the state. Available CO betting apps include:

• Betfred (partner: Saratoga Casino)
• BetMGM (partner: Midnight Rose Casino)
• BetMonarch (partner: Monarch Casino)
• BetRivers (partner: JP McGill’s Casino)
• BetWildwood (partner: Wildwood Casino)
• Circa Sports (partner: Century Casino Cripple Creek)
• DraftKings (partner: Golden Gulch Gras Casino)
• ELITE Sportsbook (partner: Red Dolly Casino)
• FanDuel (partner: Golden Mardi Gras Casino)
• Fox Bet (partner: Lady Luck Casino)
• PointsBet (partner: Double Eagle Casino)
• SBK (partner: Bronco Billy’s Casino)
• Sky Ute (partner: Sky Ute Casino & Resort)
• SportsBetting.com (partner: Johnny Nolon’s Casino)
• theScore (partner: The Gilpin Casino)
• William Hill (partner: El Dorado Resorts)

These online bookmakers combine to offer many bet types and markets, including:

• ATP & WTA tennis
• MLB
• MLS & Premier League soccer
• NASCAR
• NBA
• NCAA basketball
• NCAA football
• NFL
• PGA Tour
• UFC

Colorado daily fantasy sports

Daily fantasy sports became legal in Colorado in 2016. The main components of Colorado’s DFS bill include:

• Anybody who’s 18 years of age or older can play DFS.
• The Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) oversees the DFS market.
• The DPO determines licensing fees.
• Any DFS operator with fewer than 7,500 users doesn’t need to apply for a license—they just need to register with the state.
• High school and amateur sports are banned from Colorado’s DFS market.
• Operators must segregate player deposits from operating funds (a.k.a. ring-fencing).
• Players reserve the right to restrict themselves from the market (a.k.a. self-exclusion).

Colorado online lottery

Online lottery play is legal in the Centennial State. The Colorado Lottery doesn’t offer the most extensive internet play, though.

Instead, it merely provides the ability to purchase tickets in advance through the “Advance Play” option. Players can purchase advance tickets for the Colorado Lotto+, Lucky for Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball.

Colorado online casinos

The Centennial State doesn’t currently regulate online casinos. However, it does offer legal sweepstakes casinos.

Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are examples of sweepstakes gaming sites. They provide various online casino games without the real-money play.

LuckyLand and Chumba offer the chance to earn sweepstakes entries. You can win prizes through these contests.

No Colorado legislation appears to be on the horizon for legalizing real-money casinos. Until then, Chumba and LuckyLand remain the best available options.

Colorado poker sites

Colorado online poker is in a similar situation to internet casinos. It isn’t a regulated game, but it features legal sweepstakes play.

In this case, Global Poker is the only legal option in the state. It offers cash games, sit & go, and tournaments where sweepstakes entries are up for grabs.

State lawmakers haven’t discussed regulating internet poker since 2013. The odds of legal Colorado online poker happening in the near future appear slim.

Colorado online gambling apps

Various gambling apps are available in Colorado. These apps encompass DFS, online sports betting, sweepstakes casinos, and sweepstakes poker sites.

You’ll find both Android and iOS gambling apps in the state. The method for downloading each type will differ for two reasons:

1. Google Play doesn’t allow real-money Android gambling apps in its store.
2. Apple does allow real-money iOS gambling apps in the App Store.

Considering Google Play’s policy, you must visit a real-money sportsbook or DFS site directly. Once there, you can download an app straight off the website.

Because Apple is more lenient, you can visit the App Store, search for the relevant app, and download it.

How to deposit at Colorado online gambling sites

Colorado gambling sites feature several banking methods. These options allow you to place both online and in-person deposits.

Deposit options

Deposit methods at CO bookmakers include:

• Credit/debit card: Instantly fund your account using a bank-issued Visa or Mastercard.
• E-check: Send an e-check from your bank account to an online gambling site.
• E-wallet: Use PayPal or Skrill to fund your account.
• Prepaid card: Gambling sites can issue their own branded prepaid cards for deposit purposes.
• Cash: You can fund an account with cash at either a land-based casino or 7-Eleven (PayNearMe).

Withdrawal methods

You can cash out with many of the same methods covered above. The only exceptions are credit cards and PayNearMe, which are for deposits only.

You’ll also need to opt for the same method that you used for a deposit. If you fund your account with Skrill, for example, you can only cash out with this e-wallet.

CO gambling sites require you to complete identity verification before withdrawing money. Sites request additional identification to ensure that nobody else is trying to withdraw funds from your account.

Online gambling bonuses in Colorado

Depending on the gambling site, you can look forward to several types of bonuses in Colorado. These deals range from no-deposit bonuses to loyalty rewards.

No-deposit bonus

You only need to complete registration to receive a no-deposit bonus. For example, you might collect a $10 bonus after signing up for an account.

Match deposit bonus

This deal sees a gambling site match your deposit amount. For instance, it might match 100% of your first deposit up to $500.

Risk-free bet

Exclusive to sports gambling sites, a risk-free bet gives you an opportunity to earn back losses stemming from a losing initial wager.

For example, if you place a $200 wager and lose, you’ll have an opportunity to earn the $200 back. You must satisfy terms and conditions to receive the funds.

Free coins

Sweepstakes casinos often give away free coins for various promotions. First off, they give you a no-deposit bonus just for signing up.

You also typically receive more free coins every time you purchase a specified amount. For instance, you might get 100,000 extra coins when you purchase 500,000.

Loyalty rewards

Online sportsbooks, DFS sites, and sweepstakes casinos can all feature loyalty programs. Such programs allow you to earn extra money or sweepstakes coins through your play.

Colorado Online Gambling FAQ

The Centennial state offers legal betting sites, DFS, sweepstakes casinos, and sweepstakes poker sites. Only sports betting and DFS sites offer real-money play.

No. You can enjoy Colorado online gambling as long as you’re within state lines.
Internet sportsbooks use geolocation software to check where you’re located. If the geolocation determines that you’re in the Centennial State, you can legally gamble.

You don’t need to cover state taxes on CO gambling winnings. However, you must cover federal taxes on winnings.
The IRS treats gambling winnings as “other income.” You must report this when filling out your federal tax form.

Yes. The Colorado Division of Gaming oversees the betting market. Meanwhile, the Division of Professions and Occupations presides over daily fantasy sports.
These governing bodies work to ensure that operators abide by the marketplace rules. They also examine applications and approve quality operators.

You must be at least 21 years old to place online bets in Colorado. However, you only need to be 18 to play DFS.

Colorado, aka the Centennial State, is the 21st most populous state. It had
an estimated population of over 5.5 million in 2016.

Colorado offers regulated and tribal casinos, horse racing, social gambling,
lottery and charitable bingo and raffle games. Overall, Colorado is a
pro-gambling state, but their online gambling regulations are a gray area.

Here’s an overview of what you should know about Colorado gambling sites.

Online Gambling and Colorado Law

Is online gambling legal in Colorado?

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue Enforcement Division:

“Internet gambling is illegal under state and federal laws. Colorado law
prohibits the transmission or reception of gambling information by any means.
The federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, signed into law in
October 2006, prohibits online gamblers from using credit cards, checks and
electronic fund transfers to place and settle bets. Further, the federal 1961
Wire Act also prohibits the use of wire communications in interstate or foreign
commerce for the placing of bets or wagers or information assisting in the
placing of bets or wagers.

In addition, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission prohibits persons
and businesses licensed in the casino industry in Colorado from having any
involvement with internet gaming sites that can be accessed by Colorado
residents.”

Based on this information, we would say that online gambling is illegal in
Colorado.

The thing is, the laws referenced above were not specifically written for
online gambling.

Also, Colorado has no laws specifically disallowing online sports betting at
offshore companies or race betting in other states through the Internet. We
offer several recommendations for reputable offshore sports books on our
site – most of them are happy to do business with residents of Colorado.

Can I get arrested for gambling online in Colorado?

Based on the information above, gambling online seems to be a gray area in
Colorado. While the Colorado Department of Revenue says that online gambling is
illegal, the laws they reference are aimed at professional gamblers–not casual
gamers or online gamblers.

The state government is against online gambling, and has tried to rid the
internet of sweepstake cafes, but no one has ever been arrested in Colorado for
online gambling.

If you try to start an online casino, bookie or other gambling organization
in Colorado, you’ll almost certainly be arrested. The state’s enforcement
activities focus almost entirely on people running illegal gambling businesses.
Customers of those businesses are usually ignored.

Our advice, of course, is to obey the law no matter where you live. But
realistically, if you’re just placing bets online, you shouldn’t have any
worries.

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in Colorado

• Casino Games (Legal With Restrictions)
• Sports Betting (Illegal With Exceptions)
• Race Betting (Legal With Restrictions)
• Lottery (Legal)
• Bingo (Charitable Games Only)
• Social Gambling (Legal)

According to section 18-10-101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, gambling is
defined as,

“‘Gambling’ means risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value
for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a
gambling device, or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting
event, over which the person taking a risk has no control”

Casino games: Legal with restrictions

Colorado Legal Sports Betting

The only legal casino games in Colorado are blackjack, poker, craps, roulette
and slot machines.

Here’s what section 47.1-104 of the Colorado Code of Regulations says about
authorized games:

“Limited gaming permitted pursuant to article 47.1 of title 12, C.R.S., shall
include only the following games: blackjack (21); poker; slot machines; craps;
and roulette. All such games shall be conducted by licensees only in accordance
with rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.”

Here’s what section 47.1-105 of the Colorado Code of Regulations says about
unauthorized games:

“No licensee shall conduct or permit on its licensed premises any wagering or
gambling, except limited gaming which is conducted according to all the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Commission and except other wagering
activities licensed or approved by an agency of the State of Colorado.”

According to the section 18-10-103 of the Colorado Revised Statues:

“(1) A person who engages in gambling commits a class 1 petty offense.

(2) A person who engages in professional gambling commits a class 1
misdemeanor. If he is a repeating gambling offender, it is a class 5 felony.”

Sports betting: Illegal with some exceptions

Colorado has no regulated sports betting, and has prohibited live bookies or
online sports betting organizations.

Colorado residents can bet online at offshore sports betting businesses. We
discussed that earlier, but we’ll mention it again here. If you’re looking for a
legitimate, trustworthy Colorado sports betting site, most of the sports books
we recommend here are happy to do business with sports bettors in Colorado.

According to a letter from Attorney General Suthers and the Gaming
Commission, you can also participate in sports betting, if it qualifies as
social gambling.

Here’s what the letter says:

“office sports pools are allowed under a ‘social gambling’ exception under
state law. For an activity to be considered ‘social gambling’, all participants
must have a ‘bona fide social relationship’, meaning that they have an
established social relationship based upon some other common interest other than
the gambling activity, and no one other than the participants can profit from
the game or activity in any manner”

Race betting: Legal with restrictions

Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel betting is the only legal horse race betting in Colorado. Here’s
what section 12.212 and 12.213 of the Colorado Racing Commission Rules says
about methods of wagering on horse racing:

“12.212 – All wagers on any race meet licensed or approved by the Colorado
Racing Commission shall be made in person at a licensed facility unless the
wager is incidental to a bona fide social relationship.

12.213 – Association and Simulcast facilities shall set up wagering accounts
in conjunction with an onsite portable wagering unit that is checked out to an
individual customer of the facility. Accounts shall only be opened with a cash
deposit, and shall at no time have a negative balance. Units used in conjunction
with the account must be approved in advance by the division.”

Colorado has only one horse race track: Arapahoe Park. There are 12 off-track
betting locations for Arapahoe Park.

Several locations statewide offer simulcast horse and greyhound racing for
different parts of the United States.

Arapahoe Park

26000 East Quincy Ave.

Aurora, CO 80016

Phone: (303) 690-2400

Dog Racing

Colorado outlawed dog racing in 2014.

Here’s what section 12-60-604 of the Colorado Revised Statues says about
greyhound racing:

“No live greyhound racing involving the betting or wagering on the speed or
ability of the greyhounds racing shall be conducted in Colorado. The commission
shall not accept or approve an application or request for race dates for live
greyhound racing in Colorado.”

Lottery: Legal

Colorado has a state regulated lottery. Some of the games they provide are
listed below:

• Powerball
• Mega Millions
• Lucky for Life
• Lotto
• Cash 5
• Pick 3
• Scratch

Bingo: Charitable games only

According to the Colorado Secretary of State:

“Only non-profit organizations that have been in existence in Colorado for
five or more years are eligible to be licensed and conduct bingo and/or
raffles.”

Any for-profit organizations are prohibited from holding bingo or raffle
games.

A maximum of $15,000 worth of prizes can be given out at bingo or raffle
games. Alcohol as a prize is prohibited.

Social Gambling: Legal

Social gambling in Colorado is legal, but only under two conditions:

• It cannot be professional gambling.
• The players must have some social relationship besides gambling.

Here’s what the Colorado Department of Revenue says about social gambling:

“Colorado law allows a ‘social gambling’ exception, which allows ‘gambling’
that is incidental to a bona fide social relationship and is participated in by
natural persons. A ‘bona fide social relationship’ means that the parties must
have an established social relationship based upon some other common interest
other than the gambling activity.

Further, one participating in such social game cannot directly or indirectly
participate in ‘professional gambling’, which is defined in Colorado law as
‘aiding or inducing another to engage in gambling, with the intent to derive a
profit there from’. This generally means that no one other than the players can
profit from the game or activity in any manner.The profit does not need to be
direct profit.Colorado law defines ‘profit’ as any ‘realized or unrealized
benefit, direct or indirect, including without limitation benefits from
proprietorship, management, or unequal advantage in a series of transactions.’

These two criteria – a bona fide social relationship and no profit motive –
must be present for a gambling activity to be considered legal ‘social
gambling.’ “

Gambling Venues in Colorado

You can find a variety of casinos in Colorado. But the only cities they’re allowed in are Central, Black Hawk and Cripple
Creek.

Colorado Legal Sports Gambling

All other casinos in Colorado are Indian reservation casinos.

1) The Golden Hotel

800 11th St

Golden, CO 80401

Phone: (303) 800-5045

2) Ameristar Casino Resort Spa

111 Richman St

Black Hawk, CO 80422

Phone: (720) 946-4000

3) Colorado Grande Casino

300 E Bennett Ave

Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Phone: (719) 689-3517

4) Golden Gates Casino

261 Main St

Black Hawk, CO 80422

Phone: (303) 582-1650

5) Century Casino & Hotel Central City

102 Main St

Central City, CO 80427

Phone: (303) 582-5050

6) Ute Mountain Casino, Hotel & Resort

3 Weeminuche Dr

Towaoc, CO 81334

Phone: (970) 565-8800

7) Reserve Casino Hotel

321 Gregory St

Central City, CO 80427

Phone: (303) 582-0800

8) Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk

401 Main St

Black Hawk, CO 80422

Phone: (303) 800-9903

9) Wildwood Casino

119 N Fifth St

Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Phone: (719) 244-9700

10) Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino

256 Bennett Ave

Cripple Creek, CO 80813

Phone: (719) 689-0303

History of Gambling in Colorado

The first full U.S. casino opens. The Brown’s Salon casino was opened on the land where Utah, Whyoming, and Colorado meet. Brown’s was a popular gambling establishment for fur trappers who were common in that area. 169 years later, Colorado legalized their first casino.

Legalized Gambling Colorado

The Colorado state lottery begins with scratch off cards. The state lottery game Powerball is introduced in 2001, and Mega Millions is introduced in 2009.

The law allowing casinos to be opened in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City is passed. This law barely passes with over 41% of the Colorado population against it. Stakes are limited to a maximum of $5, and the only games allowed are poker, blackjack and slot machines. Even though almost half the state opposes this law, it brings a developmental boom to these three towns.

Colorado signs two compacts, one with the Ute Mountain Tribe and the other with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. These compacts allow casinos on their reservation land. These casinos are free from taxation, but they’re required to keep their betting limits and games offered in line with the state guidelines. Keno is added t othe list of allowed casino games.

Legal Gambling States

The Bingo-Raffle Advisory Board is created to license non-profit organizations to run charity casinos, bingo, and raffle events to raise funds for their causes.

The Attorney General of Colorado makes a statement about online gambling. He claims that online gambling can be covered by the existing laws and definition of gambling.

Amendment 50 becomes a law. This amendment allows residents of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City to vote on extending the operation of their casinos. The original curfew is set at 2 am.

Additional Resources

Colorado Gambling Future

Colorado offers a variety of gambling to choose from. These include a handful
of casino games, horse betting, online sports betting, social gambling, a state
lottery and charitable bingo and raffle games.

While Colorado has relaxed gambling laws, they have gone out of their way to
speak out about online gambling. Their gambling laws were not written originally
for online gambling because it didn’t exist then. They have yet to act on
statements of online Colorado gambling sites being illegal, and no one is
getting arrested for it.

Based on Colorado’s track record of continuously approving more gambling
options, we would say that state regulated online gambling is not far out.
Colorado gambling sites aren’t going anywhere. In fact, we’re predicting they’ll
become more common.