Colorado, also known as the Centennial State, has one of the most varied gambling markets in the US. Although the state has yet to legalize online gambling, Colorado has authorized a variety of other regulated gambling markets which residents can take part in. Following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Colorado’s lawmakers were quite slow to explore the legalization of sports betting. So where does the state stand on sports betting? Let’s take a look.
Is it legal to bet on sports in Colorado?
Yes, online sports wagering is legal and live in the state of Colorado. On 18 April 2019, two weeks before the legislative session concluded on 3 May 2019, lawmakers in the state introduced HB 19-1327, a piece of legislation that would pave the way for sports betting in Colorado.
Instead of legalizing sports betting, the legislation allowed Colorado’s voters to have the opportunity to vote whether to authorize sports betting. Because Colorado is a Taxpayer Bill of Rights state, any legislation that would introduce a new tax rate requires voter approval via a referendum.
HB 19-1327 was approved by the legislature, and in November 2019, voters in the state narrowly legalized sports betting via a referendum. The proposition passed after receiving 756,720 votes in favor and 723,665 votes against it. With the approval of sports betting, Colorado became the 19th state to legalize some form of sports betting.
Colorado went on to launch online sports betting on 1 May 2020. However, due to the state-wide shutdown of non-essential business, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state has yet to launch its land-based sportsbooks.
Residents can also bet on horse racing events at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado’s only horse racing track, or at one of the state’s 10 off-track betting facilities. Bettors can also wager on horse and dog racing online at pari-mutuel betting sites such as BetAmerica and TVG.
Where can I bet on sporting events in Colorado?
Now that sports betting is legal and live in the state of Colorado, punters can place bets on sports betting sites, mobile apps and at land-based sportsbooks. At the time of writing, a handful of sports betting sites and apps are available in the state and several more are expected to launch in the coming months. Approximately 20 operators have been licensed for mobile sports betting in Colorado. Here are the sports betting brands you can expect to see in the state of Colorado:
| Sports betting operator | Mobile App | Launch Date |
| BetMGM | Yes | 1 May 2020 |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Yes | 1 May 2020 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Yes | 1 May 2020 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Yes | 1 May 2020 |
| BetMonarch | Yes | 11 May 2020 |
| BetAmerica | TBA | TBA |
| Betfred | Yes | TBA |
| Carousel Group | TBA | TBA |
| Circa Sports | TBA | TBA |
| Digital Gaming Corporation | TBA | TBA |
| Fox Bet | TBA | TBA |
| Internet Sports International | Yes | TBA |
| Penn Sports Interactive (may become Barstool Sportsbook) | TBA | TBA |
| PointsBet | Yes | TBA |
| Smarkets | TBA | TBA |
| SuperBook USA | TBA | TBA |
| theScore Bet | TBA | TBA |
| William Hill | Yes | TBA |
| Wynn Resorts | TBA | TBA |
Under the state’s sports betting legislation, three different types of sports betting license are available: a master license, a sports betting operator license and an internet sports betting operator license.
Thanks to the licensing structure each of the state’s 33 casinos would be able to apply for master licenses which means that if they wish, all casinos in the state can offer sports betting.
What sports can I bet on?
Now that sports betting is live in Colorado, residents and visitors can bet on a variety of professional sporting events including NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games, as well as collegiate sporting events.
What else can I bet on in Colorado?
If sports betting isn’t for you, there are still several gambling activities that residents and visitors can participate in. Bettors in the state can participate in daily fantasy sports betting games which were legalized in 2016. Punters can also try their luck on games offered by the state lottery which include a variety of games such as Pick 3 and Cash 5, as well as multi-state drawings. Charitable gambling, in the form of bingo and raffles, is another form of legal gambling on offer in Colorado.
Colorado allows the Ute Tribe of Colorado to operate two tribal casinos on tribal lands in the southwest portion of the state. Coloradoans can also visit one of the state’s 33 commercial casinos. These venues offer a variety of gambling activities which include:
- Slots
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Bingo
- Keno
- Roulette
- Craps
These are the two tribal casinos that operate in Colorado:
| Name | Location | Contact | Opening Times | |
| Ute Mountain Casino Hotel | 3 Weeminuche Dr, Towaoc, CO 81334, USA | +1 970-565-8800 | info@utemountaincasino.com | 24 hours |
| Sky Ute Casino Resort | 14324 CO-172, Ignacio, CO 81137, USA | +1 970-563-7777 | Online form | 24 hours |
Here are the state’s commercial casinos:
| Name | Location | Contact | Opening Times | |
| Ameristar Casino Resort Spa | 111 Richman St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 720-946-4000 | Not available | 24 hours |
| Bull Durham Saloon & Casino | 110 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-0810 | marketing@bulldurhamcasino.com | Sunday – Thursday 8am – 2am
Friday-Saturday 8am – 4am |
| Gilpin Hotel Casino | 111 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA |
+1 303-582-1133 | bwhite@bhwk.com | 24 hours |
| Golden Gates Casino | 261 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-1650 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Golden Gulch Casino | 321 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-5600 | Online form | Monday – Thursday 10am – 9pm
Friday- Saturday 10am – 2am |
| Golden Mardi Gras Casino | 300 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-5600 | Online form | Thursday – Monday 24 hours
Tuesday – Wednesday 8am-1am |
| Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk | 401 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 800-843-4753 | Not available | 24 hours |
| Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk | 340 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 610-241-1610 | Not available | 24 hour s |
| The Lodge Casino | 240 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-1771 | jgarcia@bhwk.com | 24 hours |
| Monarch Casino Black Hawk | 488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-1000 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Red Dolly Casino | 530 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-1100 | Online form | Monday -Sunday 8am – 2am |
| Saratoga Casino Black Hawk | 101 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-6100 | info@saratogacasinoBH.com | Sunday – Wednesday 9am -3am
Thursday 9am -12am Friday – Saturday 24 hours |
| Sasquatch Casino | 125 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 720-880-1616 | Not available | Monday -Sunday 8am – 2am |
| The Wild Card Saloon | 120 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-582-3412 | Not available | Monday – Wednesday 8am – 2am
Thursday – Sunday 8am – 4am |
| Z Casino | 101 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422, USA | +1 303-271-2500 | Online form | Monday – Wednesday 8am – 3am
Thursday 8am – 12am Friday – Saturday 24 hours Sunday 12-3am, 8am -3am |
| Century Casino & Hotel Central City | 102 Main St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-5050 | info.centralcity@cnty.com | 24 hours |
| Dostal Alley Casino & Brew Pub | 116 Main St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-5563 | Online form | Monday -Sunday 10am – 2am |
| Easy Street Casino | 120 Main St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-5914 | Online form | Monday -Sunday 8am – 2am |
| The Famous Bonanza Casino | 107 Main St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-5914 | Online form | Sunday – Thursday 8am – 2am
Friday – Saturday 8am – 3am |
| Grand Z Casino Hotel | 321 Gregory St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-0800 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Johnny Zs Casino | 132 Lawrence St, Central City, CO 80427, USA | +1 303-582-5623 | Online form | Monday – Wednesday 8am – 3am
Thursday 8am – 12am Friday – Sunday 24 hours |
| Bronco Billy’s Casino | 233 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-2142 | Online form | 24 hours |
| The Brass Ass Casino | 264 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-2104 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Century Casino & Hotel Cripple Creek | 200 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-0333 | info.cripplecreek@cnty.com | 24 hours |
| Christmas Casino and Inn at Bronco Billy’s | 279 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-2142 | Not available | Not available |
| Colorado Grande Casino | 300 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-3517 | cgcasinohotel@gmail.com | 24 hours |
| Double Eagle Hotel & Casino | 442 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-5000 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino | 301 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-2080 | Not available | 24 hours |
| McGills Hotel and Casino | 232 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-2446 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino | 256 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-689-0303 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Wildwood Casino | 119 N Fifth St, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, USA | +1 719-244-9700 | Not available | 24 hours |
Are offshore gambling sites legal in Colorado?
As online gambling has yet to be legalized in Colorado, offshore gambling sites should also be considered illegal. Regardless of its legal status, we recommend steering clear of offshore gambling sites as they do not hold a license to serve customers in Colorado and are therefore unregulated.
As these sites aren’t regulated, they are not bound by the same regulatory standards as Colorado’s gambling industry and therefore are not required to implement basic player protection measures. On top of this, when you deposit money into an account with an offshore there is no way of telling who is handling your cash and if anything goes wrong there would be a very small chance of recovering your funds.
You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name – domains ending in .EU or .AG aren’t licensed to operate in Colorado.
Is it be safe to bet on sports in Colorado?
Sports betting is closely regulated by the state’s Gaming Control Commission, a new gambling regulator created to monitor sports betting operations in the state.
However, even with a dedicated regulatory body, it is still up to the individual betting on sports to ensure they are gambling responsibly, and not wagering more than they can afford to. If you feel like your gambling habits are getting out of control or you may be developing a gambling problem, there are several resources available to help you. The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the national problem gambling helpline and offers a variety of screening tools and educational resources. Colorado’s residents also have access to resources from the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, a non-profit organization that aims to spread awareness of problem gambling and advocate treatment.
You can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:
Call: +1-800-522-4700
Text: +1-800-522-4700
Who regulates gambling in Colorado?
The Division of Gaming with the Colorado Department of Revenue is charged with the regulatory oversight of gambling in the state. The state’s horse racing industry, on the other hand, is overseen by the Colorado Racing Commission. If the state legalizes sports betting a new regulatory body will be created to oversee the activity.
How old do I have to be to gamble in Colorado?
The minimum age to play bingo and the state lottery in Colorado is 18 years old. If you wish to bet on horses or gamble at a casino, you will need to be at least 21 years old.
The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Colorado
1822 – The very first casino in Colorado opened for business.
1918 – Colorado’s laws were adjusted and almost every form of gambling was outlawed.
1983 – The Colorado Lottery officially launched. Initially, the lottery only offered scratch card games but on 23 April the lottery held its first draw.
1988 – Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), establishing rules and regulations for tribal gaming operations.
1991 – Colorado legalized casino gambling in three cities, Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City. The maximum stake allowed on a bet was $5 and the only games authorized were slots, blackjack and poker.
1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) placing a federal ban on sports betting across the nation. Oregon, Nevada, Delaware and Montana were granted a partial exemption from PASPA, as these states already had laws in place for legal sports betting.
1995 – The state of Colorado entered the first tribe-state compact for gambling.
2001 – The Colorado Lottery added Powerball to its list of games.
2008 – Gambling laws were expanded. Amendment 50, an amendment that would allow Colorado’s casinos to operate 24 hours 7 days a week, raise the maximum stake at casinos from $5 to $100 and also legalize craps and roulette was passed.
2009 – The Colorado Lottery added Mega Millions to its list of games.
2018 – On 14 May, the Supreme Court reached a decision in the legal battle between New Jersey and the US sports leagues. In a seven to two vote, it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not sports betting should be legalized. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA, a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.
2019 – On 18 April, towards the end of the 2019 legislative session, lawmakers introduced HB 19-1327, a bill that would legalize land-based, online and mobile sports betting within the state of Colorado. The legislation was signed into law, creating Proposition DD, which gave residents the opportunity to vote to legalize sports wagering.
In November, Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition DD legalizing statewide sports wagering in Colorado. The proposition passed after receiving 756,720 votes in favor and 723,665 votes against it.
2020 – On 1 May, the first wave of online sportsbooks launched in the state of Colorado, these included DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and BetRivers Sportsbook.
Check back with Compare.bet for more updates on sports betting in Colorado.
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