Colorado online gambling – your complete guide
Colorado online gambling is a growing market. Colorado gambling laws don’t permit online casino games for real money, however, sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) are regulated and part of the online gambling scene in CO.
Want to find out about all forms of legal gambling in Colorado? Read on to discover how and where to play for real money in the Centennial State.
The best Colorado gambling sites
Want to find the best Colorado online gambling sites? Look no further. We’ve got together the best licensed and regulated CO gambling sites. Our rating system is designed to help you, the user. We use a rigorous system to determine the pros and cons of each site while giving you a 360-degree view of what operators in Colorado are all about.
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
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1
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90/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,250 Stakeback + 2,000 loyalty credits
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Play now |
Good to know
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2
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85/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
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Play now |
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3
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83/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Play now |
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4
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82/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 89% Playscore based on |
Bet $1 get $200 in Bonus Bets
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Play now |
Good to know
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21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler (call or text in Colorado). |
5
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80/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on |
100% match up to $500
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Play now |
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6
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80/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 FC
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Play now |
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7
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 80% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 in Free Bets
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Play now |
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8
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78/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 86% Playscore based on |
100% match up to $100 + $5 Promo Pick
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Play now |
Good to know
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9
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76/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets + a daily No Sweat SGP
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Play now |
Good to know
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10
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75/100 Expert rating by Melanie H. 78% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet up to $500
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Play now |
Good to know
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Colorado gambling sites by type — what’s legal?
Colorado online gambling is still in the early stages – it was only a short time ago that the first sportsbooks received state licenses.
As such, not all forms of CO gambling are permitted yet. Licensed sportsbooks are legal to operate in Colorado, while only those physically located in the state are allowed to make real-money wagers.
On the contrary, online casino and online poker operators find themselves out in the cold, as internet gambling is not permitted on CO online gambling sites.
If you want the best online gambling site experience in Colorado you can play online casino games for amusement or prizes at a number of “social casinos” also known as sweepstakes casinos.
All Colorado operators must include self-help resources, and you can call 1-800-GAMBLER if you feel you need help.
| Vertical | Legal age (offline) | Legal age (online) | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casinos | 21 | N/A | N/A |
| Social casinos | N/A | 18 | N/A |
| Sportsbook | 21 | 21 | 2020 |
| Poker | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Lottery | 18 | 18 | 1982 |
| Daily fantasy sports | 18 | 18 | 2016 |
| Bingo | 18 | N/A | 1958 |
Sports betting in Colorado
Colorado is the 19th state to legalize online sports betting in the US. The barrier for entry is fairly low, which means dozens of operators have entered the market since 2020. The same goes for DFS, which was legalized back in 2016.
The Colorado online gambling scene offers players a couple of choices: retail sports betting and online sports betting, while several apps are available on mobile. Markets include local and international sporting events, while popular national leagues NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS are readily available across all Colorado sportsbooks.
Want to bet on college sports? You’re in luck: it’s one of the states where college sports betting is accepted. You can also bet on mixed martial arts, motorsports, tennis, snooker, rugby, golf, etc. Conversely, both esports and high school sports betting is illegal. CO gambling sites where sports betting is permitted typically have welcome bonuses and promotions available for new and existing customers. The former often consist of free bets on your first deposit.
- Top operators represented
- Bet on college sports
- More major sportsbooks available
Online casinos in Colorado aren’t legal — check out social casinos
When it comes to casinos and online gambling real money Colorado players are currently limited to sweepstakes casinos. Also known as ‘social casinos’ — on these sites you play casino games for cash prizes. How does it work? You need to purchase virtual currencies to play. Generally, the sweepstakes casino will offer a bonus for extra sweepstakes cash or credits.
Sweepstakes casinos have an array of games to play. These are similar to traditional online casinos and include online slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, and keno to name a few.
At the same time, you can exchange sweepstakes cash for real money if you win. Some popular sweepstakes casinos in Colorado include Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, Funzpoints, and Hard Rock Social Casino.
- Sweepstakes casinos permitted
- No legal online casinos
| Casino Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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94/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins and $25 Stake Cash
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Play now |
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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4
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84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
27,777 Lucky Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
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5
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now |
Good to know
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6
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now |
Good to know
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7
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now |
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8
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now |
Good to know
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9
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78/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 86% Playscore based on |
1,050,000 Gold Coins + 3,999 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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10
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77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
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Play now |
Good to know
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11
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76/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
88,000 Tao Coins
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Play now |
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Online poker — available at social casinos
Online poker for real money is not legal in Colorado at present. As with online casino games, you can play poker for amusement at sweepstakes (social casinos) such as Global Poker. Coloradans can register an account for free and play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Caribbean Poker and enter daily tournaments and sit-and-go games.
It’s not clear if or when Colorado gambling laws will accommodate online poker games. The last effort to bring legal online poker to Colorado was back in 2013. Nothing has changed since then.
- Sweepstakes poker sites permitted
- No legal online poker sites
Other forms of gambling in CO
The state permits other forms of Colorado online gambling outside of the three most popular verticals (sportsbook, casino, poker). One example is daily fantasy sports, which is similar to sports betting. But instead of being pitted against bookmakers, patrons compete against each other. Both platforms make it possible to profit from your sports acumen and are available at sites like FanDuel sportsbook.
Meanwhile, Coloradans can partake in charitable gaming activities across the state. The most popular of these is bingo, which is often used by non-profit organizations to raise funds. The state lottery is also well established with a variety of tickets available online and offline.
Finally, live and off-track horse racing is legal in Colorado. Arapahoe Park is currently the lone live horse-racing track in the state. Pari-mutuel betting is permitted at over 10 licensed retail venues and online betting sites.
Colorado lottery
Another form of legal Colorado online gambling is the state lottery, where games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and scratch cards are the most popular. Tickets are sold online and at retail stores. Since its inception, the Colorado lottery has given over $3 billion to projects all over the state.
Bingo
Thanks to Colorado’s charitable gaming laws — bingo and raffles are available throughout the state. It’s still very much an offline industry as online bingo is still not legal in the state.In most major cities in the state, you’ll find established bingo halls and bingo nights where you can try your luck at getting those winning numbers.
Horse racing
Horse racing has a long tradition in the state that stretches back to the 1950s when pari-mutuel betting was first legalized. Today both live and off-track racing (OTB) is available for bettors within the state.
Daily fantasy sports
Daily Fantasy sports have been legal since 2016 — you can play online gambling real money Colorado in tournaments and head-to-head matches. All the major sports like NBA and NFL are covered, you get to pick your team (with the caveat that you have a salary cap on how much you can spend on your roster of players).Offline gambling in CO
Black Hawk, Central City, Cripple Creek, and Ignacio are home to some 40 casinos – making these towns the Vegas of the Rockies. In early 2021, Colorado residents voted to have limits at casinos removed. Over 59% were in favor of the amendment. But these won’t disappear entirely – instead, casinos will adopt limits of $500 to $1,000 per wager.
Some casinos operate 24-hours per day and collectively boast some 12,000 penny slot and video poker machines as well as popular table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. You need to be 21 years or older to play at Colorado casinos, where free drinks are served to customers.
Have Colorado online casinos affected online gambling in the state? Yes, especially since sports betting was legalized in 2019. Since then, a number of retail casinos have opened sports betting platforms, thereby giving customers outside of Black Hawk, Central City, Cripple Creek, and Ignacio the opportunity to bet from anywhere in the state.
| Retail | Launch date | Online casino | Online sports | Online poker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameristar, Black Hawk | December 20, 2001 | No | No | No |
| Sky Ute, Ignacio | November, 2008 | No | No | Yes |
| Red Dolly, Black Hawk | May 18, 1992 | No | No | Yes |
| Wildwood, Cripple Creek | June, 2021 | No | No | Yes |
| Monarch, Black Hawk | April 1991 | No | No | Yes |
| Black Hawk Station, Black Hawk | December, 2001 | No | No | No |
How we rate online gambling sites in Colorado
Finding legal CO gambling sites is easy – because operators need to be licensed and regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming to accept online gambling real money Colorado.
The department keeps a database of legal operators which currently includes 22 operators. If a particular gambling site is not listed, you best know it has no license in the state.
We use a list of criteria to rate each operator and award points for the categories listed below. This makes it easier to compare sites.
State license
All gambling operators need to register with the Colorado Division of Gaming to obtain a state license. CO online gambling sites must be licensed and regulated by the CDG, if they aren’t, they’re not permitted to accept online gambling real money Colorado. At the same time, we look for state licenses to ensure that each operator is regulated and safe.
Products
The type of gambling products available will depend on your state of residence. In this state, only online sports betting is legal, while no wagers at Colorado online casinos and sportsbooks are permitted. Fliff social betting app has found a way around this where you can use Fliff Coins or Fliff Cash to wager on the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. We rate sportsbooks based on the variety of betting markets, betting limits, and odds pricing. Commonly, sports betting operators will have some 40+ types of sports to bet on, while betting limits range from $.50 upwards – there’s no upper limit. The odds pricing varies from operator to operator. We review these by looking at the lines for each sportsbook.
Live gambling
Sportsbooks in CO offer live betting on both local and international sports, called in-play betting. Betting is accepted throughout an event or game. We typically look out for functions such as “update current odds” to ensure that our patrons receive up-to-date betting information.
Gambling apps
Gambling apps are popular in the US and Colorado is no different. We rate the apps based on their performance vs. the desktop platform while checking whether all betting markets are catered for. Sports betting apps will habitually come with 100% of the same betting markets compared to the main website.
Platform
Critically to our rating is the overall user experience. Aside from checking if the navigational tools are user-friendly, we rate operators based on whether they have security measures in place for player protection, easy access to payout policies and payment methods, quality customer support, and clear-cut rules.
How safe is gambling in CO?
Gambling in Colorado is safe when you play at licensed and regulated operators.
The Colorado Division of Gaming (CDG) is the state authority for regulated gambling in Colorado. As such, they regularly conduct compliance and revenue audits to ensure gambling sites are safe.
Colorado gambling operators need to adhere to some pretty strict rules, too. Not permitting customers under the age of 18 is just one of them, but more importantly, operators need to protect players at all times.
That means operators need to demonstrate their commitment to safety by giving you the necessary tools to gamble responsibly. We discuss these below. Naturally, some operators are more responsible than others – which is why we rate sites for safety in our reviews.
Keep an eye out for these symbols at safe sites:
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Colorado Department of Revenue
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Colorado Gaming Association
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NCPG
Colorado gambling laws: a brief history
The history of gambling in Colorado can be traced back to the Old West – when gambling halls popped up in frontier towns and mining districts throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s no surprise then that three former mining towns are central to Colorado’s gambling landscape: Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.
Much has happened since the first gambling halls were founded. Colorado’s sports betting industry reported over $1 billion in wagers during the periods May-December 2020 alone. We look at some of the highlights of Colorado’s gambling history below.
Horse and greyhound racing introduced
The Colorado General Assembly approves HB 439 to bring pari-mutuel horse and greyhound racing to the state. A few months later, the Colorado Racing Commission was created.
Charitable gambling legalized
Colorado lawmakers changed the constitution to accommodate Measure 4, thereby legalizing charitable gambling, including bingo, pull-tabs, and raffles for the purpose of fundraising.
Colorado Lottery created
Colorado General Assembly creates the Colorado Lottery. The first scratch card was sold a year later.
Limited gaming act passes
Lawmakers pass the Colorado Limited Gaming Act by a vote of 57-42. The enterprise legalized gambling in the towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.
Daily fantasy sports arrives in Colorado
Colorado becomes the 5th state to legalize daily fantasy sports.
Sports betting legalized in the state
Colorado legalizes sports betting, paving the way for retail and online sportsbooks to apply for licenses to operate in the state.
Latest CO gambling updates — record-breaking sports betting revenue
The Colorado gambling scene is constantly changing, here we’ll keep a list of the latest gambling-related updates to hit the state.
- Colorado sports fans break records with $500 million+ in bets in Jan 2022
- FanDuel introduces “play well” initiative to coincide with Problem Gambling Awareness Month
- Bet365 gets approval to open online sportsbook in Colorado
FAQs
Can 18 year olds gamble in Colorado?
Yes. You must be 18 or older to play the state lottery and bet on daily fantasy sports and horse racing. To play at retail casinos, you need to be 21 or older. A full breakdown can be found in the legal gambling section.
Can you gamble online in Colorado?
Yes, but only at licensed and regulated sportsbooks. State law prohibits Colorado online casinos and poker sites. There are currently 22 online sportsbooks and apps available. You can check out the sports betting in Colorado section for more information on licensed and regulated operators.
What is social gambling in Colorado?
Social gambling in Colorado is where a ‘bona fide’ social relationship exists between two or more people gambling. This shouldn’t be confused with social casinos, also known as sweepstakes casinos, which are legal in the state.
When did online gambling become legal in Colorado?
Colorado legalized online sports betting in May 2020. There are already dozens of sportsbooks with websites and apps available where you can wager on local and international markets. For more information, visit the what’s legal section.
What gambling sites are legal in Colorado?
Colorado has several legal online sportsbooks like BetMGM sportsbook and FanDual sportsbook. Only players who reside in the state are allowed to participate in online gambling real money Colorado. You can check out the legal gambling sites in CO for more information on recommended operators.