Is Online Gambling Legal In Colorado

The home of the Rocky Mountains may boast all kinds of outdoor activities, but online gambling in Colorado is also a welcome distraction for many. You get the convenience of betting at your fingertips without having to take a long road trip.

This page is dedicated to everything you need know about gambling online for real money in CO, and includes a list of the best Colorado online gambling sites.

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Is online gambling legal in colorado

The gaming control’s position is that most online gambling services are prohibited from anyone licensed in the Colorado casino industry. But now, with DFS and sports betting regulated, Colorado gambling laws are starting to evolve slowly. 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.

Colorado and gambling have gone hand in hand ever since the 19th century. Back then, it was the heyday for renowned card players like Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson. These days, though, poker has evolved from saloons to Vegas-style casinos.

There are about 40 casinos in the state, all located in Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. Residents and visitors can also play the lottery, and participate in pari-mutuel betting and daily fantasy sports. There are no shortage of options for real money gambling in Colorado.

Colorado is also one of the few states, similar to New Jersey, that allows gamblers to place wagers 100 percent online. Some states allow betting through an app but the gambler has to register. After proposition DD sports betting bill passed in November 2019, the state of Colorado has stepped up to the plate to offer legal online sports betting. It is now legal for any state to set up its own online gaming laws. The first legal sports betting apps launched in Colorado on May 1st 2020.

In May of 2020, the first state-licensed sportsbooks, were unveiled in the Centennial State. But even with places to walk into to place a bet, and all the casino venues, online gambling in Colorado can be preferable.

We explain more later, but let’s start with details of the top online gambling sites for Colorado.

Ranking the best Colorado online gambling sites takes quite a bit of time and research. Fortunately, though, we’ve got an entire team of experts that’s knowledgeable and stays up to date on everything happening in the world of internet betting and gamling.

Unlike in-person casinos and other venues, real money online gambling sites for Colorado (and other players around the world) can come and go quickly. It could take a year to build a casino or a week to launch a website. So, it’s essential that we not only review each operation, but we revisit all of them frequently.

We have a comprehensive list of criteria that we use when we evaluate the service and reputation of a casino, sportsbook, or poker site, and we’ll get into more specifics in the next section. But it’s not a one-and-done process.

We continue to follow the news, watch for new site launches, and monitor legal online gambling in CO and beyond.

Rating Real Money Gambling Sites for CO

There are a few types of Colorado online gambling services.

Daily fantasy sports was approved in 2016, and the providers may be outside of the area, but the operations are regulated in-state. There are also sports betting sites and, as of 2020, some of them have in-state licensing.

Gambling

Other real money gambling sites for Colorado players are based out of the area and don’t fall under the state’s jurisdiction. They can be casinos only, although some of them include sportsbooks and poker rooms as well. These are the websites that we primarily focus on, because they require a more stringent review process.

When we’re evaluating Colorado online gambling sites, in particular, we take extra steps to ensure that they go the extra mile, especially when it comes to payment options. It’s not enough to accept a credit card, as US players need additional selections.

Our list of best real money gambling sites for CO includes operators who accept cryptocurrency, as well as bank transfers and other deposit and withdrawal methods.

Using something like Bitcoin is ideal for real money gambling online. Transfers are fast, free, and private. Other have options have their own benefits, too.

The money side of things is one of the most important when ranking online gambling sites for CO. But we also take a look at the entire operation from top to bottom. Our checklist starts with the homepage of the site and continues to customer service, bonuses, promotions, games, reputation, player feedback, and more.

Online gambling in Colorado is relatively new, although poker and other betting activities have been around for centuries in the Centennial State.

Colorado Gambling History

Getting to the point where there are now 40 casinos took some time. From 1948 to 1982, the only legal game in town was pari-mutuel betting. Even though things started to evolve in the 1980s, the change didn’t come very quickly.

The lottery was first on the list, and ticket sales started in 1983. From there, it was almost a decade before the next gambling expansion took place, but it was significant. In 1991, Colorado approved Vegas-style casino gambling in three locations. Unlike many states, it wasn’t all attributed to IGRA, and some of the venues are for-profit operations that are separate from the tribal casinos.

As we mentioned, there are currently about 40 casinos located in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. While it’s been business as usual for a few decades, things are starting to change once more. Some of the venues are adding sportsbooks beginning in 2020.

Both daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting were approved and in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Sportsbooks will be licensed and regulated in the state of Colorado for both in-person and online business.

Regulated Online Gambling in Colorado

Even though there are some in-state regulated online sportsbooks, most of the online gambling in Colorado is provided by operators out of state.

Gambling

The gaming control’s position is that most online gambling services are prohibited from anyone licensed in the Colorado casino industry. But now, with DFS and sports betting regulated, Colorado gambling laws are starting to evolve slowly.

You’re not currently able to play slots or table games at Colorado online gambling sites that are regulated in-state, but that may change in due course. And you have access to those games, anyway, at the real money gambling sites that we recommend.

  • Casino Gambling: legal
  • Poker: legal (in casinos)
  • Sports Betting: legal in-person and online
  • Online Daily Fantasy Sports: legal
  • Lottery: legal
  • Horse and Dog Racing Betting: legal
  • Other Online Gambling: not licensed and regulated in-state

With the lottery and all of the casinos, why would you want to use a Colorado online gambling site?

The answer would be the same if you replaced “gambling” with “shopping.” People like the convenience of having everything at their fingertips.

We’ve all grown accustomed to instant gratification. We buy things when we have the impulse whether we’re out in a store or not. When we want to watch a movie, we can stream one instead of always going out to a theater.

Accessible Entertainment

Online gambling in Colorado or anywhere else in the world can be a hobby for many people. It’s a way to pass the time, and it’s entertaining. If you’re a sports fan, you can catch a game. Of course, having a bet in place makes it even more exciting to watch. Slots, table games, and video poker can be fun pursuits as well.

In addition to being able to gamble any time and anywhere, it may be the only game in town for some players. If you enjoy real money gambling in Colorado and you don’t live near one of the three casino hotbeds, then gambling online is a great alternative.

The top CO gambling sites have come a long way since the earlier days. You know, way back when, in the late 90s and early 21st century!

Today’s online casinos and sportsbooks are filled with all kinds of options. You can even sit down at a virtual live dealer table and watch as a living and breathing human being deals out the cards. Or, if privacy is your thing, you don’t have to go anywhere near a live casino. You can stick to playing against the computer.

You can bet on pretty much any sport you want to, with all kinds of different wagers available.

You’ll find more ways to move money in and out of online accounts, as well as new types of bonuses and promotions.

There’s better customer service, too. Not too long ago, it was challenging to find a phone number for some online gambling websites. Nowadays most of them have live chat.

More Top Gambling Sites for Colorado

While we’ve got a list of the top recommendations for the all-around best Colorado online gambling sites, you may be looking for something more specific.

Not all gambling websites extend their services to include all of casino, sports betting, and poker. Some don’t have live dealer tables, while others are all-inclusive.

So, we’ve taken our ratings and ranking system to another level by taking the best Colorado gambling sites and breaking them down into categories. That way, you can pull up what you’re most interested in without having to go one by one through each site to see if it carries your favorites.

Coloradans who enjoy real money gambling have quite a few options in their home state. They don’t need to travel to Las Vegas to do some casino gaming, as everything is available within state lines. Gambling expanded in 2020 as well with the approval of regulated in-state sports betting.

In addition to the brick and mortar options, Colorado online gambling is alive and well with new state-regulated daily fantasy sports and sports betting. Then there are the top Colorado gambling sites that we recommend, which not only allow for betting on sports but also offer casino and poker games.

Check them out and see for yourself why we recommend them!

Colorado sports betting is legal and live as of 2020.

There are a variety of legal sportsbook sites and apps where Coloradans can bet on sports already. The competitive market is creating explosive growth and a wealth of choices for bettors in the state.

Legal Colorado online sports betting

State regulators made legal Colorado sports betting available May 1, 2020.

There are already more than a dozen online betting sites and apps in Colorado, and more are on the way.

The May 1 launch allowed the new CO sports betting market an opportunity to get up to speed before the coveted start of NFL football and NCAA football wagering in September.

Top Colorado sportsbooks

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There are a variety of sports betting sites already available for anyone wanting to bet in Colorado. Some are run by large companies with a presence in multiple states, while others are tied more to a local casino and exist only in Colorado.

Here is a look at what currently know about sports betting sites that are both live and on their way in the state, including the relationships between casinos and sportsbooks.

SportsbookCasinoDeveloperMobileLaunch Date
BetfredSaratoga CasinoPlaytechYesSept. 10
PointsBetDouble Eagle CasinoPointsBetYesNov. 18
Wynn Sports / BetAmerica / SmarketsBronco Billy’s CasinoMiomniTBDSept. 24 (retail)
FanDuel Golden Gates CasinoIGT/GANYesMay 1
DraftKingsGolden Gulch CasinoKambi/SB TechYesMay 1
FanDuel / DraftKingsGolden Mardi Gras Casino IGT/GAN, Kambi/SB TechYesTBD
SuperBookThe Lodge CasinoTBDYesTBD
Circa SportsCentury CasinosStadium TechnologyYesJuly 1
Bet365Century CasinosTBDYesTBD
William HillIsle CasinoWilliam HillYesSept. 9
William HillLady Luck CasinoWilliam HillYesSept. 9
ISI Race &
Sports
Wildwood CasinoAmelcoYesJuly 22
BetMonarchMonarch CasinoStadium TechnologyYesMay 11
TBDThe Brass Ass CasinoTBDTBDTBD
BetRiversJP McGill’s CasinoRush Street InteractiveYesMay 1
TBDDostal Alley SaloonTBDTBDTBD
BetMGM SportsbookMidnight Rose CasinoROAR DigitalYesMay 1
Barstool BetsAmeristar CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDBull Durham CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDRed Dolly CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDZ CasinoTBDTBDTBD
Wynn Sports / BetAmerica / SmarketsBronco Billy’s Christmas CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDEasy Street CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDSasquatch CasinoTBDTBDTBD
theScore BetThe Gilpin CasinoBet.WorksYesSept. 2
TBDThe Famous Bonanza CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDThe Wild Card SaloonTBDTBDTBD
TBDGrand Z Casino HotelTBDTBDTBD
TBDColorado Grande CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDJohnny Z’s CasinoTBDTBDTBD
TBDJohnny Nolon’s CasinoTBDTBDTBD
US BookmakingSky Ute CasinoTBDYesJune 10

Best Colorado sports betting apps

Apps are available throughout the state for betting on sports in Colorado. That means you can bet directly from your smartphone or tablet as long as you are physically located within Colorado. You do not need to be a state resident to bet on CO sportsbook apps.

The CO sports betting apps live today include:

  • Betfred
  • BetMonarch
  • BetWildwood
  • SportsBetting.com (Carousel Group)
  • Circa Sports
  • ELITE Sportsbook
  • PointsBet
  • SBK Sportsbook (Smarkets)
  • Sky Ute
  • theScore Bet
  • William Hill

These apps are next in line to launch in Colorado:

  • BetAmerica
  • Bet365
  • Digital Gaming Corporation
  • Internet Sports International
  • Penn Sports Interactive (likely to become Barstool Sportsbook)
  • SuperBook USA
  • Wynn Resorts

Your device will use geolocation technology to verify that you are within Colorado before allowing you to wager on any of these sportsbook apps.

Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest players in the market:

FanDuel Sportsbook

The current market leader in the US sports betting market, FanDuel is a popular choice with bettors in many states with legal online betting. That includes Colorado, where FanDuel is one of the top operators.

FanDuel leveraged its popular brand for daily fantasy sports and its acquisition by international gambling giant Flutter into a dominant position in the US.

New bettors at FanDuel get up to a $1,000 risk-free bet with a first deposit.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Generally the No. 2 operator throughout the US, DraftKings is another company that leveraged success in daily fantasy sports into a solid position in US sports betting.

New bettors at DraftKings get $25 free with no deposit, and up to a $1,000 deposit bonus with an initial deposit.

BetMGM

The betting option from MGM Resorts International, BetMGM has started getting serious about gaining marketshare in the US, including in states like Colorado where it doesn’t have a physical casino.

Colorado

With a long-established presence in Las Vegas, a well-known brand and with a partnership with a longtime partner in European online gambling, MGM believes it has the recipe for success in the US.

New bettors at BetMGM get a 100% deposit match up to $500.

PointsBet

An upstart company from Australia, PointsBet has aggressively tried to establish its brand in the US. It’s even put its US headquarters in Colorado and partnered with Colorado teams, showing how important the state is to its overall plans.

New bettors get up to $250 in free bets on a first deposit.

Why Is Online Gambling Illegal

William Hill

A European bookmaker with a huge presence in Nevada for years, William Hill is attempting to make in-roads across the US. After being taken over by Caesars Entertainment, that dream could become more of a reality.

Online Gambling Laws By State

New bettors get up to a $500 free bet with a first deposit.

Fox Bet

Another brand under the Flutter umbrella alongside FanDuel, Fox Bet tries to leverage the brand recognition of the eponymous Fox Sports, which has a major presence in American sports media. So far, that hasn’t translated into major marketshare, but it’s among the second tier of operators behind DraftKings and FanDuel.

Latest CO sports betting news

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