Legal Colorado Betting Sites

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Colorado Sports Betting Apps

The Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) oversees all sports betting in Colorado, including licensing and monitoring online sportsbooks. Strict regulations and a competent governing body have done much to ensure a high level of quality, giving Colorado bettors many solid options to choose from.

Each of the following betting apps is licensed and legal in Colorado:

Colorado Sportsbook Promo Codes

Some sports betting bonuses require customers to input a bonus code or promo code to claim a specific offer. In most cases, Colorado sports betting sites ask users for promo codes upon initial registration or on the deposit page.

BettingUSA.com maintains up-to-date bonus codes for all online sportsbooks that require them to claim various offers. If a bonus code is not needed, readers can simply follow the links above to claim the associated offer.

Colorado Sports Betting Bonuses

Nearly all Colorado betting apps offer a welcome bonus to new customers. State law requires transparency and fair terms for all offers, but the best Colorado sportsbooks feature promos are objectively better than others.

Sports betting bonuses in Colorado generally fall into one of three categories:

• Bonus bet: This is overwhelmingly the most common type of welcome bonus. It awards a refund, usually in the form of either site credit or bonus bets, to bettors who lose their first cash wager. Refunds are not paid in cash.
• First deposit match bonus: A deposit match is exactly how it sounds. Bettors make an initial deposit, and the Colorado sports betting app will match the deposit, usually dollar-for-dollar, but not always. The matched bonus is subject to wagering requirements that customers must meet before the bonus converts to cash.
• First wager match bonus: For this offer type, the sportsbook matches the size of each bettor’s first eligible cash wager with a matched bet. Unlike bonus bets, first wager matches reward bettors regardless of whether their first wager wins or loses.

Colorado Law on Sports Betting Promotions and Bonuses

One of the advantages of doing business with licensed sports betting operators in Colorado is that they are subject to state law. Licensed operators are subject not only to a litany of rules regarding security, fairness, and prompt payouts, but they are also bound by regulations governing promotional offers.

1 CCR 207-2 Sports Betting Rule 9.3-9.4 covers responsible advertising and promotions.

Rule 9.3 requires operators to “make all reasonable efforts to ensure that” sports betting is not marketed to prohibited participants such as players who have self-excluded from gambling in Colorado.

Rule 9.4 provides five rules for all promotional offers and sports betting bonuses in Colorado:

1. The terms and conditions attached to Colorado betting bonuses must be “full, accurate, clear, concise, transparent,” and not misleading.
2. The terms and conditions must “in close proximity” to the headline of the bonus offer. In other words, operators cannot advertise a large welcome bonus and then hide the terms and conditions on an obscure page elsewhere.
3. Betting bonuses “may not be described as free unless they are absolutely free.” Operators may not advertise an offer as “free” if customers must risk their own money or have terms and conditions attached to their own money.
4. Welcome offers may not be described as “risk-free” if customers must incur any loss or risk their own money to use or withdraw winnings from a risk-free bet.
5. Bonus offers must “not restrict the customer from withdrawing their own funds or withdrawing winnings from bets placed using their own funds.”

Some Colorado sports betting bonuses appear to dance near the line of what’s acceptable under these rules, but overall, state law ensures no bonuses are complete rip-offs or outright fraudulent.

Colorado is a massive sports betting market, both in terms of handle (total wagers placed every month) and in the number of active sportsbooks. Colorado’s reasonable tax rate and free-market approach to legal online sports betting are attractive to operators, which has resulted in customers having a lot of choices in where they bet.

Such a competitive market would normally incentivize some operators to cut corners with Colorado sports betting promotions that are not as good as they look on the surface, but state law has done much to keep operators honest.

State law also allows operators to deduct betting bonuses and promotional offers from their net sports betting proceeds, which has resulted in lower-than-expected tax revenues. Where Colorado sports betting law calls for a 10% tax rate, licensed sportsbooks are actually paying closer to 4.5% due to their heavy use of sports betting promotions such as deposit bonuses and bonus bets to entice new customers.

Eventually, the underwhelming tax revenues prompted Colorado lawmakers to address the issue legislatively via HB22-1402. The bill dealt primarily with responsible gambling, but it included a provision placing an upper limit on operator deductions related to bonuses and promotional offers.

How to Bet Online in Colorado

Colorado law allows bettors to register accounts with sports betting apps from anywhere in the U.S. There is no in-person registration requirement. Even better, online sportsbooks make it as simple as possible to sign up, so even complete newbies will have no trouble learning how to bet online in Colorado. Read on to get started today.

Colorado sports bettors must be at least 21 years of age and may not hold positions of influence over qualifying sporting events. Those on excluded lists provided by the Colorado Division of Gaming are also ineligible.

Bettors can begin the Colorado sports betting registration process by using the links on this page or searching for any licensed sportsbook by name in the app store. In addition, new bettors should be sure to make use of any relevant Colorado sports betting promo codes.

From there, getting started with Colorado sports betting apps entails three steps:

• Download the app: Desktop users can skip this step, but Android and iOS users need to download the sports betting app either before or after registering.
• Register an account: The registration process varies slightly from book to book. New users are required to provide certain personal information, like their full legal name, home address, mobile phone number, date of birth, and the last four digits of their social security numbers. Sportsbooks require this information for verification purposes and to protect users against money laundering and fraud.
• Fund an account: Once an account is successfully verified, users are free to scour the lines or visit the cashier to make an initial deposit using one of many eligible depositing methods.

Bettors do not have to hold residence in Colorado in order to register accounts with Colorado sports betting sites. They only need to be geolocated within state lines to place real-money wagers.

Online sportsbooks conduct geolocation verification via WiFI or 4G/5G. Mobile users must enable location services for their desired apps. They’ll usually be prompted to do just that during the registration process.

Depositing at Colorado Sportsbooks

State law largely determines the types of deposit methods licensed Colorado betting sites and mobile sportsbooks may accept. Generally speaking, Colorado bettors will find it easy to fund their accounts and wager for real money.

Most sports betting deposit methods such as credit cards, debit cards, ACH/eCheck, prepaid cards, online banking transfers, cash, and PayPal are authorized under Colorado law and accepted by licensed sports betting sites.

Colorado sports betting regulations address deposits and withdrawals in detail. Section 7.11(5) of the regulations adopted by the Commission covers the management of betting accounts and types of deposit methods operators may accept.

It’s worth knowing that bettors will usually need to use a deposit method first before they can use the same method to request a payout. Some Colorado sportsbooks may require additional identifying information at the time of a bettor’s first withdrawal, which may include a scanned Government-issued photo ID or a recent banking statement.

Specifically, part (5) Section 7.11 says this on deposits:

(5) Account funding.

A patron’s sports betting account for sports betting may be funded through the use of:

(a) A patron’s credit or debit card;

(b) A patron’s deposit of cash or vouchers at a cashiering location approved by the Director or Director’s designee

(c) A patron’s reloadable prepaid card, which has been verified as being issued to the patron and is non-transferable;

(d) Promotional credit;

(e) Winnings;

(f) Adjustments made by the Sports Betting Operator with documented notification to the patron;

(g) ACH transfer, provided that the operator has security measures and controls to prevent ACH fraud regarding failed ACH deposits;

(h) Wire transfer; or

(i) Any other means approved by the Commission.

(j) Accounts may be funded outside the state of Colorado in accordance with these Rules.

Customers May Fund Their Accounts from Outside of Colorado

Colorado sports betting law allows customers to sign up for accounts and make deposits from outside state lines. This is standard operating procedure among states that have legalized online betting.

Note: Federal law prohibits wagers from crossing state lines but does not prohibit sports fans from signing up for accounts and making deposits from out of state. However, customers must be physically located within Colorado in order to place real money wagers.

The implication is bettors who are planning to visit Colorado or who live near the border can set up and fund their accounts at online sportsbooks ahead of time. Then, once they cross into Colorado, they will have everything ready to place wagers online.

State Law on Withdrawals

Colorado sportsbooks are required to process all withdrawal requests within five days. In practice, most sports betting sites process withdrawals in under a day, and customers have money in hand within 2-3 business days.

Section (11) of the CO sports betting regulations says this on withdrawals:

(11) Patron account withdrawal.

(a) A patron must be allowed to withdraw the funds maintained in his or her account, whether such account is open or closed.

(b) A Sports Betting Operation must honor such patron request to withdraw funds within five (5) business days of the request, unless the conditions set forth in subsection (c) are met.

(c) The Sports Betting Operation may decline to honor a patron request to withdraw funds only if the Sports Betting Operator believes in good faith that the patron engaged in either fraudulent conduct or other conduct that would put the Sports Betting Operator in violation of the law. In such cases, the Sports Betting Operator shall:

(i) Provide notice to the patron of the nature of the investigation of the account; and

(ii) Conduct its investigation in a reasonable and expedient fashion, providing the patron additional written notice of the status of the investigation every tenth business day starting from the day the original notice was provided to the patron.

(d) For the purposes of this provision, a request for withdrawal will be considered honored if it is processed by the Sports Betting Operator notwithstanding a delay by a payment processor, credit card issuer, or the custodian of a financial account.

Colorado Sportsbook Locations

More than 50 operators have applied for Colorado sports betting licenses to date. That includes a combination of casinos seeking master sports betting licenses and operators seeking permission to manage retail sportsbooks and online sports betting on behalf of licensed casinos.

Black Hawk Sportsbooks

Black Hawk is home to fifteen casinos and most of Colorado’s retail sportsbooks. Located just to the west of Denver, Black Hawk sportsbooks are the most convenient for sports betting fans from Denver, Boulder, and the whole northern half of the front range, looking for an in-person betting experience.

Cripple Creek Sportsbooks

Cripple Creek houses a handful of sportsbooks that provide the nearest in-person betting experience for fans in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and the state’s southern half.

Central City Sportsbooks

Dostal Alley, Century Casino, the Famous Bonanza, Easy Street Casino, Grand Z Casino, and Johnny Z’s Casino have all been approved for master sports betting licenses.

Colorado Sports Betting Law

Colorado legalized sports betting during the November 2019 election when voters approved Proposition DD. The proposal authorized casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek to offer retail sports betting and launch mobile sportsbooks.

The Colorado sports betting law took effect on May 1^st, 2020, and the Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) moved quickly to make sure sports betting sites were ready to go live.

The Commission made significant progress in a short amount of time to meet the ambitious launch date. In February 2020, the Commission began issuing licenses and approved regulations to govern sports betting. That April, the Commission approved the state’s catalog of sports wagering events to clear the way for legal sports betting.

As planned, online sports betting launched in Colorado before retail sportsbooks. The first online sportsbooks in Colorado launched on May 1, and a month later, Saratoga Casino in Black Hawk booked the state’s first in-person wager.

How Colorado Legalized Sports Betting

Lawmakers initiated the process of legalizing Colorado sports betting by passing HB19-1327. However, the bill had to receive the approval of a majority of voters to take effect because the state constitution requires all new tax proposals to pass a statewide referendum.

The Colorado sports betting legislation did not actually raise taxes on anyone; it merely legalized sports wagering and established a 10% tax rate on operators. Even so, that was enough to trigger TABOR protocols dealing with voter approval and question phrasing.

Lawmakers added the question to the November 2019 ballot and titled it Proposition DD:

Shall state taxes be increased by twenty-nine million dollars annually to fund state water projects and commitments and to pay for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos by authorizing a tax on sports betting of ten percent of net sports betting proceeds, and to impose the tax on persons licensed to conduct sports betting operations?

This measure could not have been worded worse if its goal was to turn voters off to sports betting. Proponents feared many voters would read the words “shall state taxes be increased” and instantly object without reading the rest of the question.

The awkward phrasing of the question was not, in fact, a clever ploy undertaken by anti-gambling types in Colorado. It was worded that way because Colorado’s TABOR Amendment requires all tax increases to be approved by voters via referendums phrased according to very specific rules.

Colorado voters ultimately approved legalizing sports betting by a narrow margin.

Colorado Sports Betting Rules and Regulations

Colorado sports betting apps are subject to a variety of regulations designed to protect the integrity of sports, ensure responsible gambling, verify the identities of customers and more.

Some of the key regulations that impact the customers of sports betting sites in Colorado are explained below.

Colorado Daily Fantasy Sports

Colorado officially legalized daily fantasy sports in 2016 with the passage of HB 16-1404. The bill established a basic registration process for fantasy sports operators and created various consumer protection regulations.

The Division of Gaming is responsible for regulating fantasy sports in Colorado. Its duties include issuing licenses to operators, investigating consumer complaints, ensuring compliance with all DFS regulations, and administering penalties to operators that violate state law.

Sports fans can read more about DFS in Colorado here:

• Colorado Daily Fantasy Sports Apps

Colorado Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Colorado. There are three ways to bet on horse races in Colorado:

• Licensed ADWs and racebook apps offer pari-mutuel wagering online for fans 18 or older
• Off-track betting facilities and Arapahoe Park race track offer in-person wagering for visitors 18 or older
• Bet365 Sportsbook offers fixed-odds horse racing betting in Colorado for customers 21+

Colorado Online Gambling

Colorado has never been a strong contender to legalize online gambling. The state’s last effort to legalize online poker was the introduction of a bill in 2013. That bill died before making any real progress and the state has seen no major pushes to legalize Colorado online gambling since.

The legalization of sports betting in 2019 and the launch of online sportsbooks the following year have largely taken the focus off other forms of online gambling in Colorado. However, the revenues generated by online sports betting could potentially prompt lawmakers to take a second look at online gambling in the future.

In the meantime, sports betting, horse racing betting, and daily fantasy sports remain the only forms of legal online gambling in Colorado. State law generally prohibits all gambling that is not offered by an authorized provider.

Tip: Online casino style games are available at Sweepstakes gambling sites that accept Colorado residents.

Colorado Gambling Law

CO Rev Stat § 18-10-102 defines gambling as follows:

…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…”

The law includes exceptions for bona fide contests of skill, speed, endurance or strength that award prizes to participants and social gambling among friends.

The Colorado Division of Gaming states in no uncertain terms that online gambling is prohibited, both for organizers and players.

A statement on the Division of Gaming website reads in part:

Internet gambling is illegal under state and federal laws. Colorado law prohibits the transmission or reception of gambling information by any means. . . .

Many online sites advertise they are “legal” and “licensed” forms of wagering. They may be legal or licensed where the bets are received, but it remains illegal to place bets from Colorado with these businesses.

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.

Responsible Gambling in Colorado

Colorado has multiple resources available to anyone who may have a gambling problem, is concerned about a family member, or wants more information about responsible gambling.

• Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC): Call 1-800-GAMBLER; text 800GAM; visit the PGCC website to chat online
• Gamblers Anonymous Colorado Meetings: Visit the Gamblers Anonymous website to find local problem gambling meetings across Colorado

Colorado Sports Betting and Gambling Self-Exclusion

Colorado bettors can self-exclude from individual sportsbooks or all sports wagering and gambling activities in Colorado for periods ranging from one year to lifetime.

There are several ways to initiate a self-exclusion period in Colorado:

• Via Any Licensed Online Sportsbook: Responsible gambling regulations require all Colorado betting sites to offer self-exclusion programs. Bettors can visit any licensed sportsbook’s website or launch its mobile app to submit a self-exclusion request for that operator’s online betting platform, mobile app, and retail sportsbook locations.
• Statewide Request via Mail: Anyone can self-exclude from all regulated gambling activities in Colorado, including casinos and online sports betting, by completing a downloadable self-exclusion application from the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC). The Coalition offers self-exclusion periods of three years, five years, ten years, and lifetime.
• Statewide Self-Exclusion Request Online: Anyone can submit a self-exclusion request online directly with the Division of Gaming. The exclusion will cover all Colorado online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks, and casinos.
• In-Person at a Division of Gaming Office: Fill out a form at any of the Division of Gaming office locations in Lakewood, Central City/Blackhawk, or Cripple Creek.

Important Colorado self-exclusion points:

• Self-exclusion requests in Colorado may extend beyond state borders. For example, some national brands automatically apply self-exclusion requests to their casinos, sportsbooks, and mobile betting apps nationwide.
• Statewide self-exclusion requests remain in effect until the requested time period elapses and the customer notifies the PGCC or Division of Gaming of their wish to be removed from the exclusion list.

Colorado Sports Betting FAQ