Colorado Sports Betting
Legal Colorado sports betting launched in May 2020, after voters approved a referendum authorizing retail and online sports betting. Today, Colorado is home to a diverse collection of 25 sports betting apps and more than a dozen retail sportsbooks.
Any U.S. resident 21 or older can register a Colorado online sports betting account, but they must be located within state lines to place real-money wagers.
Most Colorado sports betting sites offer attractive sign-up bonuses, odds boosts, and an array of other promotions.
Colorado also offers legal, regulated online horse racing betting and daily fantasy sports sites. Horse racing betting and DFS sites can apply for licenses from the state to accept wagers from customers 18 or older.
Legal Colorado Betting Sites
$1500 In Bonus BetsBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUS
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800- 981-0023 (PR). First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for terms. US $1500 promotional offer not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
$20 No Sweat Bet
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with KS Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
Up to $1000 in Bonus BetsFanatics Sportsbook Promo Code: Not Needed
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
(CO/DC/IL/KS/KY/LA/MD/OH/MI/NC/NJ/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), or 1800gambler.net (WV). $1,000 No Sweat Bets offer for customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, or WY only. Must apply this promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager with odds of -500 or longer each day for 10 straight days. Your 10 days begin the day you establish your account. Wager must settle as a loss to qualify for Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets will equal the amount of the losing wager(s) (up to $100 in Bonus Bets per day) and expire 7 days from issuance. This offer is not available in IL, NY, & NC. Terms apply- see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
Bet $5 Get $150 Win Or LoseBet365 Bonus Code: BETUSAGAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, PA, VA), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or 1-800-889-9789 (TN). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KY/LA (select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. New Customer Offer Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets at bet365. *Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only, time restrictions and T&Cs apply.21+ and present in CO. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
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 sports betting apps is licensed and legal in Colorado:
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- Sporttrade
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- Bally Bet
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetMonarch
- SBK Sportsbook
- Circa Sports
- Underdog Sports (pending launch)
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
One of the advantages of wagering with licensed sports betting operators in Colorado is that they are subject to state law.
Licensed operators are subject to 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:
- The terms and conditions attached to Colorado betting bonuses must be “full, accurate, clear, concise, transparent,” and not misleading.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 toe the line of what’s acceptable under these rules, but state law ensures that bonuses are not 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.
Competitive markets might 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 kept 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 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 included a provision placing limits on operator deductions related to bonuses and promotional offers.
Colorado Sportsbook Locations
Colorado is home to a dozen retail sportsbooks, with most located in Black Hawk.
Black Hawk Sportsbooks
Located just to the west of Denver, Black Hawk sportsbooks are the most convenient for front-range sports betting fans looking for an in-person betting experience.
- The Sportsbook at Ameristar Casino Black Hawk
- DraftKings Sportsbook at Bally’s Black Hawk North
- Bally Bet Sportsbook kiosks at Bally’s Black Hawk West
- Caesars Sportsbook kiosks at Z Casino Black Hawk
- Caesars Sportsbook kiosks at Horseshoe Black Hawk
- Caesars Sportsbook kiosks at Lady Luck Black Hawk
- Sportsbook Lounge at Monarch Casino
- The Sportsbook at Sasquatch Casino
- The Sportsbook at Wild Card Saloon
Central City Sportsbooks
- Caesars Sportsbook kiosks at Grand Z Casino
Cripple Creek Sportsbooks
- Woody’s Sportsbook at Golden Nugget Cripple Creek
- BetRivers Sportsbook at McGills Hotel and Casino
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 online sportsbooks.
The Colorado sports betting law took effect on May 1st, 2020, and the Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) moved quickly to ensure 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 opened.
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 started 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; 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
Colorado sports betting apps are subject to a variety of regulations designed to protect the integrity of sports, ensure responsible gambling, and verify the identities of customers.
Some of the key regulations that impact customers of sports betting sites in Colorado are explained below:
Colorado Daily Fantasy Sports
Play $5, Get $50PrizePicks Promo Code: BUSA
$50 provided as promo funds, only for use on PrizePicks. Promo funds provided under this promotion must be played within 90 days of receipt or shall become null and void at PrizePicks’ discretion. Promo ends 12/31/25. Void where prohibited. If you or someone you know has a gaming problem, get help. Crisis services and responsible gaming counseling can be accessed by calling 1-800-426-2537 or online at www.ncpgambling.org. 18+ in most eligible jurisdictions, but other age and eligibility restrictions may apply. Valid only in jurisdictions where PrizePicks operates. See prizepicks.com/terms for full PrizePicks terms of service.
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 Horse Racing Betting
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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
35 Free Sweepstakes CoinsWOW Vegas Promo Code: None Needed
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. 18+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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 progress and the state has seen no major pushes to legalize Colorado online gambling since.
The legalization of online sports betting has largely taken the focus off other forms of online gambling in Colorado. However, the revenue generated by online betting sites could potentially prompt lawmakers to take a second look at online gambling in the future.
In the meantime, sports betting, horse racing betting, daily fantasy sports, and sweepstakes casinos 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 Online Lottery
Lottery players can buy Colorado online lottery tickets using authorized third party courier services that buy tickets on behalf of customers.
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 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 a 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 gambling 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 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
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.
Steve Ruddock is the content director for BettingUSA and the Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review.
Steve has covered the legal and legislative developments in the US gambling sector for more than a decade for online and print publications.
Robert Dellafave is an expert sports bettor, professional gambler, and advocate for the fair treatment of sports bettors.