Is Online Gambling Legal In Colorado

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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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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.

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.

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.

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.

Is online gambling legal in colorado today

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, aka the Centennial State, is the 21st most populous state. It had
an estimated population of over 5.5 million in 2016.

Colorado offers regulated and tribal casinos, horse racing, social gambling,
lottery and charitable bingo and raffle games. Overall, Colorado is a
pro-gambling state, but their online gambling regulations are a gray area.

Here’s an overview of what you should know about Colorado gambling sites.

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Online Gambling and Colorado Law

Is online gambling legal in Colorado?

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue Enforcement Division:

“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. Further, the federal 1961
Wire Act also prohibits the use of wire communications in interstate or foreign
commerce for the placing of bets or wagers or information assisting in the
placing of bets or wagers.

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.”

Based on this information, we would say that online gambling is illegal in
Colorado.

The thing is, the laws referenced above were not specifically written for
online gambling.

Also, Colorado has no laws specifically disallowing online sports betting at
offshore companies or race betting in other states through the Internet. We
offer several recommendations for reputable offshore sports books on our
site – most of them are happy to do business with residents of Colorado.

Can I get arrested for gambling online in Colorado?

Based on the information above, gambling online seems to be a gray area in
Colorado. While the Colorado Department of Revenue says that online gambling is
illegal, the laws they reference are aimed at professional gamblers–not casual
gamers or online gamblers.

The state government is against online gambling, and has tried to rid the
internet of sweepstake cafes, but no one has ever been arrested in Colorado for
online gambling.

If you try to start an online casino, bookie or other gambling organization
in Colorado, you’ll almost certainly be arrested. The state’s enforcement
activities focus almost entirely on people running illegal gambling businesses.
Customers of those businesses are usually ignored.

Our advice, of course, is to obey the law no matter where you live. But
realistically, if you’re just placing bets online, you shouldn’t have any
worries.

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in Colorado
Gambling Venues in Colorado
The History of Gaming Laws in Colorado
The Furture of Gambling in Colorado

More Gambling Laws in Colorado

  • Casino Games (Legal With Restrictions)
  • Sports Betting (Illegal With Exceptions)
  • Race Betting (Legal With Restrictions)
  • Lottery (Legal)
  • Bingo (Charitable Games Only)
  • Social Gambling (Legal)

According to section 18-10-101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, gambling is
defined as,

“‘Gambling’ means 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”

Casino games: Legal with restrictions

The only legal casino games in Colorado are blackjack, poker, craps, roulette
and slot machines.

Here’s what section 47.1-104 of the Colorado Code of Regulations says about
authorized games:

“Limited gaming permitted pursuant to article 47.1 of title 12, C.R.S., shall
include only the following games: blackjack (21); poker; slot machines; craps;
and roulette. All such games shall be conducted by licensees only in accordance
with rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.”

Here’s what section 47.1-105 of the Colorado Code of Regulations says about
unauthorized games:

“No licensee shall conduct or permit on its licensed premises any wagering or
gambling, except limited gaming which is conducted according to all the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Commission and except other wagering
activities licensed or approved by an agency of the State of Colorado.”

According to the section 18-10-103 of the Colorado Revised Statues:

“(1) A person who engages in gambling commits a class 1 petty offense.

(2) A person who engages in professional gambling commits a class 1
misdemeanor. If he is a repeating gambling offender, it is a class 5 felony.”

Sports betting: Illegal with some exceptions

Colorado

Colorado has no regulated sports betting, and has prohibited live bookies or
online sports betting organizations.

Colorado residents can bet online at offshore sports betting businesses. We
discussed that earlier, but we’ll mention it again here. If you’re looking for a
legitimate, trustworthy Colorado sports betting site, most of the sports books
we recommend here are happy to do business with sports bettors in Colorado.

According to a letter from Attorney General Suthers and the Gaming
Commission, you can also participate in sports betting, if it qualifies as
social gambling.

Here’s what the letter says:

“office sports pools are allowed under a ‘social gambling’ exception under
state law. For an activity to be considered ‘social gambling’, all participants
must have a ‘bona fide social relationship’, meaning that they have an
established social relationship based upon some other common interest other than
the gambling activity, and no one other than the participants can profit from
the game or activity in any manner”

Race betting: Legal with restrictions

Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel betting is the only legal horse race betting in Colorado. Here’s
what section 12.212 and 12.213 of the Colorado Racing Commission Rules says
about methods of wagering on horse racing:

“12.212 – All wagers on any race meet licensed or approved by the Colorado
Racing Commission shall be made in person at a licensed facility unless the
wager is incidental to a bona fide social relationship.

12.213 – Association and Simulcast facilities shall set up wagering accounts
in conjunction with an onsite portable wagering unit that is checked out to an
individual customer of the facility. Accounts shall only be opened with a cash
deposit, and shall at no time have a negative balance. Units used in conjunction
with the account must be approved in advance by the division.”

Colorado has only one horse race track: Arapahoe Park. There are 12 off-track
betting locations for Arapahoe Park.

Several locations statewide offer simulcast horse and greyhound racing for
different parts of the United States.

Arapahoe Park

26000 East Quincy Ave.

Aurora, CO 80016

Phone: (303) 690-2400

Dog Racing

Colorado outlawed dog racing in 2014.

Here’s what section 12-60-604 of the Colorado Revised Statues says about
greyhound racing:

“No live greyhound racing involving the betting or wagering on the speed or
ability of the greyhounds racing shall be conducted in Colorado. The commission
shall not accept or approve an application or request for race dates for live
greyhound racing in Colorado.”

Lottery: Legal

Colorado has a state regulated lottery. Some of the games they provide are
listed below:

  • Powerball
  • Mega Millions
  • Lucky for Life
  • Lotto
  • Cash 5
  • Pick 3
  • Scratch

Bingo: Charitable games only

According to the Colorado Secretary of State:

“Only non-profit organizations that have been in existence in Colorado for
five or more years are eligible to be licensed and conduct bingo and/or
raffles.”

Any for-profit organizations are prohibited from holding bingo or raffle
games.

A maximum of $15,000 worth of prizes can be given out at bingo or raffle
games. Alcohol as a prize is prohibited.

Social Gambling: Legal

Social gambling in Colorado is legal, but only under two conditions:

  • It cannot be professional gambling.
  • The players must have some social relationship besides gambling.

Here’s what the Colorado Department of Revenue says about social gambling:

“Colorado law allows a ‘social gambling’ exception, which allows ‘gambling’
that is incidental to a bona fide social relationship and is participated in by
natural persons. A ‘bona fide social relationship’ means that the parties must
have an established social relationship based upon some other common interest
other than the gambling activity.

Further, one participating in such social game cannot directly or indirectly
participate in ‘professional gambling’, which is defined in Colorado law as
‘aiding or inducing another to engage in gambling, with the intent to derive a
profit there from’. This generally means that no one other than the players can
profit from the game or activity in any manner.The profit does not need to be
direct profit.Colorado law defines ‘profit’ as any ‘realized or unrealized
benefit, direct or indirect, including without limitation benefits from
proprietorship, management, or unequal advantage in a series of transactions.’

These two criteria – a bona fide social relationship and no profit motive –
must be present for a gambling activity to be considered legal ‘social
gambling.’ “

Gambling Venues in Colorado

You can find a variety of casinos in Colorado. But the only cities they’re allowed in are Central, Black Hawk and Cripple
Creek.

All other casinos in Colorado are Indian reservation casinos.

    1) The Golden Hotel

    800 11th St

    Golden, CO 80401

    Phone: (303) 800-5045

    2) Ameristar Casino Resort Spa

    111 Richman St

    Black Hawk, CO 80422

    Phone: (720) 946-4000

    3) Colorado Grande Casino

    300 E Bennett Ave

    Cripple Creek, CO 80813

    Phone: (719) 689-3517

    4) Golden Gates Casino

    261 Main St

    Black Hawk, CO 80422

    Phone: (303) 582-1650

    5) Century Casino & Hotel Central City

    102 Main St

    Central City, CO 80427

    Phone: (303) 582-5050

    6) Ute Mountain Casino, Hotel & Resort

    3 Weeminuche Dr

    Towaoc, CO 81334

    Phone: (970) 565-8800

    7) Reserve Casino Hotel

    321 Gregory St

    Central City, CO 80427

    Phone: (303) 582-0800

    8) Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk

    401 Main St

    Black Hawk, CO 80422

    Phone: (303) 800-9903

    9) Wildwood Casino

    119 N Fifth St

    Cripple Creek, CO 80813

    Phone: (719) 244-9700

    10) Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino

    256 Bennett Ave

    Cripple Creek, CO 80813

    Phone: (719) 689-0303

History of Gambling in Colorado

1822

The first full U.S. casino opens. The Brown’s Salon casino was opened on the land where Utah, Whyoming, and Colorado meet. Brown’s was a popular gambling establishment for fur trappers who were common in that area. 169 years later, Colorado legalized their first casino.

1983

The Colorado state lottery begins with scratch off cards. The state lottery game Powerball is introduced in 2001, and Mega Millions is introduced in 2009.

1991

The law allowing casinos to be opened in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City is passed. This law barely passes with over 41% of the Colorado population against it. Stakes are limited to a maximum of $5, and the only games allowed are poker, blackjack and slot machines. Even though almost half the state opposes this law, it brings a developmental boom to these three towns.

1995

Colorado signs two compacts, one with the Ute Mountain Tribe and the other with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. These compacts allow casinos on their reservation land. These casinos are free from taxation, but they’re required to keep their betting limits and games offered in line with the state guidelines. Keno is added t othe list of allowed casino games.

1999

The Bingo-Raffle Advisory Board is created to license non-profit organizations to run charity casinos, bingo, and raffle events to raise funds for their causes.

2005

The Attorney General of Colorado makes a statement about online gambling. He claims that online gambling can be covered by the existing laws and definition of gambling.

2008

Amendment 50 becomes a law. This amendment allows residents of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City to vote on extending the operation of their casinos. The original curfew is set at 2 am.

Additional Resources

Colorado Gambling Future

Colorado offers a variety of gambling to choose from. These include a handful
of casino games, horse betting, online sports betting, social gambling, a state
lottery and charitable bingo and raffle games.

While Colorado has relaxed gambling laws, they have gone out of their way to
speak out about online gambling. Their gambling laws were not written originally
for online gambling because it didn’t exist then. They have yet to act on
statements of online Colorado gambling sites being illegal, and no one is
getting arrested for it.

Based on Colorado’s track record of continuously approving more gambling
options, we would say that state regulated online gambling is not far out.
Colorado gambling sites aren’t going anywhere. In fact, we’re predicting they’ll
become more common.