Sports betting in Colorado got off to a super-fast start, after the state embraced America’s brave new sports betting world.
Known for being legislatively forward-thinking, Colorado went ‘all in‘ on mobile betting when it rolled out its legalization plan in May 2020.
By the end of the year, $1.185billion had already been legally wagered on sports in total. There are some land-based sites in CO, but the vast majority of bets are placed online or throu mobile apps.
The Centennial State had an estimated population of 5.842million in 2020, and it’s clear that plenty of its residents have an affinity for sports betting.
As well as being known for the great outdoors pursuits, Colorado also has some pretty rabid sports fans.
The NFL’s Denver Broncos – three-time Super Bowl champions – are the pride of the state while the Denver Nuggets are a major franchise in the NBA. The Colorado Rockies play in MLB while the local NHL team is the Colorado Avalanche.
Is sports betting legal in Colorado?
Yes, sports betting became legal in the state of Colorado on May 1, 2020.
It took a while for the state to open up after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, which permitted sports betting outside Nevada and allowed states to decide how to legalize and operate sports betting in their jurisdictions.
As stated already, it was crucial that Colorado fully embraced mobile sports betting, it is the major revenue driver.
A number of sportsbooks now run localized apps in the state and the current uptake proves the value of this strategy.
There are land-based sites in CO too, but the revenue they drive is tiny compared to the power of mobile apps. December 2020 saw around $280million bet online, with only around $4million at retail sites.
Where can I bet in Colorado?
You have both land-based and mobile options if you want to bet in Colorado.
Online/Mobile
- BetRivers
- BetMGM
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- Monarch Casino Blackhawk
- The Stars Group
- Smarkets
- BetWildwood
- WynnBet
- Circa Sports
- Elite Gaming
- theScore
- Betfred
- Carousel Group
- William Hill
- SuperBook
- PointsBet
In-person at land-based sites
Colorado’s retail sportsbooks are in three main towns – Black Hawk (a 45-minute drive from Denver), Cripple Creek (two hours from Denver) and Central City (50 minutes from Denver):
- Monarch Casino Black Hawk, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Wildwood Casino, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
- Johnny Nolon’s Casino, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
- Red Dolly Casino, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Sasquatch Casino, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Colorado Grande Casino, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
- Grand Z Casino Hotel, Central City, CO 80427
- Johnny Zs Casino, Central City, CO 80427
- Golden Mardi Gras Casino, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Ameristar Black Hawk Casino Hotel, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Isle Casino Black Hawk, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- The Wild Card Saloon, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Bronco Billy’s Casino, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
- Saratoga Casino Black Hawk, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Z Casino, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Do you need to be resident in Colorado to bet there?
You do not need to be a resident of Colorado to bet there. Most states in the U.S. base their sports betting laws on physical location when bets are placed, not residency.
What is the legal sports betting age in Colorado?
Whether you are a resident or not, you’ll need to be 21 years or older to bet legally in the state of Colorado.
How do I place a sports bet online in Colorado?
The process is simple and can be done in minutes:
- Be in the state of Colorado and of legal age
- Download/install a sportsbook app to your smartphone
- Register for a sportsbook account on the app
- Deposit funds into your new sportsbook account
- Search the app for the sports and events you want to bet on
- Choose the event you want to bet on, and how much you want to bet
- You can now place your first bet
NB: You are not restricted to using one sports betting app. You can register with multiple operators – and there are benefits. First you can shop around for the best odds. Even better, you can scoop up all the great bonuses and promotional offers for new customers.
Check out our online bookmaker guides and our sign-up offers page before you decide.
What type of sports bets can I place in Colorado?
- Moneyline: Yes
- Point Spread: Yes
- Parlay: Yes
- Teasers: Yes
- Futures: Yes
- Over/Under: Ye
- Round Robin: Yes
What sports can I bet on in Colorado?
You can bet on all major sports in Colorado, including:
- NFL Football
- NBA Basketball
- MLB Baseball
- College Football
- College Basketball
- NHL Hockey
- Soccer
- Boxing
- UFC
- Cricket
Legal sports betting near Colorado
While you have sports betting right in your front room in Colorado, you might still need to bet while you’re traveling. Here are some betting options in neighboring states:
New Mexico is the only bordering state which has any potential to bet legally – at some tribal retail sites (check out our NM guide for full details). You’ll need to be 21 or older.
If you’re feeling very adventurous, you can hop on a two-hour flight from Denver to Las Vegas for the best in-person sports betting experience around. Flights are affordable. The legal age for sports betting in Nevada is 21. There are also mobile options once in-state.
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Colorado?
This is a pretty easy question to answer yet again. No, offshore sportsbooks are not legal in the state of Colorado. In fact, they are not legal in any U.S. state.
The problem with signing up with these books (despite the obvious temptations) is the lack of consumer protection you get.
If for any reason you want to withdraw your money but you can’t, what do you do?
Our advice? Avoid offshore firms. You already have legal sports betting in Colorado. What more do you need?