Timeline of sports betting in Colorado
Colorado legalized sports betting on May 1, 2020, but clearing the legislature was only the beginning. The path to legalization came less than six months after Colorado voters approved a ballot measure, by a slim margin, that would cover the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos.
Both mobile and retail sports betting are permitted under Colorado law. The state will leverage tax revenue from sports betting to help fund various state water projects.
This timeline illustrates notable milestones in Colorado's sports gambling history:
April 2019: House Bill 1327 is introduced by Rep. Alec Garnett. The bill would legalize sports betting in Colorado.
May 2019: Governor Jared Polis signs the 37-page bill into law.
Nov. 2019: Colorado Proposition DD narrowly passes a voter referendum, allowing the state’s 33 casinos to apply for licenses to offer in-person and online sports betting.
May 2020: The first online sportsbooks officially go live as BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel all launch their operations in Colorado.
Aug. 2021: Barstool Sportsbook, the Penn National Gaming controlled property, launches in Colorado.
Sept. 2021: SI Sportsbook, partnered with 888, launches in Colorado.
Dec. 17, 2021: bet365 receives approval to offer online sports betting in Colorado.
Jan. 3, 2022: Colorado sportsbooks registered record revenue in November, returning nearly $2 million in taxes for the state.
Jan. 24, 2022: Kambi becomes the new exclusive sportsbook provider of MaximBet.
Jan. 26, 2022: BlueBet signs a skin agreement with the Wild Card Saloon & Casino in Blackhawk. The Australia-based BlueBet will look to launch an online sportsbook in CO, pending licensing and regulatory approval.
Who can bet on sports in Colorado?
Anyone 21-years of age and over and located in the state may place a sports bet in Colorado. Players can visit a physical sportsbook or use a computer or mobile device to wager online.
Here’s everything you need to know before placing your first sports bet in Colorado.
Legal age
You must be at least 21 years old to place a legal sports bet in Colorado.
Mobile betting
Colorado sports wagers can be placed with legal online sports betting websites or apps via a computer or mobile device. The Colorado Division of Gaming oversees all sports betting in the Centennial State.
Remote registration
Remote registration allows both Colorado’s residents and visitors to sign up and start betting online without having to verify their identity at a retail sportsbook. This is of major significance in Colorado as players would otherwise be required to visit a licensed casino — none of which are located in the more populous areas of Colorado.
Within state borders
Online sportsbooks use geolocation technology to confirm the exact locations of their users. So as long as you can prove you’re in Colorado, you’ll be able to partake in all legal sports betting activity online.
Retail sportsbooks
Several Colorado casinos house retail sportsbooks or self-serve betting kiosks. Any of the state’s 40 casinos can apply for a Master Sports Betting License. Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in Black Hawk, Century City, and Cripple Creek comprise the available locations.
Taxable winnings
Colorado sports bet winnings are taxed at both the federal and state level. All gambling profits are subject to a state income tax of 4.63% in Colorado.
The pros and cons of Colorado sports betting
Fully remote registration is a massive win for Colorado sports bettors. With nearly all of the state’s casinos situated in three sparsely populated rural areas, accessibility could have been a significant hurdle otherwise.
There’s not much to gripe about when comparing Colorado’s sports betting laws to those of other states. The absence of college prop bets is the only real significant betting opportunity omitted from Colorado law.
Low barrier to entry for online operators
Fully online registrations and deposits
No limit on the size of bets
No college prop bets
Glitchy geolocation software
Retail outlets in remote areas
How to start betting in Colorado
With remote registration and online betting, it’s easy to get started with sports wagering in the Centennial State. Alternatively, Coloradans may visit a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in a state-licensed casino if physical bets are preferred.
1
Select a sportsbook
Colorado sports bettors should always take their time when choosing which sports betting platform best suits their needs. Then, consider the betting odds, bettor reviews, bonus offers, and customer support of each sportsbook.
2
Register online
Colorado sports betting law has made registration quick and straightforward. Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook, simply fill in your personal details via a mobile device or computer. Some Colorado sportsbooks may also ask for your driver’s license or SSN to verify your identity.
3
Claim a bonus
Always be sure to claim your bonus when completing the registration process with a new sportsbook in Colorado. These promotions are driven by competition in the state and provide new sports bettors with several great offerings.
- Risk-free bets: If you lose your first bet, some Colorado sportsbooks will refund the exact amount to your account — up to a specified amount. This is usually in the form of site credit.
- Deposit match: A sportsbook may also match your initial deposit, giving you more money to bet with. Playthrough requirements accompany this type of bonus.
- No-deposit bonus: This promotion gives you the ability to place what equates to a free bet. Playthrough requirements are typically attached here as well.
5
Deposit
There are many ways to make deposits into your sports betting account. Every Colorado sportsbook is different, but a combination of the following should be available: Play+, PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, or PayNearMe. Cash can also be used at retail sportsbooks in the Centennial State.
Take a look at the transaction fees associated with each method before choosing the one that works for you.
6
Start betting
Familiarize yourself with the various betting opportunities available with each sportsbook you’re considering. Not all Colorado sportsbooks offer the same betting lines, so a little bit of research could uncover more favorable betting scenarios than you may have anticipated.
7
Withdraw
Some sportsbooks may ask players to verify their identity via a driver’s license before processing a withdrawal. Withdrawals may be immediate but could also take a day or two, depending on how you choose to pull out funds from your account.
Odds explained
Colorado sportsbooks use American Odds — also known as moneyline odds — as the default option when displaying betting odds. For favorites, the number listed indicates the amount bettors need to wager to win $100. So, for example, -150 odds tell you that $150 needs to be put on this line if you’d like to take home $100 in profit.
Conversely, the number found next to an underdog specifies the profit up for grabs when placing a $100 bet. For example, +155 odds represent the $155 in profit you would receive following a winning $100 bet. As underdogs are not expected to win, you’ll stand to gain more when placing a wager on these teams.
Sportsbooks in Colorado may also allow you to view odds as decimals and fractions. Check out our odds converter to easily switch between American, Decimal, and Fractional odds.
CO sports betting handle
Colorado has quickly become a significant market for sports betting in the United States. The state has registered over $2 billion in sports bets in the year following the legalization of sports wagering.
Colorado's monthly betting handle has surpassed $300 million on four occasions — most recently in October 2021, when it broke the $400 million mark for the second time. The state's 6.4 hold percentage was second-lowest among all states with legalized sports betting in 2020.
Here's a look at Colorado's sports betting earnings to date:
Yearly breakdown
| Year |
Total handle |
Revenue |
Hold percentage |
Tax revenue |
| 2022 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2020 |
$1.19B |
$75.8M |
6.4% |
$2.96M |
Monthly handle
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Total |
| 2022 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
$326M |
$266M |
$301M |
$244M |
$249M |
$229M |
$181M |
$211.9M |
$408.3M |
$491.5M |
$475.4M |
- |
$3.37B |
| 2020 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
$25M |
$38M |
$59M |
$128M |
$207M |
$210M |
$231M |
$284M |
$1.19B |
What you can't bet on in Colorado
Colorado may have the least restrictive sports betting law in the country. Flush with betting opportunities, Coloradans and visitors of the Centennial State can lay a sports bet on just about any event imaginable.
However, there are a few exceptions highlighted here:
Politics
There is no legal way to bet on politics in Colorado.
Awards ceremonies
While popular with offshore sites, celebrity and pop-culture events such as the Academy Awards are off-limits.
What about college sports?
Sports bettors are free to place bets on any college team in the country. Player props are not offered, however.
What about the NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft is now a marquee offseason betting event and Coloradans are free to partake in the action.
What about esports?
While esports betting is legal in Colorado, all esports events must be approved individually by the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC).
Legal sportsbooks in Colorado
Legal sports bets may be placed online via a computer or mobile device. In-person wagers are permitted in Colorado at one of the state’s several retail locations.
Colorado's online and mobile sportsbooks
| Online sportsbook |
Mobile app |
Odds provider |
Online casino |
Retail partner |
Bally Bet  |
Yes |
Bet.Works |
No |
Bally's Black Hawk |
| Barstool |
Yes |
Kambi |
No |
Ameristar Black Hawk |
| Betfred Sports |
Yes |
Playtech |
No |
Saratoga Casino Black Hawk |
| BetMonarch |
Yes |
Stadium |
No |
Monarch Casino |
| BetMGM |
Yes |
BetMGM |
No |
Midnight Rose Casino |
| BetRivers |
Yes |
IGT |
No |
McGills Hotel and Casino |
| Betway |
Yes |
Betway |
No |
Famous Bonanza Casino |
| BetWildwood |
Yes |
ISI Sports |
No |
Wildwood Casino |
| Caesars |
Yes |
Caesars |
No |
Lady Luck Casino |
| Circa Sports |
Yes |
Circa |
No |
Century Casinos |
| DraftKings |
Yes |
SBTech |
No |
Bally's Black Hawk |
| Elite Sportsbook |
Yes |
Bet.Works |
No |
Red Dolly Casino |
| FanDuel |
Yes |
Flutter |
No |
Bally's Black Hawk |
| FOXBet |
Yes |
TSG |
No |
Lady Luck Casino |
| MaximBet |
Yes |
Kambi |
No |
Johnny Nolan's Casino |
| Play Maverick Sports |
Yes |
IGT |
No |
Maverick Gaming |
| PlayUp |
Yes |
PlayUp |
No |
Bull Durham Casino |
| PointsBet |
Yes |
Kambi |
No |
Double Eagle Casino |
| SBK |
Yes |
Smarkets |
No |
Bronco Billy's Casino |
| SI Sportsbook (888) |
Yes |
888 |
No |
Colorado Grande |
| Sky Ute |
Yes |
Sky Ute |
No |
Sky Ute Casino |
| SuperBook |
Yes |
Stadium |
No |
The Lodge Casino |
| theScore Bet |
Yes |
Bet.Works |
No |
The Gilpin Casino |
| Tipico |
Yes |
Tipico |
No |
Century Casinos |
| TwinSpires |
Yes |
Kambi |
No |
Bronco Billy's Casino |
| WynnBET |
Yes |
GAN |
No |
Bronco Billy's Casino |
Land-based CO sportsbooks
| Sportsbook |
Venue |
Address |
Phone number |
Odds provider |
| Barstool Sportsbook |
Ameristar Black Hawk |
111 Richman Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(720) 946-4000 |
Kambi |
| BetFred Sportsbook |
Saratoga Casino Black Hawk |
101 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 582-6100 |
Playtech |
| BetMonarch |
Monarch Casino Resort Spa |
488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 582-1000 |
Stadium |
| BetRivers Sportsbook |
McGills Hotel and Casino |
232 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 |
(719) 689-2446 |
IGT |
| Bronco Sportsbook |
Bronco Billy's Casino |
233 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, CO 80813 |
(719) 689-2142 |
Kambi |
| Caesars Sportsbook |
Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk |
401 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(800) 843-4753 |
Caesars |
| Caesars Sportsbook |
Lady Luck Casino |
340 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 998-7777 |
Caesars |
| DraftKings Sportsbook |
Bally's Black Hawk |
300 Main Street Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 582-5600 |
SBTech |
| Elite Sportsbook |
Red Dolly Casino |
530 Gregory Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 582-1100 |
Bet.Works |
| Play Maverick Sports |
Grand Z Casino |
321 Gregory St, Central City, CO 80427 |
(303) 582-0800 |
IGT |
| SuperBook |
Lodge Casino |
240 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
(303) 582-1771 |
Stadium |
| Woody's Sportsbook |
Wildwood Casino |
119 Carbonate Street Cripple Creek, CO 80813 |
(719) 244-9700 |
ISI |
Home team advantage: Colorado sports
Coloradans adore their pro sports teams. Many state sportsbooks may even encourage small wagers on these clubs by attaching easily attainable bonuses to a player or team performance.
In the long run, however, bettors must treat home team bets like any other and put biases aside. Conduct your research and review our how to bet guides before blindly placing a bet on any of your favorite teams.
Other types of gambling
Colorado is home to 40 casinos, five poker rooms, and one racetrack.
Beyond sports betting, state lawmakers have remained hesitant to usher in any other forms of online gambling.
Casino
Most of Colorado’s casinos are located in Cripple Creek and Blackhawk. Each casino offers an exhaustive list of table games, including craps and roulette, which were added when the Colorado Limited Gaming Act was altered in 2009.
Online casinos are illegal in the Centennial State. Sweepstakes gambling sites are permitted, however, as these sites use “sweeps coins” instead of dollars and are legal in 49 of 50 states.
Poker
Poker enthusiasts can visit five poker rooms in Colorado. Ameristar Casino Blackhawk, Isle Casino Blackhawk, and Golden Gates Casino are home to the most popular poker tournaments in the state.
Like online casinos, there are no legal options for playing online poker in Colorado.
Horse racing
Colorado is home to a single-horse racetrack — Arapahoe Park Horse Track. Coloradans can place live or simulcast wagers at Arapahoe Park or at one of twelve off-track betting sites.
Pari-mutuel bets can be placed online with TVG and TwinSpires.
Daily fantasy sports
Daily fantasy sports have been legal in Colorado since 2016. Players must be 18 or older to enter DFS contests in the Centennial State.
DraftKings, FanDuel, YahooSports, Monkey Knife Fight, and Prize Picks are among the DFS operators in Colorado.
Responsible gaming in Colorado
With legal sports betting taking off in Colorado, the Colorado Gaming Associated (CGA) has implemented several programs to educate casino employees and support problem gamblers.
The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC) provides support in the form of a self-exclusion program. Individuals who fear having a gambling addiction may voluntarily prohibit themselves from all betting activity in the state.
Legal online sportsbooks also allow users to place a wide range of restrictions on themselves. For example, players can set deposit and betting limits or permanently join the self-exclusion list.
Visit the Colorado Gaming Association to Learn More
Legal U.S. sports betting markets
Colorado formally legalized sports betting, following the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn the long-standing federal ban on sports gambling. Sports gambling is also legal in these states:
