Guide to Gambling in Colorado

Colorado offers some fantastic gambling options thanks to its many land-based casinos and tribal gaming establishments. These venues have all been operating in various mountain towns for a number of years, but only up until recently did the state begin offering the type of gaming options that have attracted a huge influx of visitors every year.

After Colorado relaxed its notoriously strict gambling laws in 2018, licensed casino resorts and venues have been able to offer games with much higher stakes than before, and it has opened up to offer sports betting and a few other forms of online gaming. Even though online casinos have not been ruled out in the state yet, this hasn’t spoiled the state’s reputation as one of the best places to gamble in the US. Plus, it’s got some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world and is a perfect place for a skiing trip.

Colorado Gambling Laws

Colorado ranks as one of the USA’s top gambling states for land-based casino gaming and various online forms. The state always had a liberal attitude towards gambling and put itself way ahead of its counterparts when it legalized casino gaming in the 90s. As a result of its lenient and forward-thinking approach to gambling, Colorado is now one of the most popular gambling hubs in the US.

Since the state joined many others in legalizing and regulating sports betting in 2020, Colorado is now bustling with gambling options. Even though it is yet to legalize online casinos, residents and visitors to the state are still able to get their fix at off-shore casino sites.

According to Colorado’s gambling statutes, gambling is defined as the following under Title 18 of their overall statutes:

“…risking any money, credit, deposit, or other things 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…”

Exceptions are outlined as:

• “Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength, or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entries”
• “Bona fide business transactions which are valid under the law of contracts”
• “Other acts or transactions now or hereafter expressly authorized by law”
• “Any game, wager, or transaction which is incidental to a bona fide social relationship, is participated in by natural persons only, and in which no person is participating, directly or indirectly, in professional gambling”

Deposit Options at Colorado Gambling Sites

Online casinos are not permitted in Colorado but sports betting sites and social gaming sites are. If you want to place wagers on your favorite sporting events, you can using a range of available payment methods. State-licensed sportsbooks accept all major debit and credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill, wire transfers, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. Some sites also accept bank checks.

Do note that most deposits are instant for sportsbooks and regulated gambling sites, but most withdrawals options can take a few working days to process. You can speed the withdrawal process up by ensuring you have the correct documentation and proof of identity to show to the accounts team upon submitting your request.

Colorado Casinos

Colorado is home to 30 land-based casinos and two tribal casinos located in the Southwest region of the state. These gaming houses offer a wide range of electronic casino games such as slot machiness, video poker machines, video blackjack and video keno, along with table games like poker, roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, let it ride and three-card poker. Colorado does have a few restrictions in place when it comes to land-based casino gambling, which initially included a limit of $5 on single wagers. However, in 2009, the gambling laws were amended to allow a maximum single wager of $100.

2009 also saw the state extend the opening times of casinos. Originally, these venues were not permitted to offer 24-hour gambling, but this has now been changed and all venues in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City are now permitted to operate casino games around the clock.

All of the casinos are situated in the mountain areas of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City. The state’s two Native Indian casinos are located in the town of Ignacio and Towaoc. Players can also find casinos on board cruise boats in Crystal River and Breckenbridge.

Colorado Poker

As is the case with online casino games, online poker is not allowed in Colorado at this moment in time. There was an attempt to legalize it in 2013, but the proposal bill failed to get enough votes. Sweepstakes poker is available to play at sites like Global Poker, which allows players to take part in tournaments and competitions to win fixed cash prizes.

Live in-person poker is legal in Colorado and is highly popular. Most of the land-based casinos and tribal venues feature poker rooms where players can partake in games of Hold’Em and other variants.

Poker tournaments are also hosted reguarly at state casinos and the best ones are held at Ameristar Casino Black Hawk, Golden Gates Casino, Isle Casino Black Hawk, Midnight Rose, and Sky Ute Casino.

Only players who are aged 21 or over are permitted to play games of poker in the state’s casinos and poker rooms. Colorado currently has 6 dedicated poker rooms which offer poker games and tournaments, which are said to offer a bigger diversity of games than the actual casino resorts.

Colorado Sports Betting

Colorado began offering pari-mutuel horse racing more than 60 years ago, but sports betting has only been legal since 2020 following the Supreme Court’s decision to dissolve the former Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Colorado was one of the first states to legalize all forms of sports betting and mobile sports wagering. Soon after sports betting became regulated, daily fantasy sports and online retail sports betting were also legalized in the state.

Today, pretty much all of the leading names in the sports betting industry have partnered with casinos in Colorado to offer mobile sports wagering. These include DraftKings, FanDuel, FOX Bet, Barstool Sports, Caesars, Betfred, PointsBet, and others.

Retail sportsbooks are also permitted in Colorado, however, these are confined to the state’s commerical casinos in Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City. Even though Colorado’s sports betting expansion has mostly been focused on mobile and online wagering, retail sportsbooks at the state’s commercial casinos have also been able to make use of this opportunity and benefit from the legalization of sports betting.

Colorado Daily Fantasy Sports

Colorado was the fifth state to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports. The winning bill, HB 16-1404, was signed by Governor John Hickenlooper and passed the legislature in 2016. In the last few years, the industry has been overseen by the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Professions and Occupations, which distributes licenses and sets the fees for obtaining them. While as many as 7,500 small DFS operators are exempt from paying these fees, retail sportsbooks and the state’s commerical casinos have had to fork out for high costs just to offer daily fantasy sports.

Before the bill was approved, operators also had to agree to several consumer protections; employees are banned from taking part in paid contests, operators are mandated to guarantee data security and prevent anything that could influence the results of a contest, and any operating funds must be segregated from player funds. Collegial sports contests are also prohibited under the bill, and anyone looking to participate must be at least 18 years of age. FanDuel, DraftKings, and Mile High Fantasy Sports are all the most popular options for gambling on daily fantasy sports in Colorado.

Colorado Lotteries

Colorado hosts a state lottery that anyone over the age of 18 can enter. The available games include state-run lotteries plus multi-state lotteries, which both pay out millions of dollars at a time. The most popular multi-state lotteries are Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, and Powerball.

In addition to lotteries, residents of Colorado can also buy scratch cards and take part in second-chance drawings. The downside is that none of these services or products are available as online options, and if you want to participate in the action, you’ll need to pay a visit to one of the state’s licensed retailers.

Colorado Esports

According to the bill HB 1327 that was passed in 2019, esports events are classed as sports events, which theoretically makes them legal. This is why many bookmakers began offering esports in the state on May 1, 2020. However, the laws stipulated that esports games or high school events that aren’t sanctioned by a governing sports body cannot be wagered on.

Colorado Bingo

Bingo is overseen by the Colorado Secretary of State as it falls under charitable gaming. Colorado has several bingo parlors and bingo halls which are mostly situated in Denver. Local businesses are not permitted to operate online bingo games, and playing at off-shore sites is highly risky. While players are rarely prosecuted for such actions, the operators themselves may face hefty fines and possibly jail time for hosting bingo games unlawfully.

Colorado Horse Racing

At current, Colorado only has one racetrack that offers horse racing. The track is located in Aurora and is called Arapahoe Park Racetrack. Not only does the venue offer thoroughbred racing, it also offers Arabian, American Paint, Appaloosa, and Quarter racing.

The state is also home to 10 off-track racing facilities where players can wager on regular events. These standalone establishments have no association with the state’s casinos. Some of them do however feature restaurants and bars.

Many of these licensed off-track sites allow for pari-mutuel bets on US and international events, with fixed odds on a variety of popular races.

Colorado Tribal Casinos

The Centennial State is home to some of the USA’s best Indian casinos where you can gamble on a variety of class III games. Native Indian casinos are types of casino venues that are owned and operated by a federally-recognized tribe. While they are similar in their offerings to that of a commercial casino, there are a few things that make them a unique and exciting pursuit for any keen gambler.

Colorado has two Indian casinos both of which are owned and ran by the Southern Ute Tribe in Towaoc & Ignacio. These casinos are close to the state’s most scenic mountain views, and both of them host a full collection of slot machines and table games like blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and many more.

The tribes oversee their own gaming laws, which means they are not regulated or required to adhere to the gambling conduct of the state’s commerical casinos or poker rooms.

Land-Based Casinos in Colorado

Ever since the 1800s gold rush era, visitors from all over the US have flocked to Colorado to play games in the hope of striking it rich. Today, the casino scene is thriving more than ever before, and players can test their luck at around 40 casinos and gambling resorts in Colorado, each housing an array off slots, poker, craps, and roulette games. Here are the top three best Colorado casinos to add to your itinerary:

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk

One of the top-rated casinos in the state is the award-winning Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk, located east of Denver. This high-class venue was built as a lodge-style establishment, and it’s nestled away right opposite one of the USA’s best national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park. The casino has a 57,000 square-foot gaming floor complete with more than 1,200 slots and video poker machines, 40 tables games, plus 22 live poker tables. Aside from a fantastic range of gaming options, it also has a packed entertainment schedule of superb shows and concerts. The attached hotel houses 536 rooms and suites, and features a spa, nightclub, and meeting and conference center. Every angle of the casino looks out at the most stunning views and guests have easy access to the national park via a gondola lift. On top of the huge jackpot and table offerings, this casino resort also has a top-class rewards program.

Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk

Just 40 minutes east of Denver sits the plush, mountain-surrounded Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk. This majestic venue offers a superb collection of top casino games including 1,000+ slot and video poker machines and over 30 popular table games consisting of blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, and many other classics. The venue’s poker rooms have been rated as some of the best in the state, and players can often take part in weekly tournaments and competitions. The casino is also renowned for its generosity, and offers a member’s card that allows players to redeem as many as 50,000 credits on their favorite casino games. It also hosts regular giveaways where people can win cash prizes, cars, and meal vouchers. The hotel offers decadent long-term suites, plus a steakhouse, nightclub, and many more amenities.

Century Casino Hotel

Located in the heart of Central City, the Century Casino Hotel is a huge complex that is considered the town’s ultimate tourist gem. The venue is home to over 500 state-of-the-art slots and video poker machines, and a myriad of classic table game favorites like blackjack, poker, roulette and craps. There is also a three-star hotel complete with modern rooms designed with comfort in mind. Dining options include a 24-hour buffet for hungry guests, plus an in-house casino rewards club that lets players rack up additional credits to use on games. The casino also runs regular promotions on blackjack and bingo games, plus tournaments where you can play for the most fantastic prizes.

Colorado Gambling FAQ

How old do I need to be to legally gamble in Colorado?
You must be at least 21 years of age to gamble at a casino, bet on any kind of pari-mutuel racing event, or wager on a sports betting site in Colorado. You can purchase a state lottery ticket from as young as 18.  While you must be 21 to gamble in a casino, you can enter a venue from 18. However, you must not place bets, drink alcohol, or interact with players or the operators.

Is online gambling legal in Colorado?
Online casino gaming is not legal in Colorado yet, but some online forms of gambling are. Sports betting was legalized in the state in 2020, and DFS events were also legalized shortly after. It’s also possible to bet on horse racing via legal mobile apps and online sports retailers.

What body oversees Colorado’s online sportsbooks?
The Colorado Division of Gaming (CDG) and the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (CLGCC) oversees all forms of land-based gambling in Colorado, plus online and mobile wagering. This is the entity that also distributes gaming licenses for sportsbooks.