Colorado Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in The Centennial State

You can play at an online casino in Colorado where you will find games like slots, poker, and blackjack. Even when Colorado has no online casinos regulated at a state level, here we’ve picked trusted casino sites licensed overseas.

Gambling has always been popular in Colorado since the state’s mining boom in the 1800s. Fast forward to today, and the Centennial State is still one of the biggest gambling hubs in the country.

We will show you the best online casinos to play for real money in Colorado, and the nuances behind online gambling laws in the state.

Summary of Colorado Gambling Laws

You can legally bet on many forms of gambling in Colorado. The following table shows a summary of the legal status of each type of gambling in the state.

Is Gambling Legal in Colorado?

Colorado offers no shortage of legal betting opportunities. Here is a breakdown of each main form of gambling and its legality within the state.

Best Colorado Online Casinos for 2024

Dozens of offshore online casinos serve CO gamblers. The Gamble Online team has reviewed many of these gambling sites to determine the best options.

We consider important features such as their game variety, payment speed, banking methods available, and quality of bonuses.

Where to Gamble in Colorado

Many brick-and-mortar and online gambling opportunities are available in the Centennial State.

This section covers where to gamble in Colorado, including land-based casinos, horse racing venues, sportsbooks, bingo halls, and poker rooms.

The Centennial State legalized brick-and-mortar casinos before many states, doing so in 1991. However, the Colorado Limited Gaming Act of 1991 featured notable restrictions:

• Casinos could only accept up to $5 maximum bets and had limited hours of operation from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. It also confined casino gambling to Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City.
• The town restrictions remain, but the other limiting factors are gone. A 2008 amendment increased max casino bets to $100 and allowed venues to add craps and roulette games.
• In 2021, the state allowed casino operators to determine their max wagers, like Vegas and other major gambling hubs.

The missing restrictions have helped make Colorado one of the biggest casino states. It now offers 35 commercial gaming venues and two tribal casinos.

Ameristar Blackhawk is the state’s largest casino, with over 1,300 slot machines and 40 table games.

Horse & Dog Tracks

Colorado regulated its first form of gambling in horse racing in 1948.

It has a limited horse betting scene, with only Arapahoe Park running full-time. Other options include county fairs and 12 simulcast facilities.

Dog racing betting was available up until the last track closed in 2008. A 2014 ban on the sport officially ended dog racing wagering.

Online Sports Betting

Colorado legalized online sports betting through a voter referendum in 2019.

The measure passed by a slim margin of 45,000 votes (51.4% in favor). Despite voters’ mixed feelings, Colorado betting apps have been quite popular since launching. Players can also access sportsbooks online to make their bets instead of downloading an app.

Retail sportsbooks are also available at commercial casinos. Nearly 30 retail betting venues operate at casinos like Bronco Billy’s, Grand Z, and Isle Casino of Capri.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling

Legitimate charities can host raffles and bingo games. Unlike in many other states, they cannot hold casino nights.

The CO Secretary of State website offers helpful FAQs regarding how charities can legally run gambling functions.

Social Gaming at Home

The Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) on gambling define legal social gaming as follows:

“[…] game incidental to bona fide social relationship, participated in by natural persons in no way connected to professional gambling.”

Professional gambling does not refer to poker pros or other skilled gamblers. Instead, it alludes to those who profit from games of chance.

In short, you can enjoy home poker games with friends and acquaintances as long as nobody collects rake.

Poker Rooms and Clubs

Colorado poker rooms felt the sting of the previous limitations on betting. Until 2008, they could not allow players to put over $5 into the pot.

However, gambling amendments in 2008 and 2021 now allow high-stakes casino poker. These amendments have helped poker rooms like Ameristar (22 tables) and Bally’s Black Hawk West (17 tables) grow.

Top Bonuses and Promotions at Colorado Gambling Sites

Bonuses are a huge reason behind the success of gambling sites. The online casino bonuses discussed below are popular due to their enormous size and reasonable rollover terms.

Colorado Online Gambling Laws

Like other states, Colorado prohibits unapproved forms of gambling. However, it makes several exceptions for regulated gambling and tolerates offshore gambling sites.

You can better understand Colorado’s online gambling laws by reading the following points.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Colorado?

Legal forms of online gambling in Colorado include sports betting and DFS (daily fantasy sports). Daily fantasy received approval through H1404 in 2016, while online sports betting became regulated through Proposition DD in 2019.

Online casinos and poker rooms remain unregulated in the state. However, offshore casino sites have served Coloradans without incident since the mid-1990s.

The Colorado Department of Revenue notes that “internet gambling is illegal under state laws.” But you should consider that local authorities have never taken action against offshore operators.

State laws seemingly apply to those running unregulated gambling sites within state borders.

We do not foresee any immediate scenario where offshore poker rooms and casinos would stop serving Colorado. Additionally, authorities have never arrested or prosecuted anybody for playing at unregulated sites.

Transmitting Gambling Information Is Illegal

CRS 18-10-106 notes that communicating gambling info through the telephone, radio, or other means is illegal.

This rule applies to would-be operators inside of Colorado. Offshore online casinos and poker sites operate outside the state and hold licensing in their respective jurisdictions.

Nobody Has Gotten in Trouble for Gambling Online

No Coloradan has faced legal trouble for playing at offshore gambling sites, and we do not expect this trend to change.

If somebody did get in trouble for gambling online, it would be a petty offense subject to the following punishments:

• Up to a $300 fine.
• Up to 10 days in jail.

Illegal Operators are Known as Professional Gamblers

Professional gambling means something different than card counters or pro sports bettors in Colorado.

It refers to entities that profit through illicit gambling operating within the state borders.

First-time penalties for this class 2 misdemeanor include:

• Up to a $750 fine.
• Up to 120 days in jail.

*Please be advised that the information provided on this page does not constitute legal advice. Our team strongly recommends you seek professional counsel from a qualified attorney regarding your specific questions or concerns on the topic.

Colorado Online Gambling vs. Neighboring States

You may be interested to know what forms of gambling Colorado’s neighbors offer. Likewise, you might want to know if these bordering states are strict on online gambling.

The following table provides an overview of how the closest states treat games of chance.

The Centennial State has an interesting mixture of neighbors regarding gambling. Oklahoma, to the southeast, has more casinos than any state besides Nevada. On the other hand, Utah to the West does not permit any form of gambling.

Colorado has more in common with Oklahoma and its other neighbors than Utah. It has regulated almost everything except online casinos, which lie in a gray area.

The bordering states fall in line because they all tolerate offshore online gambling gambling—even Utah!

Colorado Online Casino – Tips to Play Safely

Colorado offers legal online sportsbooks that are subject to in-state regulation. But what if you go the offshore route?

The following tips will help you choose and deposit with safe online casinos.

Value a Casino’s Reputation

The best online casinos in Colorado have a long history of serving players well and making fast payouts. Valid licenses, trusted game software developers, and a fair number of positive reviews are good signs of a trusted casino.

Check for a Secure Website

You want to ensure that your money and personal info stay safe at gaming sites. Therefore, you should check a casino’s address bar (padlock) to ensure that it has website encryption.

Read Online Casino Reviews

You can quickly learn about a gaming site’s rep through reviews. We offer many casino reviews for Colorado players at Gamble Online.

Read the Terms of Use

Learn the wagering requirements and other terms of use when accepting a bonus. Knowing the terms assures your winnings won’t be voided for breaking the terms and conditions.

Check the Bonus Terms

A worthwhile online casino provides clear terms and conditions on bonuses. Consider game restrictions, minimum deposit, and rollover to avoid problems before claiming a promo.

Contact Customer Support

We recommend contacting support through live chat to judge their timeliness, helpfulness, and friendliness.

Future of Online Gambling in Colorado: Our Prediction

The Centennial State offers legal online sports betting and DFS, but it still has a ways to go for a complete online gambling market.

Online casinos and poker rooms remain unregulated in the state, with no clear picture of when/if they will become legal. Unlike mobile sports betting, gambling sites and poker have not received a big push.

The Department of Revenue has begun discussing the possibility of legalizing online casino gaming in Colorado in the future. But legislation and a voter referendum would still need to happen before Colorado online casinos regulated inside the state become available.

Of course, you can still play for real money using offshore online gambling sites that serve Colorado from trusted jurisdictions in the industry, such as Costa Rica and Curaçao.

Therefore, you can safely play at these sites until politicians draft an online casino or poker bill.

Answers to Our Readers’ FAQ

Disclaimer

As part of our commitment to transparency, it’s important to disclose that this website engages in affiliate marketing. This means that when you click on our links to online casinos and make a purchase or sign up, we may earn a commission.

These commissions contribute to the upkeep of our platform and the creation of valuable content. While we aim to provide accurate and unbiased information, it’s crucial to note that our reviews are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.

Additionally, we advocate for responsible gambling practices and encourage users to gamble responsibly. If you believe you may have a gambling problem, please seek assistance from relevant support services.