Long known for its beautiful landscapes and perfect climate for winter sports fanatics, Colorado is also becoming one of the biggest states in the U.S. when it comes to sports betting. Over a dozen legal mobile betting apps are available, along with retail casinos.
Is online sports betting legal in Colorado? | Yes |
Is in-person sports betting legal? | Yes |
Is daily fantasy sports legal? | Yes |
Is betting on college sports legal? | Yes |
Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes |
Is greyhound betting legal? | Yes |
Is political betting legal? | No |
Is eSports betting legal? | Yes |
Whether CO residents want to bet on Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes or the Avalanche, they can do so legally on nearly 20 different mobile betting platforms or in retail casinos across the state.
Outside of football, hockey, and the countless other markets legally available to bet on, CO residents can wager on horse and greyhound racing. Daily fantasy sports are also an option for residents in the state who prefer to make money off fantasy football best ball drafts instead of betting point spreads.
DraftKings DFS and FanDuel DFS reign supreme in the state, but residents can also find a wide range of other options, including PrizePicks, Underdog, OwnersBox, ParlayPlay, and Boom Fantasy.
In 2019, House Majority Leader Alec Garnett produced a sports betting bill, HB 1327, which made it through both chambers of the state’s general assembly and was brought to a vote. The bill survived the vote by a narrow margin, and just like that, Colorado became yet another state to offer both online and retail sports betting.
If a Colorado bettor does not like a specific sports betting app, they are in luck because they have over 15 more to test out. Colorado has not been shy about handing out licenses to operate in the state, as 20 legal betting apps are currently available for download in either the App Store or Google Play Store.
These sportsbooks range from prominent names like DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, and FanDuel to some lesser-known sportsbooks like ClutchBet, SuperBook, and BetMonarch. Only a few betting apps have been available since sports betting went legal in the state in 2020, as sportsbooks launched in CO in 2021.
Most states only allow up to ten licenses to be out simultaneously, but that is not the case in Colorado. If a sportsbook is growing or just hitting the market, there is a good chance it will find its way into Colorado.
For example, in 2023 alone, both ESPN Bet and the Fanatics Sportsbook went live in CO immediately after being introduced to the market. State law allows up to ten more sportsbooks to join the market, so CO hasn’t even reached its limit on available apps.
Sportsbook app | Launch date |
---|---|
Fanatics Sportsbook | December 4, 2023 |
ESPN Bet | November 14, 2023 |
Sporttrade | August 29, 2023 |
ClutchBet | June 7, 2023 |
Betfred Sports | September 10, 2022 |
Bet365 | September 6, 2022 |
Betsafe | March 1, 2022 |
SI Sportsbook (888) | September 7, 2021 |
Tipico | August 19, 2021 |
BetRivers | August 18, 2021 |
Caesars Sportsbook | August 2, 2021 |
Bally Bet | May 24, 2021 |
Betway | April 2, 2021 |
SuperBook | January 1, 2021 |
Circa Sports | July 1, 2020 |
SBK | June 5, 2020 |
BetMGM | May 1, 2020 |
BetMonarch | May 1, 2020 |
DraftKings | May 1, 2020 |
FanDuel | May 1, 2020 |
Sports betting would officially launch in CO in May 2020; however, it wouldn’t be long before COVID-19 shut everything down. Despite the virus causing many issues for retail sportsbooks, over 15 mobile betting apps had launched in the state by the end of the year, setting CO up to hit the ground running once sports resumed.
Since then, Colorado has seen a few sportsbooks enter the market and shut down or be absorbed by bigger shops. As the movement continues within CO in terms of operating, we will likely see many more changes in the future.
Amid all the volume customers can access, they must also follow state guidelines regarding betting laws, which include being 21 or older to create a mobile betting account or wager in person at a retail location. These bettors are subject to a 4.40% tax rate on winnings. These winnings are also subject to a federal gambling tax rate of 24%.
Whether a customer wants to use a sportsbook mobile app or web platform, they must be within the state's borders to legally place bets. The bright side is that bettors do have the option to remote registration, so they can create an account on these apps from their residence. The Colorado Division of Gaming enforces these and all other gambling rules.
Are online casinos legal in Colorado? | No |
Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
Are social sportsbooks legal? | Yes |
Are sweepstakes/social casinos legal? | Yes |
Is online poker legal? | No |
Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
The launch date of sports betting in Colorado? | May 1, 2020 |
How many legal sports betting apps are there in CO? | 20 |
How many legal retail betting sites are there in CO? | 12 |
Is remote registration allowed? | Yes |
Legal age for sports betting in Colorado? | 21+ |
Colorado's tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 4.40% |
Who regulates sports betting in Colorado? | Colorado Division of Gaming |
July 12, 2024: Colorado Buffaloes WR and CB Travis Hunter is the 6th highest rated played in NCAA Football 25. Hunter is currently (+6500) to win the Heisman.
June 27, 2024: Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon has won the Hart Trophy for the 2023-24 season. He is currently (+700) to repeat as the MVP in 2024-25.
June 27, 2024: Former Colorado Buffaloes basketball players Cody Williams and Tristan De Silva were selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Williams is (+1400) to win Rookie of the Year, while De Silva is (+8000).
June 18, 2024: Following the completion of the 2023-24 NBA season, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has opened as the favorite to win the MVP in 2024-25 at (+350).
June 6, 2024: After finishing with a record of 4-8 last season, the Colorado Buffaloes football team has received 4.5% of the tickets and 4% of the money to win the National Championship, according to BetMGM.
May 30, 2024: College football futures for the upcoming season have started to be posted, and the Colorado Buffaloes win total is set at 5.5. The Buffaloes are also (+3500) to win the Big 12 Title game and (+1400) to make the College Football Playoff.
May 19, 2024: One year after winning the NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets were eliminated from the postseason by the Minnesota Timberwolves after a game-seven loss.
May 5, 2024: After eliminating the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche are set to play the Dallas Stars in the second round. Colorado is currently (+600) to win the Stanley Cup.
Much like online sports betting, bettors in CO have an excellent variety of options when it comes to retail betting, as there are currently 33 casinos in the state. Since each casino has the option to partner with a different sportsbook operator, the quality of the sportsbook may vary depending on the casino.
Many of these casinos were open long before the state officially launched sports betting in 2020, so they were well-versed in the gambling world before offering sports betting on their property.
Retail Sportsbook | Location |
---|---|
Saratoga Casino Black Hawk | 101 Main St, Black Hawk |
Monarch Casino Resport Spa | 488 Main St, Black Hawk |
McGills Hotel and Casino | 232 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek |
Bronco Billy’s Casino | 233 E Bennett Ave P.O. Box 590. Cripple Creek |
Lady Luck Casino | 340 Main St, Black Hawk |
Bally’s Black Hawk | 261 Main Street, Black Hawk |
Red Dolly Casino | 530 Gregory St, Black Hawk |
Grand Z Casino | 321 Gregory St, Central City |
Lodge Casino | 240 Main St, Black Hawk |
Wildwood Casino | 119 N Fifth St, Cripple Creek |
Sports bettors who live in Colorado are set when it comes to market variety, but if they happen to travel to the states near them, that changes fairly quickly. By clicking on the states down below, you can see how surrounding areas are fairing in the sports betting industry.
State | Online sports betting | Retail sports betting | DFS | Horse Race betting |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Wyoming | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Utah | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Illegal |
Oklahoma | Illegal | Legal (restricted) | Legal | Legal |
Nebraska | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
New Mexico | Illegal | Legal (restricted) | Legal | Legal |
With Colorado's huge market, it’s unsurprising that the state consistently earns nearly $300 million monthly in handle and $25 million or more in revenue. Due to the number of operators in the market, the state also sees a pretty penny in monthly tax revenue. The Colorado state gambling bill, HB 1327, allows sportsbooks that partner with an in-state casino to obtain a license. All sportsbooks in the state are taxed at 10%, which adds up quickly every month.
The state has three licenses, including a master license, sports betting operator license, and internet sports betting operator license. The state’s 33 casinos apply for the master license, which requires a $10,000 up front fee and a two-year $125,000 licensing fee. Once the license is acquired, these casinos can partner with a land-based or strictly online sportsbook.
Colorado sports betting record months:
Sports betting handle: December 2023 ($716,430,270)
Revenue: January 2024 ($53,490,323)
Tax Income: January 2024 ($4,128,369)
Month | Handle (MoM) | Revenue (MoM) | Tax income |
---|---|---|---|
May 2024 | $447,561,934 | $44,991,355 | $3,206,326 |
Apr. 2024 | $509,508,228 | $32,028,036 | $1,910,656 |
Mar. 2024 | $593,094,977 | $45,041,776 | $2,852,592 |
Feb. 2024 | $536,988,261 | $25,762,378 | $1,302,169 |
Jan. 2024 | $596,685,968 | $53,490,323 | $4,128,369 |
2024 Total YTD | $2,683,839,368 | $201,313,868 | $13,400,112 |
Sports bettors in Colorado are in a betting paradise with 20 legal sports betting apps and a dozen retail betting locations. Not to mention, they also have the option to use daily fantasy sports apps and bet on horse racing.
Colorado legalized sports betting in May of 2020, and since then, they have seen over $16 billion in handle, which is the 6th most out of all states in which sports betting is legal.
Sports fans in CO have plenty of big-name athletes and coaches in their state, including Nikola Jokic, Nathan MacKinnon, Kris Bryant, Sean Payton, and, of course, Primetime himself, Deion Sanders.
Based on an article from the Denver Post, the best mascot in Colorado is Rocky, who is the Denver Nuggets mascot.