Colorado Legal Sports Betting

You in Colorado? Do you want to bet on sports? You’ve come to the right place then. This is your one-stop guide to all things Colorado betting. The state has a thriving betting market, albeit one that might be overwhelming to grasp if a first-time bettor.

What’s the best sportsbooks to use? What’s allowed to bet on? What’s not? These are all common questions Colorado bettors have at first. So to help you out, we’ve created this guide as a shortcut so to speak. Spend six-seven minutes with us here and you’ll have everything you need to know about betting in Colorado.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Colorado?

Colorado legalized sports betting in November of 2019. It would not go live — in both physical sportsbooks and online apps — until May 2020. That was in the heat of the pandemic when stay-at-home gambling, whether it be via betting or stocks, took off. The bill passed allows for as many as 30 sports betting licenses, however, there are currently only 16 in Colorado.

Sixteen betting options are more than plenty for a state with under 6 million population.  But that raises a very important question, “which Colorado sportsbook is the best?” That’s at the heart of our next section, and you’ll see the answer is a little more nuanced.

International Online Sportsbooks Available In Colorado

Colorado has established a thriving legal sports betting market, providing residents with numerous options for wagering. However, bettors should be aware that state-regulated sportsbooks have certain restrictions. In Colorado, while you can bet on a wide range of sports, state law prohibits wagers on political events and entertainment props. Additionally, there are limitations on betting involving in-state college teams, such as the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University, which can restrict options for local fans eager to support their schools.

International sportsbooks offer a valuable alternative for those looking to expand their betting opportunities. These offshore platforms allow bettors to engage in wagering on political outcomes and access a full range of college sports without the same restrictions imposed by Colorado's regulated sportsbooks. For those interested in betting on local college games or unique political events, international sportsbooks can greatly enhance the betting experience.

While concerns about the safety of offshore betting are valid, the international sportsbooks we recommend have been rigorously vetted for reliability and security. Our team has utilized these platforms over the years, ensuring they provide quick payouts, fair treatment, and excellent customer service. By opting for these trusted offshore operators, Colorado bettors can confidently explore more options while feeling secure about the safety of their funds and personal information.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Colorado

Colorado Online Sportsbook Comparison

There is no best Colorado sportsbook. There, we said it. That's because the word “best” is the eye of the beholder, or bettor in this case. Depending on what a bettor values most out of a betting platform, they’ll gravitate toward the one that best offers that. For this reason, we’re suggesting multiple sportsbooks based on different features they excel at. Here’s our picks:

Best sportsbook for bonuses: Colorado bettors need to look no further than BetMGM. This bookmaker is offering a risk-free bet for new sign-ups. That means whatever a bettor wagers will be refunded in full IF it loses. The best part? This refund goes up to a max of $1500. Bettors that risk that will either get it back or in the best-case scenario, win and keep their earnings.

Best sportsbook for betting options: It’s a close call, but FanDuel edges out the competition thanks to their boosted odds program. With this feature, the app regularly enhances odds — taking a bet that might have been at -125 and boosting it to +110, as an example. The bettor benefits from this by earning a higher payout. FanDuel offers these boosts frequently enough to stand out in a crowded market where betting options and odds are nearly identical across the board.

Best sportsbook for live betting: DraftKings live betting feature was already standout — no glitches, super fast live odds, tons of in-play options. However, it might be getting even better. The company just bought Simplebet and wants to integrate the microbetting software into its app. What does that mean? Probably even more live options and yes, faster line changes.

Best sportsbook for rewards: Fanatics Sportsbook takes the cake here. Unlike their competitors which are pure-gambling companies, Fanatics is a merchandiser first and foremost — the biggest one in the sports world at that. Bets made in the sportsbook qualify for FanCash, which can either be used for free bets or physical sports gear. Earn up to 5% on bets with Fanatics.

Best sportsbook for user experience: For Colorado bettors, FanDuel takes the crown. The app is incredibly user-friendly, with fast loading times and an intuitive layout that makes finding and placing bets a breeze. Deposits and withdrawals happen without a hitch, and the overall experience feels seamless from start to finish. It’s no surprise FanDuel is a favorite nationwide — it simply works better, every step of the way.

Colorado Quick Facts

What You Can’t Bet On In Colorado?

The state of Colorado has a reputation for being very, very lax — not only with betting but controlled substances and just general attitude. But contrary to popular belief, you can’t just do anything, especially when it comes to betting. Here are a few things off-limits to bettors:

Online casino: Colorado allows in-person casino gaming, but not online yet. Most states still have iGaming outlawed.

Politics: There will be no betting on the U.S. presidential election or any other political outcome for that matter — statewide or in another country. Regulators only allow sports betting and well, politics isn’t a sport even though it feels like it sometimes.

Award shows: Wouldn’t it be fun to throw money on who’s winning at the Oscars or Grammy Awards? It would be, but unfortunately, that fun will have to happen elsewhere because Colorado ain’t having it.

WWE: Spoiler alert: WWE is NOT real — not the outcomes at least. Since the winners and losers are predetermined, it doesn’t count as a sport and can’t be wagered on inside the state.

Only offshore sportsbooks offer betting on these non-sports markets. Colorado is in alignment so the every other U.S. state in not allowing this. The good thing is the top offshore sportsbooks work perfectly fine in Colorado so it’s fair game to use them.

Who Can Legally Bet In Colorado?

Yes, Colorado has some restrictions, but not that many. Here are all the things that are perfectly allowed to be bet on in-state:

Legal age: Like other states, you have to be 21 years old to legally bet on sports in Colorado.

Mobile betting: Yes, mobile betting is 100% a thing in Colorado. In fact, it’s where almost all sports betting takes place these days.

Retail sportsbooks: Yes, there are multiple land-based operators that handle bets. Later on in this guide, we’ll share some of the most popular physical casinos with sportsbooks the state has to offer.

Remote registration: Registering for sports betting in Colorado can be fully done online. Some states force bettors to sign up in person before being allowed to bet online but not Colorado.

Taxable winnings: Ah, yes, the IRS wants a piece of your winnings too. Per Colorado and really federal law, gambling earnings has to be reported as regular income. The IRS will tax your net income at the end of the year. Too bad the IRS doesn’t allow you to write off gambling losses though.

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A Brief Timeline of the Legality of Colorado Sports Betting

• February 8, 2024 — Colorado sports betting handle hits a new record high at $716.4 million in December, marking a 17.7% increase from November and a significant 38.3% year-over-year rise.
• February 2, 2024 — Micro-betting company Betr gains access to the Colorado market through a deal with Boulter Developments and plans to launch a sportsbook before the 2024 NFL season.
• January 24, 2024 — Colorado Springs police carry out at least eight raids on illegal gambling houses since the last few weeks of December.
• January 5, 2024 — Online sports betting company Novig launches in Colorado, intending to evolve into a sports betting exchange in the long term, currently offering traditional sports betting on its platform.
• January 3, 2024 — The state announces that Colorado sports betting handle rises to $608.5 million in November, reflecting a 9.6% increase from October and a 10.1% rise year over year.

How To Bet On Sports In Colorado?

Colorado is a huge sports city. Yes, there are the pro sports obviously, but also the extreme ones. Colorado’s mountains make it famous for outdoor activities like biking, snowboarding, and so on. While you can’t find sports wagers for all these things, there are a few betting markets that are most popular in the state. They are as follows:

How To Bet On Football In Colorado?

Like the rest of the country, football betting commands the most money and mindshare in Colorado. By a lot. During football season, bettors will have all the betting options they want in the sport. This goes for the pro and the collegiate game. And come Super Bowl time, they’ll usually get the best promotional offers too. Sportsbooks really go all out to capitalize on the magnitude of the “Big Game” — which is the most-bet game all year.

How To Bet On Basketball In Colorado?

Basketball betting is in vogue in Colorado right now thanks to the success of their pro team. However, the biggest basketball betting event isn’t even in the NBA — it’s the NCAA Tournament. Colorado sportsbooks roll out the red carpet come March Madness. This is when you’ll find killer promotions and endless bets on the games.

How To Bet On Baseball In Colorado?

If you’re betting to be profitable, then you’d be smart to try your hand at baseball betting. Not because it’s easy (it’s not, but that’s all betting), but because it has massive amounts of betting options. MLB plays 162-game regular season plus the playoffs, which offer baseball bettors the most opportunities of any sport.

How To Bet On Fighting In Colorado?

Combat sports have fight cards almost every weekend, however, most casual bettors only know about the big-time fights that happen every now and then. Regardless of what’s your interest, Colorado readily offers betting on all fighting — UFC, boxing, PFL, hell, even bareknuckle fighting.

Betting On Colorado Teams

Denver is a major U.S. city that features a professional team in every sport you can think of. Of course, it’s the local teams that get a lot of traction at local sportsbooks. Here’s how to bet on it all:

Betting On Colorado NFL Team

The Denver Broncos are the pride of the state — as they should be. They’ve won their fair of championships over the years. Even if they haven’t threatened for another in over a decade, they still draw bettors in droves every weekend game.

Betting On Colorado NBA Team

The Nuggets won their first-ever NBA title in 2023 on the back of Nikola Jokic, arguably the best basketball player in the world. Colorado has never had these distinctions in the sport before so betting intrigue is at an all-time high. Sportsbooks in the state have met the demand with a steady stream of betting options for the Nugs.

Betting On Colorado MLB Team

The Rockies haven’t captured any championship for the city, unlike their counterparts. However, they’re still beloved by bettors and fans alike. Playing 81 home games and another 81 road games presents a TON of betting opportunities for in-state bettors.

Betting On Colorado NHL Team

Avalanche recently won another Stanley Cup after a 20-year dry spell. The championship run has once again made them betting attractions — not only in-state but nationally. This could remain the case because the team has a strong core in place to threaten for another title.

Colorado Betting Revenue Statistics

As of this moment, Colorado is firmly a top-10 betting market and actually closer to the top-5 too. If 2023 figures are to be believed, the market is only going to get hotter onward.

During December of 2023, Colorado sports betting apps and retail books combined to smash the state's handle record. Together, they took in more than $700 million in sports bets. The thing is, the record it broke was the previous month in November. We fully expect these numbers to be obliterated in 2024 during football season too. Both football and betting fever are only getting more rampant.

Other Types Of Betting In Colorado

Casinos are a thing in Colorado — and a big one at that. There are three towns that house all casinos — but they’re far, far away from Denver. Instead, it's the following thee mountain-based towns: Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. In any of these casinos, the usual assortment of casino bets are allowed like slots, table games, and so on.

Betting on horse racing is also legal in Colorado. You can place wagers at live tracks, OTB (Off-Track Betting) facilities, or through online platforms. Any and all of it works perfectly fine in-state.

We probably don’t have to mention it, but in case you’re wondering, daily fantasy sports (DFS) is also a thing. We're telling you, Colorado is pretty relaxed with most of its betting rules.

Sports Betting Rules In Each State

Want to bet in other states besides Colorado? Here’s your in-depth guide to doing so. Pick the state and you’ll get a detailed explanation for betting there:

Responsible Gaming In Colorado

Before you run off and start gambling in and around the state, just a quick reminder: keep it fun and stay in control. Betting can be exciting and even rewarding, but the moment it starts to slip out of your hands, that's when the fun stops.

It’s vital to know your limits. Set a budget (ask yourself, what can you comfortably lose?), and stick to it. Betting should be a form of entertainment, not a way to buy an engagement ring or make rent. If you find yourself betting to cover bills, that’s a red flag. Other signs that things are getting out of hand include neglecting your daily responsibilities or feeling constant anxiety over your bets.

If you notice any of these warning signs, it might be time to hit pause. And if it’s really overwhelming, don’t hesitate to seek help. We've listed a few trusted resources below for support when you need it.

Colorado-based resources:

Colorado Department of Human Services - Gambling Disorder Program (cdhs.colorado.gov)

Offers prevention, treatment, and recovery resources for gambling disorders.

Gamblers Anonymous Colorado (www.gamblersanonymous.org)

Find meetings and local support groups. Can also call 1-855-2CALLGA (1-855-222-5542).

Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (http://www.problemgamblingcoalitioncolorado.org/)

A non-profit centered on connecting people suffering from problem gambling with the proper resources.

Nationwide services for problem gambling:

Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.