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Colorado Sports Betting

Nick Chappell Thu 3/14 2:29pm PT

Colorado sports betting is live! In November 2019 Colorado voters narrowly approved statewide online and retail sports wagering. A state that’s already packed with casinos, sports betting provides a welcome influx of action for regular brick-and-mortar visitors, while also providing a safe, reliable, and fun way to bet on sports from anywhere in the state.

General Information on Colorado Sports Betting

The first thing we like to cover is generally the number one question that comes to mind with regard to regulated sports betting in the U.S…

Who is Allowed to Bet?

The answer is pretty simple, you just have to fulfill a few easy requirements. To begin, you must be at least 21 years old if you want to bet on sports in Colorado. There’s no negotiation or exceptions to the rule. You can’t legally make a sports bet until your 21st birthday.

Second, you have to be inside of the state. Sophisticated geolocation software/plugins for computers, and GPS chips in mobile devices will be employed to ensure that all wagers placed with regulated Colorado sportsbooks are done so within the state. Don’t even think about trying to fool the sportsbook with a VPN – it’s not worth getting banned.

And that’s really it – Colorado sports betting is available to anyone that’s older than 21, and in Colorado. 

Creating an Account

Thankfully, Colorado elected to forgo a in-person registration requirement. This means that it’s exceedingly easy to set up an account and start wagering on sports. Bettors are required to submit personal information including name, address, email, phone, etc. The last four digits of your social security number will also be required.

Registration with Colorado online sportsbooks can be done anywhere – you don’t have to be in the state. You can set up your account, and even deposit funds before ever setting foot in CO. Just make sure you’re within its borders before placing a bet.

Colorado Sports Betting Licenses

Under the new law, each of Colorado’s 33 casinos are now eligible to apply for a sports betting license and, if approved, operate a retail sportsbook. In addition, each approved casino will be eligible to host one online skin.

Hopeful operators will be required to pay a $125,000 license fee, which will last for two years. The tax rate has been set at an operator-friendly 10%.

Top Colorado Online Sportsbooks

Fanatics

Fanatics Sportsbook is now live in Colorado! Keep an eye out for some great promotions offered by this exciting new sportsbook.

DraftKings

DraftKings is the leader in daily fantasy sports, and is making a push to conquer sports betting too. In January 2020 the company announced that it would partner with Twin River Worldwide Holdings to bring both retail and online sportsbook products to the state of Colorado. The retail sportsbook will be located at the Mardi Gras Casino Blackhawk.

The DraftKings mobile sports betting app has proven a popular option in other regulated U.S. states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The convenient integration of accounts with its daily fantasy products is also a major plus. Kambi is DraftKings’ tech partner.

BetRivers

BetRivers, the flagship online brand of Rush Street Interactive, was one of four sportsbooks to officially open the sports betting market in Colorado on May 1, 2020. BetRivers operates in the state through its partnership with with the J.P. McGills Hotel & Casino located in Cripple Creek. Betting kiosks are available at the casino, but there is no full-fledged sportsbook there.

BetMGM

BetMGM, one of the world’s largest brick-and-mortar gaming companies, is rapidly expanding its online footprint. Its premier online sports betting app debuted in Colorado on Day 1 of the industry, working in conjunction with the Midnight Rose Hotel Casino in Cripple Creek.

Colorado joins a long list of states including the likes of New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, New York, and more, that now has access to BetMGM.

FanDuel

FanDuel, another familiar DFS face, arrived in Colorado through a partnership agreement with Twin River Worldwide Holdings. Twin River purchased three Colorado properties in early 2020, giving it more room for licensure in the state. For the time being FanDuel does not plan to open a retail sportsbook in the state.

Caesars Sportsbook

Esteemed UK bookmaker William Hill brought its popular sportsbook to Colorado through a partnership with El Dorado Resorts. Nearly a year after launch it rebranded as Caesars Sportsbook, following the early ’21 takeover. Kiosks are available the Isle Casino Black Hawk and the Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk, but a full sportsbook is not in the works right now.

Caesars offers a polished, proven mobile app and years of experience in sports betting to one of the country’s newest betting markets. 

Online SportsbookLicense PartnerTech partnerLaunch
DraftKingsTwin River Worldwide HoldingsKambiMay 1, 2020
BetMGMMidnight Rose Hotel & CasinoROAR DigitalMay 1, 2020
BetRiversJ.P. McGills Hotel & CasinoKambiMay 1, 2020
SBK SportsbookFull House ResortsSmarketsJune 4, 2020
Caesars SportsbookIsle Casino, Lady LuckWilliam HillSeptember 8, 2020
Fanatics SportsbookDouble Eagle Hotel & CasinoFanaticsNovember 19, 2020 (as PointsBet)
Circa SportsCentury CasinoStadium TechJuly 1, 2020
BetMonarchMonarch Casino Resort & SpaStadiumMay 11, 2020
BetfredSaratoga Casino Black HawkSG DigitalJune 17, 2020
FanDuelBally's Black HawkIGTMay 1, 2020
Sky Ute SportsbookBronco Billy's CasinoUS BookmakingJune 9, 2020
Circa SportsCentury CasinoStadium TechnologyJuly 1, 2020
BetWildwoodWild Casino Cripple CreekISI Race & SportsJuly 15, 2020
Elite SportsbookRed Dolly CasinoGVCAugust 12, 2020
SuperBook SportsThe Lodge Casino at Black HawkStadiumOctober 5, 2020
PlayUp SportsbookBull Durham CasinoPlayUpMarch 8, 2021
Play Maverick SportsGrand Z CasinoIGTMarch 16, 2021
BetwayFamous Bonanza CasinoBetwayApril 5, 2021
Bally BetBally's Black HawkBet.WorksMay 24, 2021
Tipico SportsbookCentury CasinoTipicoAugust 18, 2021
SI SportsbookColorado Grande Casino888September 7, 2021
BetsafeDostal Alley CasinoBetssonMarch 28, 2022
bet365Century Casinobet365September 1, 2022
ESPN BETAmeristar Black HawkESPN BetNovember 14, 2023

Circa Sports

Circa Sports is live in Colorado through a 15-year partnership with the state’s Century Casino properties. The Las Vegas based gaming company has established a significant sports betting footprint in its hometown, and is now showing ambition with expansion to other states.

SBK Sportsbook

Smarkets is a United Kingdom-based operator primarily known for running betting exchanges. SBK Sportsbook will be used as the company’s U.S. sports betting brand, coming first to Colorado and Indiana. It will operate as a more traditional sportsbook to start, with potential exchange options coming later.

SBK Sportsbook runs as a skin on the Full House Resorts license in Colorado, and is an online-only sportsbook.

Betfred

Betfred offers both online and retail sports betting experiences in Colorado in conjunction with the Saratoga Casino in Black Hawk. Their agreement was announced in January of 2020, and the pair has been off and running since then. Betfred’s 50+ years of experience has been a valuable asset during the Colorado rollout, allowing them to hit the ground running in both live and online settings. 

BetMonarch

Monarch Casino is a privately owned casino in Black Hawk. The company decided to make its own sportsbook app rather than partner with a national operator. The app works very well and is a good option for line shopping and discovering new promotions.

Sky Ute Sportsbook

Sky Ute Sportsbook is owned by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, one of just a handful of tribes nationwide to run their own sportsbook. Sky Ute is a local sportsbook only available in Colorado and has become a favorite among many in the state.

BetWildwood

Another Colorado-only operator, BetWildwood is the sportsbook offshoot of Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek. With so many operators live in the state, many smaller casinos have decided to become independent and try their hand at the online sports betting game. They have all had limited success, but their expenses are also lower and loyal casino customers are more likely to use their product, allowing them to carve out a potentially profitable niche in the expanding market.

Elite Sportsbook

Elite Sportsbook is another homegrown operator, but its home is Iowa, where it is part of the Elite Casino Resorts mini-chain. Like many smaller operators, Elite picked Colorado as its first state to venture to after starting in Iowa. Elite is not a household name but it offers competitive lines on all the major sports, so it’s worth checking out if you want to line shop.

SuperBook Sports

SuperBook Sports is a familiar name to those who have made the pilgrimage to the massive SuperBook sportsbook at the Westgate in Las Vegas. SuperBook is famous for offering an incredible number of prop bets for the Super Bowl and other high-profile events. Bettors in Colorado have excitedly turned to SuperBook for their abundance of prop wagers and solid promotions.

Play Maverick Sports

Play Maverick is yet another sportsbook operating solely in Colorado, but it is not the offshoot of a casino. It has a partnership with Grand Z Casino and even offers a retail sportsbook at the casino. Maverick Gaming is a casino company that owns small casinos in several states and has its eye on the evolving sports betting market. It has big plans but has yet to leave Colorado, where it offers the adequate Play Maverick online sportsbook.

Betway

Another popular European operator coming to America, beginning with Colorado. Another solid sportsbook that hasn’t gained much traction in the crowded Colorado market. Another opportunity for bettors in the state to claim some generous promotions and find line value.

Bally Bet

Bally’s Corporation has been on a buying streak lately, snapping up casinos in multiple states, including Colorado, where it bought three Black Hawk casinos. The rebranded Bally’s Black Hawk casinos are the casino partners for Bally Bet, the company’s solid addition to the sports betting industry. Bally Bet is live and succeeding in several states, including Colorado. Bally’s shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

ESPN BET

PENN Entertainment’s situation is one of the more interesting ones at this time, as the company has announced a partnership with ESPN. ESPN BET is now available in Colorado, among other states.

The most recognizable sports entertainment brand in the United States is one of the biggest moves we’ve seen in an era with sports betting legal.

Tipico Sportsbook

Tipico is unusual in that it is a German-based sportsbook. Germans like sports betting as much as anyone else, but there aren’t any other major sportsbooks based in the country. Tipico is live in a few states, including New Jersey, but believes that its key to growth lies in gaining market share in Colorado. So far that growth hasn’t happened yet, but the company is well-funded and seems positioned for long-term survival, so don’t count Tipico out just yet.

SI Sportsbook

Sports Illustrated may be a shell of its former self, but the SI brand is still very recognizable. The company that owns 888 Sports decided to use SI in its relaunched sportsbook, and SI Sportsbook was born, replacing 888 Sports in September 2021. SI is an innovative sportsbook, using data and analytics more than other sportsbooks, and is an intriguing addition to the sports betting scene.

Betsafe

Last but not least (for now) to the Colorado sports betting party is Betsafe, the long-anticipated entry from Swedish-based Betsson. Betsafe has an extremely wide variety of sports to wager on, and has the expertise in overseas markets to offer competitive lines on practically any sport. If you like lesser-known sports like floorball or darts, Betsafe is the sportsbook for you.

bet365

Global sportsbook bet365 hasn’t done much here in America, operating solely in New Jersey for several years without any sort of plan to expand. We are excited to see the sports betting giant finally launch in a second state. bet365 has partnered with Century Casinos to come to Colorado. Though it will be hard to break through in the competitive market, if anyone can do it, bet365 can.

ClutchBet

More On The Way

The Colorado online sports betting scene is very crowded but could get even more crowded. In early 2024, Betr announced a partnership with Boulter Developments that will allow them to expand to Colorado later in the year. Other operators that could join the fun include Hard Rock Sportsbook and more. We’ll keep you updated.

Colorado Sports Betting Options

Generally speaking, Colorado sportsbooks offers all of the most popular betting types on all the major sports, including PGA Tour golf, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MMA, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball. Bettors should have no trouble finding odds on moneylines, totals, futures,  props, etc., or building parlays and teasers.

During the legalization process Colorado elected to allow betting on college sports, including in-state college sports, however, they did add a caveat: there is no prop-wagering on collegiate athletics. That means you can’t wager on your favorite college QB to throw for more than 300 yards, or a basketball player topping 20 points in the NCAA tournament. 

Colorado MLB

Colorado Betting Platforms

As Colorado sports betting is now live, bettors have access to the three main platforms: 

iOS apps are typically easy to find with a simple search in the apple app store. Android apps can either be found within the app store of your choosing, or via a direct download from a sportsbooks website. Lastly, web browser based books are a pretty straightforward option – fire up your favorite, log-in, and you’re good to go. Of note, if you’re using a browser you’ll be required to install a geolocation plugin to prove you’re in Colorado. Mobile devices can do this automatically with their GPS chips.

Why You Should Bet on a Regulated Site

Now that legal sports betting has arrived in Colorado, it’s time to say goodbye to other wagering options. Whether it’s a friend down the street or an offshore site, the regulated market offers a superior experience. 

Security

Security is one of the principal advantages to regulated online sports betting. You never have to waste a minute worrying about the safety of your online funds, or the security of your account. All bettor funds are held in segregated bank accounts, completely separate from those used for operating costs. Plus, every online sports betting site in Colorado has been approved by the Colorado Division of Gaming. You can trust regulated sports betting completely. 

Ease of Deposit/Withdrawal

Getting money on or off an unregulated site can be a chore. Within the legal market, there are numerous, easy to use options available. You can link your bank account directly to the sportsbook, use a credit card, eWallet, or even deposit with cash at the casino cage. When cashing out you can withdraw at the cage, request a paper check, and more. There’s transparency in banking with clear timeframes. The worrying is gone.

Accurate, Fair Odds

Regulated sports betting operators and their tech partners work hard to offer the most accurate, up-to-date odds in the industry. You’re never going to be taken for a loop by a bookmaker looking for extra value. In general, prices are pretty comparable across the board.

Choice

In a state like Colorado which has over two dozen (!) online sportsbooks, choice is a luxury. If one book has a great promotion, move some money over and take advantage. If you spot a small difference in odds on one site, bet it there. Getting set up to wager on an offshore site can be a pain, leading bettors to an undeserved sense of loyalty out of necessity. Colorado bettors have options, and can easily shop around for the best values. 

Customer Support

If you have questions, the answers aren’t far off. Colorado sports betting sites offers easily accessible customer support lines. Comprehensive FAQs, email, telephone, and even live chat available to help in any circumstance. 

Colorado’s Gambling History: A New Gold Rush?

Colorado’s gaming tradition dates back to the 1800s, when Americans flocked west in search of gold. A prominent gaming community developed throughout the Colorado frontier as watering holes, and subsequent gambling halls popped up throughout the state. 

Despite its popularity, Colorado wouldn’t pursue regulated gambling until 1983 when it began offering a state lottery. The lottery would eventually expand to include powerball in 2001,  and Mega Millions in 2009.

It wasn’t until 1991 that the state’s first casinos opened, centered in the mountain towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek – which still serve as gambling centers today. Significant limitations on betting limits were also imposed, with a max wager of just $5 on games like slots and blackjack. In 2008 an amendment was passed that allowed for limits of up to $100 – still not ideal, but better than the alternative. Sports betting won’t share the same restriction.

When it comes to online wagering, the Colorado Attorney General ruled in 2005 that online gambling would be categorized with traditional gambling, and thus not legal by existing state law. No substantial progress was made on the online front until 2019 when Proposition DD, the Legalize Sports Betting with Tax Revenue for Water Projects Measure narrowly passed on the November ballot.

A new chapter in Colorado’s gambling history started on May 1st, 2020, when online sports betting officially launched in the state.

FAQ

Is it legal to bet on sports in Colorado?

Yes it is! Sports betting has been legal in Colorado since May 1, 2020, and over two dozen sportsbooks currently operate in the state, making it the most competitive marketplace in the country.

What’s the minimum age to bet on sports in Colorado?

You must be twenty-one (21) years old. It’s the same age required to gamble at brick-and-mortar casinos in the state.

Are both online and mobile wagering legal?

Yes they are – You can wager at one of the state’s 33 casinos that has a sportsbook partnership (not all of them do) or you can bet from anywhere in Colorado using a browser or mobile app.