Colorado Sports Betting
Colorado may be based in the Rockies, but the launch of sports betting has been very smooth for the state. After a referendum in November 2019 to confirm legislation passed earlier in the year, online and retail sports betting launched in May 2020. Every sportsbook needs to partner with a land-based casino, and there are plenty in CO. This has led to 26 operators going live in the state, making it one of the most diverse sports betting states in the US.
With so many passionate sports fans in the state, the Colorado sports betting market has exploded in popularity. In January 2022 online, where there were five weeks of NFL action, including postseason games, the state handled nearly $600 million, the 6th most in the US.
| Regulator | Launch Date | Tax Rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Division of Gaming | May 1, 2020 | 10% | Online or In Person |
Check out our complete guide to sports betting in Colorado, featuring the best sportsbooks in the state, the road to legalization, some of the teams you can bet on, and an overview of some of the land-based sportsbooks in the CO.
Sports Betting Operators in Colorado
The launch of online and retail sports betting in Colorado on May 1, 2020, saw four operators launch in the state: BetMGM, BetRivers, FanDuel, and DraftKings. Since then, a further twenty-two betting sites have gone live in the Centennial State. You can choose from a range of local operators, such as the Wildwood Casino-owned BetWildwood, along with national brands like BetMGM.
The Colorado Division of Gaming and the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission regulate online and retail sportsbooks. These regulators ensure that safety standards are met and that every sportsbook is secure. Each betting site must partner with a land-based casino in the state, bringing you security and benefits like withdrawals at casino cage cashiers.
| Name | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Bally's Corp | May 24, 2021 |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Penn National Gaming | August 09, 2021 |
| bet365 | bet365 | September 1, 2021 |
| Betfred Sportsbook | Betfred | June 17, 2020 |
| BetMGM | Entain | May 01, 2020 |
| BetMonarch | Monarch Casino & Resort Inc | May 11, 2020 |
| BetRivers | Rush Street Interactive | May 01, 2020 |
| Betsafe | Betsson AB | March 28, 2022 |
| Betway Sportsbook | SGHC Group | April 05, 2021 |
| BetWildwood | Fertitta Entertainment | July 15, 2020 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Entertainment | July 24, 2020 |
| Circa Sports | Circa Resort & Casino | July 01, 2020 |
| DraftKings | DraftKings Inc. | May 01, 2020 |
| Elite Sportsbook | Elite Hospitality Group | August 12, 2020 |
| FanDuel | Flutter Entertainment | May 01, 2020 |
| FOXBet | Flutter Entertainment | May 19, 2020 |
| MaximBet | Carousel Group | September 9, 2021 |
| Play Maverick Sports | Maverick Sports | March 16, 2021 |
| PlayUp Sportsbook | PlayUp Interactive | March 8, 2021 |
Best Sportsbook Apps and Bonuses in Colorado
Founded in 2000 by the Coates family in the UK, bet365 launched in Colorado in September 2021 through a partnership with Century Casino. The casino in Central City, forty-five miles west of Colorado Springs, signed a 10-year agreement with bet365, which means the sportsbook will hold its license with the Colorado Division of Gaming for the next ten years.
bet365 signed a deal with the PGA Tour in July 2022, a few months before the golf competition announced its return to Colorado Springs for the first time in eighteen years with the BMW Championship in August 2024.
DraftKings Sportsbook has been in operation in Colorado since the state launched sports betting on May 1, 2020. The operator signed a market access agreement with Bally’s Black Hawk North to operate in the state, licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming. This partnership included opening a retail sportsbook on the site, which opened in September 2020.
The DraftKings Sportsbook at Bally’s BlackHawk features a large video wall, odds boards, and more TVs for watching popular sports events. There are also several betting kiosks, a full-service sportsbook cashier, and a cocktail bar.
DraftKings has strong ties to the major league sports teams in CO, signing a deal to become the Colorado Rockies Official Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Sports Operator in September 2020. The operator also agreed on a deal to become the Denver Broncos’ official DFS provider in November 2014.
Joining four other providers, DFS provider FanDuel’s online sportsbook launched in Colorado in May 2020 through a partnership with Bally’s Black Hawk North Casino. This partnership allowed FanDuel to receive its license with the Colorado Division of Gaming to operate in the state.
FanDuel also made history in June 2020, partnering with the Denver Broncos to become the NFL’s first-ever official betting partner, allowing the FanDuel brand to feature across the Broncos’ radio, television, and media outlets.
FanDuel also offers bettors the opportunity to make deposits into their accounts at the Celtic on Market, an Irish pub on Market Street. While you can’t make bets at the location, you can control your account finances, place wagers on your phone, and watch sports at the bar.
BetMGM was one of the first online sportsbooks to launch in Colorado, landing in the Centennial State in May 2020. It received its license with the Colorado Division of Gaming thanks to a partnership with Midnight Rose Casino.
BetMGM has also set down roots in CO through a partnership signed with the NFL’s Denver Broncos in July 2020. This strategic partnership saw MGM Resorts open a new lounge at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, the BetMGM Lounge. While this facility doesn’t include a retail sportsbook, it features a bar and lounge for fans and is designed to encourage Broncos fans to download the BetMGM app.
Caesars Sportsbook launched in Colorado in July 2022 through a partnership with the Isle Casino in BlackHawk, owned by Caesars’ parent company, Caesars Entertainment. This property was rebranded in August 2022 to Horseshoe Black Hawk Casino to align it with the Horseshoe brand available in other US states.
The casino features several self-service betting kiosks where bettors can place wagers on Caesars’ markets and make transactions from their online betting accounts. Caesers’ second site, Lady Luck Casino, also features a retail sportsbook on-site for bettors to place bets.
Caesars offers a more personal experience for sports fans in Colorado through a multi-year strategic partnership with Omaha Productions, owned by Super Bowl winner and former Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning.
Sports Illustrated Sportsbook (SI) launched in Colorado in September 2021, with CO the first state in the US to see the arrival of the partnership between the iconic magazine Sports Illustrated and 888 Holdings.
The brand received its license with the Colorado Division of Gaming thanks to a partnership with the Colorado Grande Casino in Cripple Creek. This partnership allows bettors to deposit into their accounts and withdraw their winnings in cash at the Colorado Grande Casino cage. SI Sportsbook hasn’t launched an SI-branded retail sportsbook in the state and hasn’t announced any plans to open one in the future.
BetRivers was another sportsbook that went live on the opening day of online sports betting in Colorado on May 1, 2020. The brand is owned by Rush Street Interactive and partnered with JP McGill’s Hotel & Casino to receive its license with the Colorado Division of Gaming.
While BetRivers does not offer a retail sportsbook in Colorado, you can use any self-service betting kiosks at its partner casino JP McGill’s, to wager on the sportsbook’s odds and markets. You can also deposit and withdraw into your account through the cash cage at the casino. BetRivers has not indicated that it intends to open a retail sportsbook in Colorado in the future.
Colorado became the third state where FOXBet launched in the US, going live in May 2020. Upon launch, FOXBet endeared itself to the Colorado sporting public by launching a promotion where every bettor who placed a wager on the Broncos having a winning season pocketed $10 for each Broncos’ win.
It received its license from the Colorado Division of Gaming thanks to its partnership with the Colorado Division of Gaming. FOXBet also features many FOX Sports personalities as brand ambassadors for the sportsbooks, including former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe.
The Australian betting brand PointsBet launched in Colorado in November 2020, becoming the fifth state in the US where the sportsbook was available. The brand has committed to CO, becoming the only sportsbook in the state to open an HQ in Denver. The 17,000 sq ft headquarters opened in May 2020 in the LoDo district of Denver.
PointsBet also signed a deal with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to become the official and exclusive partner of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, and the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth. PointsBet also made history in September 2020, signing a five-year sponsorship with the University of Colorado’s athletics department, the first-ever partnership between a Division I NCAA athletics program and a sports betting operator.
To launch in the state, PointsBet signed a market access partnership with the Double Eagle Hotel & Casino to get its license from the Colorado Division of Gaming.
Jock MKT is a DFS site available in Colorado and regulated by the Division of Professions and Occupations, which oversees DFS operators in the state. It was founded in 2017 and launched in thirty-four states, including Colorado in 2020.
The SuperBook brand has made its name through its retail sportsbook at Westgate Casino in Las Vegas, and the operator has stuck to its roots in Colorado by opening a sportsbook. The 7,000 sq ft betting space at the Lodge Casino at Blackhawk features 28 TVs, five betting kiosks, and a total capacity of 200. There is also a full bar and restaurant.
The sportsbook launched in the state in October through this partnership with the Lodge Casino, getting a license from the Colorado Division of Gaming. In September 2021, SuperBook signed a deal with the University of Denver’s athletics department, the Denver Pioneers. SuperBook became the official sports betting partner of the nine-time Frozen Four champions, with the deal including branding, media hospitality, and social media assets.
Launched in 1999 as a joint venture between AT&T, the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association), and TVGuide, TVG offers pari-mutuel horse racing betting from all of Colorado’s racetracks. These include Arapahoe Park with its marquee races, Mile High Futurity, the Mile High Derby, and the Gold Rush Futurity. US betting brand FanDuel owns TVG, so you can use the winnings from your pari-mutuel betting to wager on FanDuel’s betting partner, the Denver Broncos.
Colorado Legislation Timeline
May 9, 2016: Governor John Hickenlooper signs HB 1404 into law, legalizing daily fantasy sports contests in Colorado.
May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court declares that the PASPA (the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, 1992) is unconstitutional, ending Nevada’s monopoly on sports betting and allowing states to draft wagering legislation.
April 18, 2019: Representative Alex Garnett, House majority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives, introduces HB 1327 to decriminalize sports betting in the state. The bill passes the House and Senate and is sent to Governor Jared Polis.
May 29, 2019: Gov. Polis signs HB 1327 into law, but due to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), which restricts the right of the Colorado Government to increase taxes, it is required to go to a referendum. It is added to the November 2019 ballot as Proposition DD.
November 7, 2019: Proposition DD, the approval of the tax rise to legalize sports betting, appears on the ballot in Colorado. It passes by a small margin of 43,000 votes, legalizing sports betting in CO.
May 1, 2020: The first online and retail sportsbooks launch in the state. The first brands to go live are FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, and DraftKings.
March 28, 2022: Betsafe launches in Colorado, increasing the number of operators in the Rocky Mountain State to 26.
Sports Betting in Colorado
Every state that has legalized sports betting has different rules that bettors must follow. Even if you’re an experienced bettor in another state, you will want to familiarize yourself with the rules in CO. To make sure you bet safely, securely, and legally in Colorado, read our guide to Colorado betting regulations below.
Is online sports betting legal in Colorado?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Colorado. The state legalized wagering in Colorado after Proposition DD passed in 2019, which allowed casinos to open retail sportsbooks and partner with online sports betting. Sportsbooks in the state took the first legal wagers in May 2020.
What sports can you bet on in Colorado?
You can bet on all the major professional sports in Colorado, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, as well as other sports like MMA, MLS, and NASCAR. College sports betting is also legal in CO, and you can bet on any team in NCAA Division I. However, you cannot place bets on player props to protect young athletes from pressure.
Who can bet on sports in CO?
If you are over 21 and within the borders of Colorado, you are usually allowed to wager. However, some people are restricted from betting in the state. If you are a member of a professional or college sports team, whether as a coach, player, or staff member, you cannot place bets in CO. This extends to any team owners. In addition, if you work for a league creating rules for these teams, like the MLB or NCAA, you are also prohibited.
There are dozens of retail sportsbooks in Colorado, and if you are employed by a company that accepts wagers, you also cannot bet. Finally, if you are prohibited by state law from betting through self-exclusion or criminal record, you will be blocked from playing.
Official League Data usage in Colorado
Sportsbooks in the US provides up-to-date data and information for major leagues and sports teams. The largest provider of this information is Genius Sports, which received a sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission to operate in Colorado in May 2021. This license allowed them to operate in the state and partner with sportsbooks in CO. You'll know that the live in-game data is accurate when you use online and retail sportsbooks partnered with Genius Sports.
Colorado Sports Betting Handle
A sports betting handle indicates the amount of money wagered in a state over a specific time, regardless of the outcome of those bets. Colorado’s betting handle has grown significantly since the state launched sports betting in May 2020, and the state has become one of the biggest sports betting states in the US. You can check out detailed information about the sports betting handle below.
| Month | Handle |
|---|---|
| May 2020 | $25,621,761 |
| June 2020 | $38,136,649 |
| July 2020 | $59,183,620 |
| August 2020 | $128,646,209 |
| September 2020 | $207,655,943 |
| October 2020 | $210,719,821 |
| November 2020 | $231,238,842 |
| December 2020 | $284,551,472 |
| January 2021 | $326,903,462 |
| February 2021 | $266,549,207 |
| March 2021 | $300,990,840 |
| April 2021 | $244,446,740 |
| May 2021 | $248,968,193 |
| June 2021 | $229,764,688 |
| July 2021 | $181,327,995 |
| August 2021 | $211,918,185 |
| September 2021 | $408,314,625 |
| October 2021 | $491,453,342 |
| November 2021 | $475,441,222 |
Colorado Sports Teams
Denver is the hub for most professional sports teams in Colorado, and the state has teams playing in all the major US leagues. We’ve listed some of the most popular franchises in Colorado which are available to bet on with sportsbooks.
Beginning as a football team in the AFL in 1960, it took until 1973 for the franchise to post a winning record. However, after joining the NFL in 1970, the Broncos haven’t looked back. The team won eight AFC Championships from 1977, winning three Super Bowls during that time. Some of the greatest gridiron players of all time have played at the Bronco’s Mile High Stadium, like John Elway, Floyd Little, and Steve Atwater.
In addition to the Super Bowl rings and AFC titles, the Broncos have won fifteen AFC West Divisional Titles and made twenty-two playoff appearances.
Beginning as a football team in the AFL in 1960, it took until 1973 for the franchise to post a winning record. However, after joining the NFL in 1970, the Broncos haven’t looked back. The team won eight AFC Championships from 1977, winning three Super Bowls during that time. Some of the greatest gridiron players of all time have played at the Bronco’s Mile High Stadium, like John Elway, Floyd Little, and Steve Atwater.
In addition to the Super Bowl rings and AFC titles, the Broncos have won fifteen AFC West Divisional Titles and made twenty-two playoff appearances.
Formed as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967, the Nuggets were initially created as the Denver Larks. However, the franchise became the Nuggets after the ABA-NBA merger, with fans naming the team after a previous basketball team in the city. Playing its home games at the Ball Arena, the team is owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Colorado Avalanche and Rapids.
While the Nuggets are yet to win an NBA Championship or make an NBA Finals appearance, the team has won eleven divisional titles, two in the ABA and nine in the NBA.
Receiving a franchise as part of the 1993 MLB National League Expansion, the Rockies played at Mile High Stadium for its first two years in the MLB before moving to its current home, Coors Field. The Rockies are a member of the West Division of the National League.
While the Rockies have yet to win a World Series or divisional title, in 2007, it won the National League Pennant after receiving a wild card berth in a tiebreaker against the San Diego Padres, affectionately known as “Game 163” by Rockies fans.
Commonly known as the Avs, the Colorado Avalanche was founded as the Quebec Nordiques in 1976 in the World Hockey Association (WHA), which merged with the NHL in 1979. After 23 years in Quebec City, the team was sold and relocated to Denver in 1995. The team didn’t take long to find success in the Rocky Mountain region, winning the Stanley Cup in its first year. Since then, the Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice while collecting three conference titles, three Presidents’ Trophies, and eleven divisional titles.
A charter member of Major League Soccer, the Rapids are a member of the Western Conference of the MLS. Owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Nuggets and Avalanche, the team initially played at Mile High Stadium. However, the franchise secured a move to a soccer-specific stadium at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City in 2007.
The Rapids won its first MLS Cup in 2010 at TMO Field, Toronto, beating FC Dallas 2-1 to bring home the trophy. Outside of that, the franchise is yet to win a Western Conference Title, qualifying for the 2010 MLS Cup Final as a wild card in the Eastern Conference.
At the University of Colorado Boulder, skiing is the program with the most success. The Buffaloes have won 11 men’s skiing national championships and eight coed titles. In addition, the school has been historically strong at cross country, with three women’s NCAA championships and five men’s.
The football program at Colorado gets a lot of attention and has produced players like Hall of Famer Cliff Branch. The team secured the 1990 football national championship, which it shared with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
At Colorado State, 15 varsity sports are supported, including football, basketball, and track and field. The school competes in the Mountain West Conference, and its football program is a part of the FBS. The football team meets its rivals from the University of Colorado Boulder annually to play in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Currently, the Buffaloes lead the all-time series.
When talking about the college teams at the United States Air Force Academy, most people think of the football program. The team matches up against the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen each year to compete for the Commander-In-Chief‘s Trophy. The Falcons lead the all-time series.
Colorado Sports Events
Outside the professional sports teams that call the state home, Colorado hosts several sports events which loads of sports fans enjoy. See some of the best below.
Colorado National Speedway
Colorado National Speedway is a member of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and is a regular venue for NASCAR events. It hosts the ARCA Menards Series West and the King of the Wing Sprint Car Series. Opened in 1965, the site sits at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains and has hosted the ARCA Menards Series West nineteen times since 1995.
Rocky Mountain Showdown
The Rocky Mountain Showdown was first played between the college football teams Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams in 1893 when Colorado beat its in-state rival 70-3. Played nearly every year from 1893-2019, from 1998, games were held at the home of the Denver Broncos, Mile High Stadium.
The series was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, both teams have agreed to return to ‘Home and Home’ arrangements. This ended the twenty-one-year spell of neutral site games between the two colleges.
UFC Fight Night
The very first Ultimate Fighting Championship event was held in Denver in November 1993, with UFC 1 fought at McNichols Sports Arena. It also hosted the second pay-per-view event, UFC 2: No Way Out, at Mammoth Gardens.
Colorado would have to wait for 133 complete editions of UFC for the MMA series to return to the Rocky Mountain State, despite a special event, ‘The Ultimate Ultimate’ of UFC 7.5, taking place in 1995 in Denver. UFC 135, held in September 2011 at the Ball Arena, marked the return of UFC to Colorado, and three other events have been held in the State.
Mile High Racing
Mile High Racing at Arapahoe Park Racetrack is an event involving horse racing throughout August, September, and October. The track hosts Thoroughbred, Quarter House, Paint Horse, and Arabian horse racing and is home to the Mile High Futurity, the Mile High Derby, and the Gold Rush Futurity. Each of these races has a final purse of $100,000. Bally’s Corporation owns the track, and the raceway is referred to as Bally’s Arapahoe Park for sponsorship reasons.
Colorado Land-Based Sportsbooks
While online sportsbooks offer an easy and convenient way of placing sports wagers in Colorado, land-based sportsbooks can give you a unique and exciting sports betting experience. You can enjoy watching and betting on your favorite sports with easy access to bars and restaurants in the company of hundreds of sports fans. Check out all the retail sportsbooks in Colorado below.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Ameristar Casino Black Hawk |
| Betfred | Saratoga Casino |
| BetMonarch | Monarch Casino Black Hawk |
| BetWildwood (ISI) | Wildwood Casino |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Horseshoe Casino |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Lady Luck Casino |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Bally's Black Hawk North |
| Elite Sportsbook | Red Dolly Casino |
| Johnny Nolon’s Sportsbook (ISI) | Johnny Nolon’s |
| Play Maverick Sports | Dragon Tiger Casino |
| Play Maverick Sports | Grand Z Casino |
| Play Maverick Sports | Z Casino |
| PlaySports (IGT) | Sasquatch Casino |
| PlaySports (IGT) | The Wild Card Saloon |
| SuperBook Sportsbook | The Lodge Casino at Black Hawk |
| TwinSpires | Bronco Billy’s Casino |
Colorado Responsible Gambling
The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC) works with the Colorado Gaming Association to offer problem gamblers a self-exclusion program. Adding yourself to a self-exclusion list means you’ll be removed from all casino marketing lists, have your memberships canceled with the state’s casinos, and prevent deposits from being made at any Colorado casino or sportsbook.
Unlike other states, this self-exclusion program is not a temporary measure but a method of permanently ceasing gambling activities. You can download a form from the Colorado Gaming website to add yourself to the self-exclusion list. You’ll need to complete this form, get it notarized, include a copy of your driver’s license, and send the completed form to the offices of the PGCC.
In addition, sportsbooks regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming often offer methods for you to gamble responsibly, including tools like deposit and time limits. In addition, there is often guidance for players to third-party help, such as the National Center for Responsible Gambling.
FAQs
No, you don’t have to be a resident of Colorado to bet on sports in the state. All you need to do is travel to CO, use a licensed sportsbook, and be over 21. Most betting sites will use geolocation to ensure you are playing inside the state’s borders.
Yes, all sportsbooks licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming are safe. The Colorado Division of Gaming checks each betting site to ensure it meets high standards for player safety and financial security measures. In addition, the Division of Gaming conducts background checks on the owners of the betting site.
Yes, you can play DFS in Colorado. CO became the fifth state to legalize DFS in the US in 2016. If you are 18 or older, you can play on FanDuel, DraftKings, or any other licensed DFS site in the state. While you can hold a DFS account with these brands, you won’t be able to access sports betting until you turn 21.
Pari-mutuel horse racing betting is legal in Colorado. You can visit one of the state’s racetracks or off-track betting locations to place wagers in real-life. Or, you can use an online horse racing betting site like TVG to wager on events at Bally’s Arapahoe Park
Yes, it is legal to bet on college sports at sportsbooks in Colorado, and you can even bet on in-state collegiate teams. However, you can’t place prop bets on college athletes to protect these young players from the pressure of gambling.
You must be 21 or older to place an online or in-person sports wager in Colorado. You must also be inside state lines when betting online and will be asked to verify this using geolocation. There are also rules prohibiting certain types of people from placing wagers, including professional athletes and sportsbook employees.
Yes, you can use FanDuel Sportsbook in Colorado. The Colorado Division of Gaming licenses FanDuel, and those who are inside the state boundaries and 21 or older can use its betting platform. FanDuel is an official betting partner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, and fans can find odds boosts and other promotions for the team.