Best Colorado Betting Sites in 2024

Looking to bet on sports in Colorado? We’ve got you covered with a lineup of the best sports betting sites and apps available to residents in the Centennial State. Compare our expert sportsbook reviews, scores, and sign-up offers and bonuses to pick the best sportsbook for you. All of the sportsbooks featured on our site are legal in the state of Colorado so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands. Now that that’s out of the way, all that’s left for you to do is pick your sportsbook, sign up and place your bets.

Colorado, also known as the Centennial State, has one of the most varied gambling markets in the US.  Although the state has yet to legalize online gambling, Colorado has authorized a variety of other regulated gambling markets which residents can take part in. Following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Colorado’s lawmakers were quite slow to explore the legalization of sports betting, but in May 2020, the state launched legal sports wagering.

CO Sports Betting Sites

• DraftKings Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• PointsBet
• BetMGM
• Betfred
• BetMonarch
• BetRivers
• BetWildwood
• Circa Sports
• ELITE Sportsbook
• Fox Bet
• PlayMaverick
• Sportsbetting.com
• Smarkets
• Sky Ute
• SuperBook USA
• theScore Bet
• William Hill
• WynnBet

Is sports betting legal in Colorado?

Yes, online sports wagering is legal, and live in the state of Colorado. On 18 April 2019, two weeks before the 2019 legislative session concluded on 3 May 2019, lawmakers in the state introduced HB 19-1327, a piece of legislation that would pave the way for sports betting in Colorado. 

Instead of legalizing sports betting, the legislation allowed Colorado’s voters to have the opportunity to vote whether to authorize sports betting. Because Colorado is a Taxpayer Bill of Rights state, any legislation that would introduce a new tax rate requires voter approval via a referendum.

HB 19-1327 was approved by the legislature, and in November 2019, voters in the state narrowly legalized sports betting via a referendum. The proposition passed after receiving 756,720 votes in favor and 723,665 votes against it. With the approval of sports betting, Colorado became the 19th state to legalize some form of sports betting.

Colorado went on to launch online sports betting on 1 May 2020. However, due to the state-wide shutdown of non-essential business, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state was forced to delay the launch of its land-based sportsbook facilities.

Residents can also bet on horse racing events at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado’s only horse racing track, or at one of the state’s 10 off-track betting facilities. Bettors can also wager on horse and dog racing online at pari-mutuel betting sites such as BetAmerica and TVG.

Where can I bet on sporting events in Colorado?

Now that sports betting is legal and live in the state of Colorado, punters can place bets on sports betting sites, mobile apps, and at land-based sportsbooks. At the time of writing, a handful of sports betting sites and apps are available in the state and several more are expected to launch in the coming months. Approximately 20 operators have been licensed for mobile sports betting in Colorado. Here are the sports betting brands you can expect to see in the state of Colorado:

Under the state’s sports betting legislation, three different types of sports betting licenses are available: a master license, a sports betting operator license, and an internet sports betting operator license. 

Thanks to the licensing structure each of the state’s 33 casinos would be able to apply for master licenses which means that if they wish, all casinos in the state can offer sports betting.

What Sports Can I Bet On?

Now that sports betting is live in Colorado, residents and visitors can bet on a variety of professional sporting events including NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games, as well as collegiate sporting events.

Betting on high school sporting events and esports contests is currently prohibited under the state’s legislation.

There is no shortage of sports to bet on with the best Colorado sportsbooks. While international leagues and events like the Champions League, World Cup, EPL, and the Olympics remain popular, it is the major US leagues that are the most attractive for bettors. Here’s a breakdown of the top sports to bet on at CO sportsbooks and the representation they offer for Centennial State citizens. 

Basketball

Basketball is a popular betting option for fans of prop bets, thanks to the player-centric nature of the game meaning points, rebounds, steals, assists, and more can be bet on. Additionally, point spreads can be very interesting in NBA games, with the potential spread ranging from one or two points all the way up to double figures, depending on the assumed discrepancy in the quality of the teams. 

The Denver Nuggets are one of few NBA teams with no NBA or Conference titles to their name. However, led by back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic, and with the likes of Jamal Murray in a talented supporting cast, Colorado bettors are excited for what the future holds for this up-and-coming team. 

American Football

With offensive, defensive, and safety teams to wager on, there’s a multitude of potential bets to be made on American Football games. You can place prop bets on players or teams in terms of yards run, passes completed, touchdowns, field goals, sacks, and a whole lot more. 

Perhaps the most well-known Colorado sports team is the Denver Broncos, three-time Super Bowl winners, and eight-time NFL conference champions. Most recently winning the big one in 2015, the Broncos haven’t been back to the playoffs since, but Colorado natives expect that to change very soon. 

Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey is a high-octane, high-impact sport that provides a host of wagering options for Colorado bettors. Whether you’re betting on a team to win a game, to win the league, or to lift the Stanley Cup, it’s moneyline bets that are usually favored here. Point spreads and over/under bets are also popular choices. 

There’s been a lot of movement for Colorado teams in the NHL, with the former Colorado Rockies moving to New Jersey, and Quebec’s pro-hockey team relocating to Colorado in 1995, becoming the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their first year in Colorado, and have picked up two more since, including toppling the heavily favored Lightning in 2022. 

Baseball

Baseball is one of America’s favorite sports, and is arguably the best choice for parlay fans, thanks to the sheer number of games. With a total of over 2,400 contests taking place in each regular season, which is far higher than any other sport, betting on several games in one day is often an option. It’s the World Series that draws the most attention from bettors, but a substantial number of wagers are made all season long.  And of course, the Colorado Rockies, based at Coors Field, are the local team of choice for sports fans betting on the best Colorado sportsbooks.

Betting Markets at CO Sportsbooks

Now you’ve decided on what sport to bet on, it’s time to decide on the type of wager you’re going to make. Are you going to bet on a team to win, or do you fancy something a little more detailed? Depending on their knowledge of the sport and its players, different bet types may suit different players. Here are the top betting markets at CO sports betting sites.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is the simplest option at a Colorado sportsbook. Simply pick who you think will win, and place your bet on this decision. The odds will be simple here, the favorite will have shorter odds than the underdog, and those odds will be displayed on the sportsbook site. 

If you’re just getting started betting with sports betting in Colorado, moneyline bets are a sensible place to start. 

Prop Bets

Do you think Teddy Bridgewater is going to throw 10 successful passes in a Broncos game? Or maybe you reckon the Joker will add 10 assists to 30 points for the Nuggets. Proposition – or prop – bets are bets that focus on individual events that don’t necessarily affect the outcome of a game. You can bet on the team, for example, that the Rockies will hit four home runs in their next MLB outing, or on individual players, as shown in the above examples. 

Point Spread 

Say the Avalanche are going into a game where they are the heavy favorites, you could just bet on the moneyline, however, if you’re confident of a big victory, a point spread wager may be more profitable. The point spread adds a handicap to aid the underdog team, so if the Avalanche is favored, that handicap may stand at 2.5. That means Colorado would have to win by at least 2.5 points for your bet to win out, while a bet on the opposing team would win as long as they stayed within that points margin, even in a loss. 

Parlays

Parlay bets see a player combine multiple bets on an individual ticket. Say you think the Nuggets are going to win tonight, and you’ve also got good feelings about the Warriors, Nets, Suns, and Mavericks in their respective contests. Well, you could just make five separate moneyline bets, nothing’s stopping you. If they all come in, you’re likely to win a nice amount, even if all five teams are the heavy favorites. 

However, if you’re feeling really confident, you could combine those five bets into a parlay. That parlay would then rely on all five bets, so if even one team loses, the entire bet fails. However, if all five teams come out with the win, you’ll get a payout far larger than the value of each moneyline bet individually.

Payment Options at the CO Sportsbooks

Colorado sports gambling sites offer a range of payment methods for both deposits and withdrawals. Here are the most frequently used banking options at CO sportsbook sites:

Debit/Credit Cards 

The most commonly used payment method for paying in and withdrawing funds at an online sportsbook in Colorado, debit and credit cards payments involve submitting your details once, following which the site will then save them. After your details are confirmed, if you are eligible to do so, you’ll be able to make fast deposits and withdrawals from thereon in. 

There are a couple of down sides to this payment method. For example, some players are uncomfortable sharing banking information with a sports betting site, and a payout can take longer to arrive than with other methods. On the other hand, all promotions and bonuses are accessible when using this payment method for deposits. 

e-Wallets 

e-Wallets are the second most frequently used banking option for Colorado sports bettors, with PayPal and Skrill leading the charge. Instead of dealing directly with the sportsbook, you instead deposit funds into your e-wallet account. Payments to the sports betting site will then be made by the wallet, and similarly, withdrawals will be paid into your e-wallet account. 

While some bonuses are not available for e-wallet deposits, the fast withdrawal times ensures this method remains popular. 

Prepaid Cards

While the likes of paysafecard are not as readily available at the best Colorado sportsbooks as they can be in other parts of the world, Mastercard and other services provide their own chargeable cards for sportsbook transactions. All you need to do is purchase a card denoting the amount of cash you want to use for sports betting in Colorado – simply input the code from this card onto the sportsbook site, which will automatically update the amount available in your online betting account. 

It’s worth noting that prepaid cards are a deposit-only method, so you’ll need to withdraw using another method.

Colorado Sportsbook Bonuses

When you’re signing up to a new Colorado sports gambling site, you’re likely to be offered a welcome bonus offer. At the best CO sportsbooks, the promotions don’t stop there, with regular treats for existing customers, too. While bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, these are the most common:

Free Bets

When you make your first deposit, the Colorado sports gambling site may respond by giving you a set value in free bets to use on a certain number of markets. These free bets will usually have minimum odds restrictions as well as other restrictions, for example, free bets will often not be viable on either parlay or prop bets.

At the moment, BetMGM offers a $200 free bet bonus for new players who make a first wager worth $10 or more.

Matched Deposits

A matched deposit bonus is available at several Colorado sportsbooks. When you make your first deposit, the betting site will equal the amount to a certain limit and percentage. For example, you may be able to claim a 100% matched bonus up to a maximum of $100.

BetMGM is currently offering new players a 100% matched deposit bonus up to a $250 max. 

Risk-Free Bets 

Risk-free bets are a fallback provided by Colorado sports gambling sites for players betting on a specific event within set odds parameters. Firstly, you opt-in to the promotion, then you make a bet like you normally would. If your bet wins, continue as normal, and you get a payout. 

However, if your bet is unsuccessful, the sportsbook will refund your loss in the shape of a free bet so you can either try again or use it for another bet of choice. As ever, be mindful of restrictions and limitations placed on risk-free, and other betting bonuses.

Colorado sports betting revenue

The state of Colorado legalized sports wagering in 2019, when Governor Jared Polis signed sports betting into Colorado law. Colorado went on to launch legal sports betting on 1 May, 2020 in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. In Colorado, consumers can bet on sports in-person at a casino or online.

Net sports betting proceeds, which is revenue minus excise taxes paid and free bets, are subject to a 10% tax rate.

Complete state reports can be accessed at the Colorado Division of Gaming.

Last updated 11th January 2022

What else can I bet on in Colorado?

If sports betting isn’t for you, there are still several gambling activities that residents and visitors can participate in. Bettors in the state can participate in daily fantasy sports betting games which were legalized in 2016. Punters can also try their luck on games offered by the state lottery which include a variety of games such as Pick 3 and Cash 5, as well as multi-state drawings. Charitable gambling, in the form of bingo and raffles, is another form of legal gambling on offer in Colorado.

Colorado allows the Ute Tribe of Colorado to operate two tribal casinos on tribal lands in the southwest portion of the state. Coloradoans can also visit one of the state’s 33 commercial casinos. These venues offer a variety of gambling activities which include:

•    Slots
•    Poker
•    Blackjack
•    Bingo
•    Keno
•    Roulette
•    Craps

These are the two tribal casinos that operate in Colorado:

Here are the state’s commercial casinos:

Are offshore gambling sites legal in Colorado?

As online gambling has yet to be legalized in Colorado, offshore gambling sites should also be considered illegal. Regardless of its legal status, we recommend steering clear of offshore gambling sites as they do not hold a license to serve customers in Colorado and are therefore unregulated.

As these sites aren’t regulated, they are not bound by the same regulatory standards as Colorado’s gambling industry and therefore are not required to implement basic player protection measures.  On top of this, when you deposit money into an account with an offshore there is no way of telling who is handling your cash and if anything goes wrong there would be a very small chance of recovering your funds.

You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name – domains ending in .EU or .AG aren’t licensed to operate in Colorado.

Is it be safe to bet on sports in Colorado?

Sports betting is closely regulated by the state’s Gaming Control Commission, a new gambling regulator created to monitor sports betting operations in the state.

However, even with a dedicated regulatory body, it is still up to the individual betting on sports to ensure they are gambling responsibly, and not wagering more than they can afford to. If you feel like your gambling habits are getting out of control or you may be developing a gambling problem, there are several resources available to help you. The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the national problem gambling helpline and offers a variety of screening tools and educational resources. Colorado’s residents also have access to resources from the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, a non-profit organization that aims to spread awareness of problem gambling and advocate treatment.

You can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:

Call: +1-800-522-4700

Text: +1-800-522-4700

Live Chat

Who regulates gambling in Colorado?

The Division of Gaming with the Colorado Department of Revenue is charged with the regulatory oversight of gambling in the state. The state’s horse racing industry, on the other hand, is overseen by the Colorado Racing Commission. If the state legalizes sports betting a new regulatory body will be created to oversee the activity.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Colorado?

The minimum age to play bingo and the state lottery in Colorado is 18 years old. If you wish to bet on horses or gamble at a casino, you will need to be at least 21 years old.

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Colorado

1822 – The very first casino in Colorado opened for business.

1918 – Colorado’s laws were adjusted and almost every form of gambling was outlawed.

1983 – The Colorado Lottery officially launched. Initially, the lottery only offered scratch card games but on 23 April the lottery held its first draw.

1988 – Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), establishing rules and regulations for tribal gaming operations.

1991 – Colorado legalized casino gambling in three cities, Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City. The maximum stake allowed on a bet was $5 and the only games authorized were slots, blackjack, and poker.

1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) placing a federal ban on sports betting across the nation. Oregon, Nevada, Delaware and Montana were granted a partial exemption from PASPA, as these states already had laws in place for legal sports betting.

1995 – The state of Colorado entered the first tribe-state compact for gambling.

2001 – The Colorado Lottery added Powerball to its list of games.

2008 – Gambling laws were expanded. Amendment 50, an amendment that would allow Colorado’s casinos to operate 24 hours 7 days a week, raise the maximum stake at casinos from $5 to $100 and also legalize craps and roulette was passed.

2009 – The Colorado Lottery added Mega Millions to its list of games.

2018 – On 14 May, the Supreme Court reached a decision in the legal battle between New Jersey and the US sports leagues. In a seven to two vote, it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not sports betting should be legalized. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA, a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.

2019 – On 18 April, towards the end of the 2019 legislative session, lawmakers introduced HB 19-1327, a bill that would legalize land-based, online, and mobile sports betting within the state of Colorado. The legislation was signed into law, creating Proposition DD, which gave residents the opportunity to vote to legalize sports wagering.

In November, Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition DD legalizing statewide sports wagering in Colorado. The proposition passed after receiving 756,720 votes in favor and 723,665 votes against it.

2020 – On 1 May, the first wave of online sportsbooks launched in the state of Colorado, these included DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and BetRivers Sportsbook.

In the first month of legal sports betting in Colorado, bettors wagered a combined $25.6m via sportsbooks in the state.

In November the Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet launched its sportsbook in the state of Colorado.

In December, Colorado sportsbooks took a record $284.5m in bets, pushing the total wagered by Colorado bettors in 2020 past the $1bn mark.

2021 – In January, the monthly Colorado sports betting handle figure hit a record $326.9m, giving the state a strong start to the year.

In April, Colorado’s sportsbooks took $244.5m in bets. April also marked the 12th month of Colorado’s legal sports betting market, closing the period with a total of $2.3bn being wagered.

In May, Bally’s Corporation announced the launch of a beta version of its sports betting app Bally Bet in Colorado. The beta version of the app went live on Monday 24 May. Colorado was the first state to see the Bally’s sportsbook product.

In September, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook launched its online sportsbook in the state of Colorado. The sportsbook went live on September 7. September also saw sportsbooks in the state post a record handle figure of $408.3m.

In October, Colorado sportsbooks shattered the previous handle record with $491.5m in bets. Like many other states, Colorado sportsbooks benefited from a fifth Sunday in the October calendar.

Check back with Compare.bet for more updates on sports betting in Colorado.