Colorado Online Sports Betting

Colorado Betting Sites

Despite featuring a relatively young betting market, Colorado already boasts over a dozen online sportsbooks.

The current list of sports betting sites in Colorado includes:

• Betfred - Partnered with Saratoga Casino
• BetMGM - Partnered with Midnight Rose Casino
• BetMonarch - Partnered with Monarch Casino
• BetRivers - Partnered with JP McGill’s Casino
• BetWildwood - Partnered with Wildwood Casino
• Circa Sports - Partnered with Century Casino Cripple Creek
• DraftKings - Partnered with Golden Gulch Gras Casino
• ELITE Sportsbook - Partnered with Red Dolly Casino
• FanDuel - Partnered with Golden Mardi Gras Casino
• Fox Bet - Partnered with Lady Luck Casino
• PointsBet - Partnered with Double Eagle Casino
• SBK Sportsbook - Partnered with Bronco Billy’s Casino
• Sky Ute - Partnered with Sky Ute Casino & Resort
• SportsBetting.com - Partnered with Johnny Nolon’s Casino
• theScore - Partnered with The Gilpin Casino
• William Hill - Partnered with El Dorado Resorts

Other CO online bookmakers are in the pipeline. For example, Barstool Bets (partnered with Penn Gaming) is a highly anticipated betting operator.

Notable Colorado Online Sportsbooks

The Centennial State features one of the largest online betting markets in terms of operators. Therefore, sports gamblers enjoy plenty of variety.

Of course, some betting sites are especially attractive choices due to their offerings, brand name, and bonuses. 

DraftKings

This daily fantasy sports (DFS) giant jumped into sports gambling in 2018. DraftKings has since become a top draw in many states thanks to its large welcome bonus and many markets.

DraftKings welcome bonus package

• $25 no-deposit bonus
• 100% match deposit bonus up to $500
• Up to a $500 risk-free bet

BetMGM

Owned by the famed MGM Resorts International, BetMGM has leveraged its brand name into sports betting success. It provides a large variety of bet types and markets.

BetMGM welcome bonus package

• 100% match bonus up to $500
• Free weekly $10 bet

William Hill

The William Hill name is synonymous with betting shops throughout the UK. However, it enjoys plenty of success in the online betting realm, too.

William Hill welcome bonus package

• Up to a $500 risk-free bet

FanDuel

FanDuel is another DFS-giant-turned-online bookmaker. It boasts numerous markets and bet types along with a solid welcome bonus.

FanDuel welcome bonus package

• Up to a $1,000 risk-free bet

SportsBetting.com

SportsBetting.com made its entry into the US betting market via Colorado. According to CEO Daniel Graetzer, it seeks to offer the best odds and highest betting limits in the state.

Sportsbetting.com welcome bonus package

• Up to a $1,000 risk-free bet

Licensing for CO Betting Sites

Colorado’s gambling market revolves around three types of licensing—a master, retail, and online betting license. The master license costs $2,000 to apply for, while the other two cost $1,200.

Any brick-and-mortar casino in Colorado can pursue a master license. The Centennial State houses 33 casinos that are relegated to just three cities—Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.

Every Colorado land-based casino has applied for a sports betting license. If approved, they retain these licenses for two years.

Meanwhile, outside companies must partner with a casino to offer retail and/or online betting. For example, Fox Bet, which doesn’t own a CO casino, aligned with Lady Lucky Casino.

Each licensed bookmaker must cover a 10% tax on gross betting revenue. This low tax rate, combined with the small licensing fee, makes Colorado an attractive place to betting interests.

Colorado Betting Apps

The Centennial State features rugged terrain and lots of ground. Therefore, not all gamblers are thrilled about traveling miles to the nearest land-based sportsbook.

Colorado betting apps solve this problem. They allow players to place wagers from anywhere in the state.

Most CO bookmakers feature Android and iOS apps. Others, like BetRivers, only offer an Android app.

If an internet sportsbook doesn’t provide an Android or iOS app, they offer instant betting for the relevant mobile users.

Instant betting refers to placing wagers through a mobile browser (e.g., Safari) rather than an app. You simply visit the bookmaker’s website on a smartphone or tablet to get started.

Register from anywhere

You don’t need to be in Colorado to register at an internet sportsbook. You can sign up from virtually anywhere.

If you plan on vacationing in Colorado, for example, you can register ahead of time from your home state. This scenario ensures that you can start placing bets right after arriving in the Centennial State.

Geolocation Requirements

Colorado lets you do everything from signing up to depositing from another state. However, you can’t place a wager unless you’re within state lines.

The law requires every CO bookmaker to use geolocation technology to pinpoint your location. Geolocation finds your mobile device’s signal to determine where you’re located.

If you’re in Colorado, you should experience no trouble making wagers. However, you may occasionally run into trouble if you’re near the border or high in the Rocky Mountains.

Available Online Bets in Colorado

The Centennial State offers a solid variety of bets. Online wagers that you can look forward to include:

• Moneyline: A straight-up bet where you risk more to win less on the favorite and bet less to win more on the underdog.
• Totals: You wager on whether two teams will go over or under a given point total (e.g., over/under 207.5).
• Point spread: The underdog must avoid losing by a specified number of points, while the favorite must win by a specified number of points.
• Proposition bet: A wager that revolves around a side outcome (e.g., coin toss) rather than the game’s score.
• Live wagering: These bets crop up in the middle of games and are only available for a few minutes.
• Parlay: You choose 2+ outcomes on the same ticket. Every outcome must win for your bet to win.
• Round robin: A round robin is a series of parlays on the same ticket. You can lose one parlay with these bets and still earn money.
• Teaser: Another parlay-style bet, teasers let you change/tease point spreads on each outcome (e.g., +7.5 LA Rams becomes +13.5 LA Rams).
• Futures: You wager on an outcome that will be decided in the distant future (e.g., wagering on the Super Bowl champ).

CO Betting Markets

Colorado is liberal with its sports gambling laws. It allows wagering on a wide range of markets, including:

• Australia rules football
• Auto racing (Formula One & NASCAR)
• Baseball
• Basketball (NCAA & NBA)
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Darts
• Football (NCAA & NFL)
• Hockey
• Mixed martial arts (UFC & Bellator)
• Olympics
• Soccer (MLS & Premier League)
• Rugby
• Tennis (ATP & WTA)
• Volleyball

Can I Bet on eSports in Colorado?

You can wager on esports in the Centennial State—albeit in a limited capacity. Sportsbooks can’t offer esports lines whenever they want.

Instead, bookmakers must obtain approval from the Colorado Division of Gaming first. They’ll likely only make such a request during major events, such as Dota 2’s “The International.”

What can’t you Bet on in Colorado?

The Centennial State doesn’t allow you to wager on high school sports. Of course, this stipulation is standard across the board.

Colorado also bans proposition betting on college sports. This provision helps prevent any bribe attempts made towards amateur athletes involved in a prop wager.

Depositing at CO Betting Sites

Colorado betting sites accept several deposit methods. Available banking options in this market include:

• ACH - Send funds from your bank account to a CO betting account.
• Cash at the cage - Visit a Colorado sportsbook and deposit in person.
• Credit card - Use a bank-issued Visa or Mastercard to fund your account.
• E-wallet - PayPal and Skrill are available for deposits in Colorado.
• PayNearMe - This service lets you deposit with cash at a 7-Eleven or Family Dollar.
• Play+ card - Online sportsbooks issue these branded prepaid cards for deposit purposes.

Other than PayNearMe and credit card, everything above is also available for withdrawing money. The catch, though, is that you must use the same method to cash out as you did to deposit.

Colorado Sports Betting Bonuses

The Colorado betting market features various bonus opportunities and loyalty rewards. Some common CO betting bonuses are:

• Risk-free bet - If your first wager loses, you can earn the losses back.
• No-deposit bonus - You receive a small bonus (e.g., $10) for completing registration.
• Match deposit bonus - A bookmaker matches your deposit up to a specified amount (e.g., $500).
• Loyalty rewards - You accumulate rewards by placing wagers. 

History of Sports Betting in Colorado

The Supreme Court struck down a federal ban (PASPA) on sports betting in May 2018. This decision marked the point when Colorado lawmakers began pondering sports gambling.

Rep. Alec Garnett introduced House Bill 1327 almost a year later. H 1327 sought to legalize land-based and online sports betting in Colorado.

Both the Senate Finance & Appropriations committee and Colorado House quickly approved the legislation.

The final challenge included clearing a public vote. The Centennial State requires a public vote on any legislation that raises taxes.

With 51.16% of the public voting in favor of sports gambling, voters narrowly approved “Proposition DD” in November 2019. 

Despite the close margin, legal sports gambling became a reality in Colorado. Online and land-based bookmakers were officially able to launch in May 2020.

Colorado Sports Betting FAQ