Colorado Casinos

Colorado Gambling History

Colorado’s gambling journey traces back to the early 19th century when unregulated gambling was prevalent. During this time, legendary figures such as Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson graced the saloons and casinos. However, later on, the law changed and came to address the unregulated casino industry. Here are the important legal milestones in the Col gambling history:

• 1948: Colorado authorized pari-mutuel betting on horse racing and greyhounds after voters approved the amendment (Colorado Gambling on Horse and Animal Races). The same amendment led to the creation of the Colorado Racing Commission.
• 1949: Live horse racing and greyhounds began in the state.
• 1958: Colorado amended the constitution, allowing charitable gaming, including bingo.
• 1974: The year marked a milestone for harness racing, with the activity beginning. However, harness racing would only last for three (3) years, owing to being unpopular.
• 1982: The state’s General Assembly created the Lottery Division of the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Colorado Lottery.
• 1983: A year later, the Colorado Lottery began to sell the lottery tickets, with Col only permitting scratch-off tickets.
• 1990: Voters approved the Colorado Limited Gaming Initiative to legalize gaming in three (3) mountain towns. They were Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City.
• 1991: The 1990 initiative was passed into law, making casino gambling legal in Colo. Residents would walk into the casinos and bet on slots, poker, and blackjack for up to $5 on a single bet. Under the law, the casinos would not be open 24/7.
• 2000: The state passed the Colorado Multi-State Lotteries Referendum, allowing the CO lottery to offer multi-state jackpot drawings tickets on games such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
• 2009: Colorado added roulette and craps to the games offered in the casinos. In addition, the betting limit improved from $5 to $100 on single bets.
• 2014: Gov. John Hickenlooper illegalized greyhounds.
• 2019: This was a milestone year for Col after the approval of the HB19-1327 bill. The bill would allow retail and online sports betting, and the state would channel the tax generated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The Colorado TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) law further required the bill to gain public approval, subjecting the addition of Proposition DD in the Nov 2019 ballot. Col residents would then approve whether the state would or would not legalize sports betting. The bill passed having the great backing of top sportsbook operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
• 2020: Retail and online sports betting went live in the state.

Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Colorado?

Online gambling in Colorado is legal in specific gaming forms while illegal in others. It is essential to understand what the law states to understand the current online gambling status in the state. The 2006 federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) prohibited using credit cards, electronic funds transfer, and checks by online gamblers to settle or place a bet.

Under the Colorado law, CRS 18-10-103 prohibits gambling, with some exceptions laid out. CO loosely defines gambling as an act where a player risks money, credit, or anything of value to gain after the event’s outcome in which they do not have control. Still, on gambling, legal gambling does not include any contest of strength, skill, speed, or endurance. Under CRS 18-10-103, the following are offenses:

1. Engaging in gambling – petty offense (class 1)
2. Engaging in professional gambling – misdemeanor (class 1)
3. Repeating gambling offender – felony (class 5)

Note: CO defines professional gambling as an act of profiting from illegal gambling.

According to Colorado Limited Gaming and Control Commission, internet gambling is illegal unless stated otherwise by the law. Under CRS 18-10-106, it is a class 3 misdemeanor to transmit gambling information via telephone, radio, telegraph, or other means. A repeat of the same is classified as a class 6 felony. The law under CRS 18-10-103 provides these penalties for illegal gambling:

• Petty offense (Class 1): Up to six (6) months in jail and up to $500 in fines.
• Misdemeanor (Class 1): Six (6) up to eighteen (18) months in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.
• Felony (Class 5): One (1) to three (3) years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.
• Gambling device seller, owner, or user is guilty of a misdemeanor (Class 2): Three (3) to twelve (12) months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
• Repeating offender of the above is guilty of a felony (Class 6): Twelve (12) up to eighteen (18) months in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

So, what gambling forms can I gamble online in CO? Under Col gambling law, the following are legal: Online sports betting, online lottery, online horse racing, online sweepstakes, and social gambling. 

According to Colorado, social gambling is loosely defined as gambling by natural persons due to a bona fide social relationship where the party cannot benefit from professional gambling, whether directly or indirectly. This directly implies that in social gambling, there should not be any profit motive.

The notable illegal online gambling forms in Colorado are online casinos, online poker, and online bingo.

Online Casino

Online casinos are not legal in Col. Despite the state legalizing several commercial casinos across three (3) cities and tribal casinos, there is no legal online gambling casino in CO. In fact, Colorado goes a notch higher to illegalize offshore online casinos despite them still operating within the state’s borders.

The positive side is that some efforts in the past have signified that online casinos might come to Colorado. For example, The Colorado Gaming Association drafted a 2012 potential internet gaming bill. While it did not materialize as law, it was a pointer that it is a gaming form being considered.

Online Poker

Online poker is also not legal in Colorado. While many hoped that Proposition DD would have online poker attached, it was not the case. The current status is that poker lovers can only access live poker rooms in the brick-and-mortar casinos spread across the three mountain cities.

The only legal online poker site in Col is Global Poker. The difference is that it operates on a sweepstakes model, allowing users to purchase ‘Gold Coins’ to use. In a nutshell, Global Poker will give withdrawable cash-value ‘sweep coins’ after the ‘Gold Coins’ purchase, explaining how one can win real money.

Online Sports Betting

After Proposition DD passed into law in 2019, the Centennial state legalized both retail and online sportsbooks that went live in 2020. The online sportsbooks allow bettors to access tons of sports markets on top US and International professional and college sports. As a result, revenue generated from sports betting in the state has been rising, with September 2020, for example, recording a total handle of $13 million on pro football on the first weekend of the NFL.

Several reputable online sportsbooks such as PointsBet, FanDuel, DraftKings, William Hill, Betfred, Barstool Sportsbook, FOX Bet, BetMGM, BetRivers, among others, operate in CO. The legal online sportsbooks could shoot as high as twenty (20) when the law is fully implemented. While more sports betting happens online in Col, retail sportsbooks also operate in the state.

Online Lottery

Colorado operates a lottery since 1983 that sells tickets for scratch-offs, in-state games such as Colorado Lotto Plus, and multi-state drawings on games such as Mega Millions and Powerball. The Colorado lottery also has a mobile app that provides information on the winning numbers, directions on the nearby retailers, and a feature to scan tickets. Despite the mentioned, the online lottery is currently unavailable, and users can only wish the application includes purchasing online tickets later.

Online Bingo

Bingo is legal in the state, provided the non-profit organizations run it to raise charity. Unfortunately, commercial bingo is currently not legal in CO, and neither is online bingo. Therefore, the only online bingo sites Col residents can access are the legal and licensed offshore online bingo sites. However, according to Colorado online gambling laws, it is illegal to gamble on offshore sites.

Online Horse Race Betting

Online horse race betting is completely legal in CO. The 2006 federal Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) allowed horse racing. To date, CO players can access several websites or download special mobile apps to bet on popular US racetracks. Some of the top-rated legal sportsbooks in Colorado are TVG and BetAmerica. Besides online horse race betting, CO residents can bet on live racing at Aurora’s Arapahoe Park and simulcast wagering on the 12 off-track betting facilities in the state.

Online Sweepstakes

Online sweepstakes are legal in CO, but the state provides special rules and regulations to follow. The first primary regulation is that all legal sweepstakes must not charge any entry fee to enter into the promotion. The second regulation is that the sweepstakes should choose a winner based on chance and not merit or skill. 

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports have been legal in CO since 2016, when Gov. John Hickenlooper authorized DFS by signing HB 1404 bill into law. The move made Colorado the fifth state in the US to legalize DFS. One of the favorable DFS laws is that an operator with less than 7,500 users doesn’t require a license. However, the operator still needs to register with Colorado.

However, big DFS providers such as DraftKings and FanDuel operating in Colorado require licenses issued through the Division of Professions and Occupations.

Can You Play Slots Online in Colorado?

Yes. One can play CO online slots at their comfort through a desktop, tablet, or mobile. However, there is a caveat on the CO online slots. There are no legal online casinos for real money in Colorado, and as a result, there are no legal real-money online slots CO. The only legal online slots one can play in Colorado are those available on social casinos. Instead of using real money to spin the reels, slot lovers can use chips or virtual currency to enjoy an experience similar to real-money casinos. The difference is that the winnings are non-redeemable for real money.

On the flip side, offshore online casinos offer online slots for real money in Colorado. However, even while they operate, they are not the most ‘upright’ on legal grounds, especially when disputes arise. Additionally, CO gambling laws illegalize all online gambling activities carried out on sites not legal in Colorado, even if they are legal and have operational licenses in their states or overseas. The rule of thumb is to always adhere to the laws set out by the state.

Below are some of the top online slots providers powering most offshore casinos:

• Konami Gaming: The Japan-based software provider is highly rated for its video slots that feature unique features, including cheat codes. Some of the top selections from Konami include China Shores, Ancient Dragon, and Gypsy Fire.
• Novomatic: The Austria-based software provider is popular for both online and land-based casinos. Novomatic’s success in online gambling is attributed to the acquisition of Greentube Internet Entertainment Solutions, its products’ compatibility with mobile phones, and the ability to play the slots for real money or free. Top Novomatic slots include Book of Ra, Genie Jackpots, Sizzling Hot, and Arctic Race.
• Amatic: The Austria-based software provider is reputable for producing slots for top European and US casinos. Amatic slots boast top-notch graphics, features, and are highly innovative. Among the top features include stacked symbols, expanding, and sticky wilds. Top Amatic slots include Book of Aztec, Casanova, and Ice Voyage.

Gambling Age Law

Colorado gambling laws set out different age requirements depending on the gambling form one opts for in the state. The legal gambling age for Col residents betting on bingo, lottery, sweepstakes, and pari-mutuel betting is 18+. However, the gambling age laws change on players walking into casinos, poker rooms, and those betting on retail sportsbooks. The age requirement set is 21+. 

Most Reputable 18+ Online Casinos for Colorado Players

Our call is that players respect and adhere to the state’s minimum gambling age law. Despite CO setting the requirement at 21+, several offshore online casinos operating in Colorado accept players aged 18+. Thus, players meeting the requirement can easily create their accounts to play casino games for real money. 

Our guide lists the most reputable online sites that accept Col players aged 18+. The sites are deemed safe, legal, and licensed for use. Some of these sites are located in neighboring states, with others located outside the US. A recap of the 18+ online casinos in Colo are:

Land-Based Casinos in Colorado

Those with a passion for reminiscing the old times and play several casino games ranging from slots machines, table & card games to live poker rooms can walk into either of the 40+ commercial casinos spread in the Centennial State. The casinos are spread across three mountain states: Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek. In addition, two more casino resorts are located in Ignacio and Towaoc towns and are run by the Indian tribes. 

Besides gaming, the casino resorts offer other services, including accommodation, entertainment, and dining. 

Other commercial casinos in Colorado include:

Will Colorado Regulate Online Gambling in the Future?

As things stand, there is little to no light. The CO online gambling space currently legalizes gambling forms such as sweepstakes, daily fantasy sports, pari-mutuel betting, and sports betting. The latter was the previous entrant after the voters approved Proposition DD. Since online sportsbooks went live in the state, there has been no further talk of legalizing online casinos or online poker.

The only attempt was back in 2012 by the Colorado Gaming Association, but the bill did not materialize. Since then, there has existed no talk of any online casino coming up. Few hold the thought that with the revenue collected from online sports betting so far, the state may consider adding more by legalizing online casinos. This may not be a far-fetched idea, considering 40+ commercial casinos and several top-rated providers are currently operating online sportsbooks. If made legal, players would not need to walk to the three mountain cities to play slots and table games. Instead, they would have an alternative of accessing the casinos’ websites or download CO online casino apps on their devices to enjoy the wholesome experience.