Colorado Sports Betting Sites in 2024

🐷 In Colorado, sports betting online has evolved thanks to advancements in legislation. Our below guide will list the best sites available to bettors in the state, explain the most popular type of bets, and give you a breakdown of how the state's current gambling laws came to be.

Best Sportsbooks in Colorado

Is Sports Betting Legal in Colorado?

Voters approved sports betting in Colorado in November 2019, when it passed Proposition DD by a small margin of just 43,000 votes. Online platforms as well as physical retail outlets were launched in May 2020.

The market in Colorado has matured to become one of the biggest and most diverse in the country. 26 sportsbooks🍷 now operate in the state, with each operator required to partner with a land-based casino to launch. Ultimately, this gives bettors a wide variety of choice.

These include established brands like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings, alongside new operators like SI Sportsbook, which first launched its platform in Colorado. Some brands have also put down deep roots in the state, like PointsBet, which opened its national headquarters in Denver.

Not only is sports betting legal in Colorado, but it is also one of the most bettor-friendly markets in the country. With a wide choice of sportsbooks, an operator-friendly regulatory agency (the Colorado Division of Gaming), and a low tax rate, Colorado has become one of the largest betting markets in the country. The state even topped a total of $12 billion in May 2023 (three years since becoming legal).

🍃 The main question remains, what can, and can’t you bet on? Here’s a quick breakdown.

Colorado Sports Betting Timeline

• May 6, 2016:♏ Governor John Hickenlooper signs HB1404 into law, which legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests in Colorado.

• May 14, 2018:ඣ US Supreme Court overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act 1992 (PASPA), allowing states to legalize sports betting.

• April 18, 2019:♑ Representative Alex Garnett, the House majority leader, introduces HB1327, decriminalizing sports betting in the state. It passes both houses of the Colorado Legislature.

• May 29, 2019:♛ Governor Jared Polis signed HB1327 into law, but thanks to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), the issue must be put to a referendum: Proposition DD.

• November 7, 2019:𒊎 Proposition DD is approved by a small margin of 43,000 votes, legalizing sports betting in Colorado.

• May 1, 2020:෴ Retail and online sportsbooks launch in the state, with FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, and DraftKings accepting wagers.

• December 5, 2022:💝 Colorado’s total betting handle since launch tops $9 billion.

• January 27, 2023:☂ Two of the state’s tribes, the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute, tells lawmakers they were left out of the sports betting discussions in 2019. These tribes claim that they have lost out on millions due to not being allowed to offer online sports betting like other casinos in Colorado.

• February 17, 2023:𒊎 Monarch Casino in Colorado agrees to pay a $400,000 fine for multiple Colorado sports betting laws violations. An investigation finds that employees had been placing proxy bets at in-person and mobile sportsbooks.

• February 24, 2023:꧋ HB23-1041, the legislation aimed at changing the legality of greyhound gambling in Colorado, unanimously passes the House Finance Committee.

• September 13. 2023:𝔍 The Colorado Division of Gaming launches the first statewide self-exclusion program.

• November 16, 2023:⛦ The 12-month trial period allowing fixed odds on horse betting is re-extended for a further 24 months.

Sports Betting Revenue and Taxation in Colorado

🔥 Colorado has become one of the biggest betting markets in the US by handle, bringing in over $10 billion in total. The state charges operators a 10% tax on gross revenue, which has raised nearly $715 million. Since May 2020, almost $36 million has been collected.

🌞 In addition, the Federal Revenue Code indicates that 0.25% of all sportsbook handles must be taxed, with each sportsbook charged a $50 fee per employee involved in taking bets.

As in most states, you’ll have to pay income tax on gambling winnings in Colorado. The state's income tax is a flat rate of 4.4%, but you can offset your losses against the tax you pay on your winnings, so ensure you keep a record of your payouts to send to the Revenue Department.

You must declare all your gambling winnings to the IRS. You will also have to complete a W-2G form if you win over $600 in a year – your sportsbook will be able to help with this by providing information on your winnings. Sportsbooks can hold up to 25% of your winnings for tax purposes.

Top Sportsbooks in Colorado

🌟 Since May 2020, bettors in Colorado have been spoilt for choice, with nearly 30 sportsbooks having launched in the state. This has resulted in a good mix of the biggest operators in the country, innovative newcomers, and local sportsbooks. Choosing between them can be tricky, so we’ve selected some of our favorite sites so you can find the perfect one!

DraftKings

DraftKings Sportsbook🦄 debuted in Colorado in May 2020, obtaining a license with the Colorado Division of Gaming through Bally’s Black Hawk North to operate in the state. It also hosts a retail sportsbook at the Bally’s site, featuring a full-service sportsbook cashier, cocktail bar, and betting kiosks. The sportsbook also partnered with the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rockies of the NHL and MLB, respectively.

♔ The award-winning DraftKings offers markets on various popular US sports, including competitive odds on major professional and collegiate events.

As esports are available for wagering in the Centennial State, DraftKings also gives Colorado bettors a great range of markets, such as CS:GO, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Rocket League.🌳 Overall, the choice of markets and leagues is enough to satisfy most bettors in the state.

DraftKings also boasts a user-friendly native app for iOS and Android, alongside a mobile and desktop site. Customer service is available 24/7 through live chat and email, while all the most popular payment methods are accepted. Withdrawals usually take 3-5 business days, however, which is slower than other competitors.

BetMGM

BetMGM🏅 launched on the opening day of sports betting in the Centennial State, becoming available to bettors in May 2020. It holds a license obtained with the Colorado Division of Gaming through its land-based partner, JP McGill’s Hotel & Casino. On top of this, the brand has also partnered with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, including opening a BetMGM Lounge at Mile High Stadium.

The platform has an excellent selection of sports, ranging from professional and collegiate, as well as in-depth lines on MMA, NASCAR Cup Series, and European soccer.

A significant plus here is the MGM Rewards program, 🥂where you can redeem points earned while betting on real-life prizes. These include hotel stays, meals, and drinks at MGM Resorts properties. Thanks to its partnership with the Broncos, BetMGM's sportsbook also provides tons of special promotions on Broncos games throughout the NFL season.

FanDuel

🐎 A familiar name to DFS players in Colorado, FanDuel launched its sports betting product in Colorado in May 2020. It obtained its license through a partnership with the land-based casino, Bally’s Black Hawk North Casino.

The sportsbook operates a “Cash at Counter”🍃 partnership with a retail location, the Celtic on Market, an Irish pub on Market Street. You can’t make bets at this location, but you can wager on the app while watching sports events at the bar. We’d love to see a full retail sportsbook added in the future, however.

FanDuel💦 made history in June 2020, becoming the first sportsbook to partner with an NFL team when it partnered with the Denver Broncos.

The sportsbook offers a wide range of markets, with major league and college betting available alongside some more exotic markets, like cricket, rugby, and handball.

Another great plus of this site is its FanDuel-branded wallet. You can use your winnings to place bets at TVG, ♊the pari-mutuel horse racing site operated by FanDuel itself, and enter contests on its daily fantasy product.

ESPN BET

The newest edition to the ever-growing list of Colorado sports betting sites, ESPN BET hit the scene in November 2023💎 and is already well established within the state and beyond. The moment you enter the site, you’ll be met by a sleek and simple betting experience, and the features match the style of the site.

The site offers 19 sports markets which is brilliant when compared to the other bookies, with several TV & Culture🐠 markets to boot. They of course provide coverage on all major US and European events, and have in-depth markets with a great average payout rate of around 95%.

ESPN BET have not one, but two amazing welcome offers for punters – either a 100% first deposit cashback up to $1,000 or a bet and get £200 in free bets. Both are great choices, and it depends on how much you want to spend.

ꦇ The biggest drawback is the lack of any promotional offer or features, besides a PENN PLAY loyalty program which does offer some benefits depending on your tier. Tiers are determined based on your betting frequency.

Caesars

A heavy hitter in the United States betting scene, Caesars♊ joined the state as one of the best Colorado sports betting apps available.

Firstly, their welcome bonus is a banger! It’s a 100% cash back if your bet losses up to £1,000🐻. This means that your first bet is effectively a free bet with a win-win scenario. If your bet wins, you’ll get a great payout; if your bet loses, you’ll get your stake back.

𒆙 Caesars' desktop product is good, if not a little basic, with a similar offering to the app.

🅷 If you're registered with Caesars, you can even bet in person at the two Black Hawk casinos near Denver.

Best Sports Betting Apps in Colorado

ꦦ Placing bets on the go has become the most popular method of wagering in Colorado. Therefore, sportsbooks available in the state must offer a great mobile experience to stay ahead of the competition. We've listed the best Colorado sports betting apps below.

Colorado Sports Betting Promotions

ꩵ Below you'll find some of the most popular promotions on Colorado sports betting sites:

Bet and Get Free Bets

𓃲 A European classic in many ways, this involves bookies requiring you to make a deposit and place a first bet on any sporting event. Once this is done, you’ll be awarded a set number of free bets. For instance, ESPN BET gives you $200 worth of free bets after you've placed your initial wager.

Best Colorado betting sites for bet and get free bets: ESPN BET

Odds Boosts

🐼 Odds boosts are pretty straightforward. Basically, betting sites handpick certain markets and offer more attractive odds. Sometimes, they even provide pre-made bet options. This tends to occur more frequently when an operator sponsors a specific league or club.

Best Colorado betting site for odds boosts: FanDuel

Profit Boosts

💫 Similar to odds boosts, a profit boost adds a percentage to your winnings if you get a correct bet. Many bookies offer some profit boosts on major events.

Best Colorado Betting sites for profit boosts: Caesars

Popular Types of Bets

🧔 With 26 licensed sports betting operators, bettors in Colorado have plenty of bet types and markets to explore. We've listed the best of these below.

Best Local Team Sports To Bet on

💟 If you’re interested in online sports betting in Colorado, then you should also know which teams enjoy the biggest support in the state. Here is our list of major contenders:

🔯 Other popular sports in Colorado include UFC, Formula 1, and much more.

Legal Sportsbooks in Colorado – A Quick Roundup

🍨 In a rush? Here's a quick glance of what sports betting in Colorado has to offer, including both online and land-based options.

Online sportsbooks

𒆙 What are the best welcome offers online and which are available on mobile? Our table below has all the answers!

Land-based sportsbooks

🦩 There are 26 casinos in Colorado which offer sports betting. Of course, you’ll need to go to the physical locations to actually place bets. The main positives here are that you have more flexibility when placing bets, and get to savor the social aspect of betting in person.

Colorado Sports Betting Facts

Does Colorado Offer Responsible Gambling Resources?

Colorado, and the United States more broadly, takes responsible gambling extremely seriously. Many states offer their own set of resources, with the (PGCC) in charge of this state.

In September 2023, the Colorado Division of Gaming teamed up with the PGCC to create a self-exclusion program💃, making the state one of the safest places to bet.

States Where It Is Legal To Bet on Sports

💖 The decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down PASPA in May 2018 returned the power to legalize gambling back to states, with each state legislature able to pass laws to regulate and launch betting as they saw fit. Sports betting laws, therefore, differ from state to state.

⭕ Colorado launched legal sports betting on May 1, 2020, having legalized online and retail sports betting in November 2019. Voters passed Proposition DD by a margin of just 43,000. At the time of writing, the following states can also offer sports betting via retail, online, or both.

ThePuntersPage Final Say

ඣ Colorado boasts one of the most developed betting markets in the USA, having come a long way since legalization in May 2020. With many bookmakers legally offering their services, the competition remains fierce with more and more newcomers emerging. As such, Colorado is one of the biggest states by handle for sports betting, and it’s not hard to see why.

Colorado Sports Betting Resources