Colorado Online Gambling
Colorado online gambling laws explicitly regulate some forms of wagering and prohibit others. Yet others, like sweepstakes casinos, are tolerated but not regulated.
Legal Colorado online gambling primarily consists of licensed sports betting apps, advance deposit wagering on horse races, daily fantasy sports contests, and lottery sales.
Read on for the full rundown of legal online gambling options in Colorado, key information players need to know, resources for responsible gambling, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Legal Colorado Gambling Sites
21+ and present in CO. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
Colorado Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age to play) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under CO Constitution, state law; affirmed by 2013 AG opinion |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Legal gray area; sweepstakes cafes banned; future regulatory action possible |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Same constitutional and statutory hurdles as online casinos |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal since 2019 under C.R.S. § 44-30-104 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Governed by 2016 Fantasy Contests Act; Division of Gaming oversees operators |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (19+) | Legal/Regulated | Permitted under fantasy contest rules but restricted to multi-player or peer-to-peer formats since 2024. |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Colorado allows online lottery sales via ticket courier apps like Jackpocket |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Operators must register with Division of Racing Events |
Colorado Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Colorado.
State law strictly prohibits games of chance played for money unless they are explicitly authorized.
The Colorado Constitution and state statutes only permit “limited gaming” in person at licensed casinos located in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.
Why Online Casinos Are Prohibited in Colorado
The legal framework is clear: C.R.S. § 18-10-102 defines illegal gambling, and there is no provision for licensing or regulating online casino platforms.
Additionally, a 2013 Attorney General opinion concluded that online gambling would not qualify as “limited gaming” under state law, regardless of where lawmakers consider bets/wagers as taking place.
In other words, placing online gambling servers would not satisfy the portion of the law that limits gambling to specific Colorado towns.
The opinion also concluded that legalizing real-money online casinos in Colorado would require a constitutional amendment.
Legalization Outlook
Because the state has a well-established land-based casino industry, there is significant political and commercial interest in keeping casino gambling an in-person activity.
Any effort to expand legal online gambling in Colorado would require a significant legislative push and a voter referendum, making it a difficult and lengthy process.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Colorado
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area in Colorado.
Although Colorado law is unclear on the legality of online sweepstakes casinos, major operators like WOW Vegas and Stake.us serve residents who are 18 or older.
Colorado players can use sweepstakes casinos to play casino-style games like online slots and blackjack using virtual coins, with sweeps coins redeemable for cash prizes.
Key caveats players should know about Colorado sweepstakes gambling sites:
- No Colorado agency licenses or audits sweepstakes sites.
- Players must be 18+ and located in Colorado to redeem prizes.
- Consumer protections depend entirely on each operator’s internal policies.
- Sweepstakes casinos could face future regulatory action.
Legal Status Explained
Colorado criminal law defines gambling by the presence of payment, chance, and prize. Sweepstakes operators remove the payment element by offering a “no-purchase-necessary” entry option.
However, sweepstakes casinos face significant legal and regulatory risk:
- A 2014 Colorado AG opinion labeled slot-style devices at “sweepstakes cafes” illegal
- Lawmakers banned physical sweepstakes cafes in 2015 (HB 15-1047)
Although neither action specifically targeted today’s internet-based sweepstakes casino model, both clearly demonstrate that Colorado officials are not convinced that offering “alternative methods of entry” removes the consideration element from the state’s definition of gambling.
Colorado Online Poker
Real-money online poker is illegal in Colorado.
State statutes prohibit internet-based gambling, including poker because it involves staking value on games with elements of chance.
There are no licensed poker sites in Colorado, and attempts to legalize online poker have not progressed beyond discussions tied to broader gaming expansions.
Despite the unfavorable legal landscape, some residents play online poker in Colorado using offshore operators. However, offshore poker sites are not unlicensed or regulated by any US authority, which places players’ funds and private information at significant risk.
Additionally, there are no consumer protections for players who use offshore poker sites, and users have zero legal recourse if they encounter issues with game fairness, privacy, or payouts.
Colorado Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Colorado for adults 21 and older.
Voters approved Proposition DD in November 2019, directing the Division of Gaming to issue licenses to retail and online sportsbooks.
The Colorado sports betting market launched in May 2020 and now features numerous licensed sportsbook apps, including BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365, and others.
Key rules:
- Age & Location: Bettors must be 21+ and physically within state lines; apps use geolocation to enforce this.
- Bet Types: Colorado allows wagering on professional, collegiate, esports, and Olympic events, but prohibits props on college athlete performance.
- Taxes & Revenue: Operators pay a 10% tax on net sports-betting proceeds; most revenue funds the Colorado Water Plan.
In 2022, lawmakers passed HB 22-1402 to cap operators’ promotional deductions in order to increase tax revenue to the state. The bill also established Colorado’s first statewide self-exclusion program (see Responsible Gambling below).
Read more:
Colorado Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports apps are legal and regulated in Colorado.
Most major fantasy sports brands are available in Colorado, but the Division of Gaming maintains a complete list of licensed operators here. Some of the standout DFS apps available in Colorado include:
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- PrizePicks
- Underdog Fantasy
Legal Status and Regulations
Colorado officially legalized fantasy sports and established a regulatory framework in 2016 with the passage of HB 16-1404.
The bill defined DFS as a game of skill, separating it from illegal gambling and placing it under the oversight of the Division of Gaming.
Under the law, operators must be licensed or registered with the state. Large operators with more than 7,500 users pay a licensing fee, while smaller operators can simply register. The minimum age to participate in paid DFS contests is 18.
The law also includes important consumer protections, such as requiring operators to segregate player funds from operational funds and identify highly experienced players to others.
Fantasy Pick’em Apps in Colorado
Fantasy pick’em contests are legal in Colorado but subject to specific regulations designed to distinguish them from sports betting.
These games, offered by operators like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, operate under the same 2016 fantasy sports law. However, their resemblance to player prop parlays has drawn regulatory scrutiny.
In late 2023, the Colorado Division of Gaming proposed updated rules to clarify the line between fantasy contests and sports wagering. Under the proposed rules, fantasy pick’em contests must:
- Require players to select at least four athletes from two or more teams
- Limit predictions to fantasy point totals, not raw statistics
Although Colorado law establishes a minimum age of 18 to participate in daily fantasy sports contests, the state’s most prominent pick’em apps require users to be at least 19 years of age.
Colorado Online Lottery Sales
The Colorado Lottery does not sell tickets online directly to consumers. However, players may use lottery courier apps to purchase tickets from anywhere within state lines.
Colorado does not regulate lottery courier apps, but couriers must partner with licensed retailers, which are regulated by the state lottery. As a result, Coloradans can legally purchase lottery tickets using courier apps like Jackpocket and TheLotter.
When a user places an order through one of these apps, the courier service purchases a physical ticket on the user’s behalf from a licensed brick-and-mortar retailer. The app then sends a scan of the ticket to the user as proof of purchase.
This model allows residents aged 18 and older to conveniently play major lottery games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and Colorado Lotto+ from their mobile devices. Winnings are typically credited directly to the user’s account, though larger prizes require in-person collection.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Colorado
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Colorado.
Colorado law explicitly authorized horse racing betting, and the Division of Racing Events regulates advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs). The Division maintains a list of authorized ADWs to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
Popular and legal horse racing betting apps available in Colorado include AmWager, TwinSpires, and 1/ST BET.
Colorado Gambling Regulators
Colorado’s gambling is regulated by specialized state departments focusing on integrity and revenue.
- Gaming Division: Oversees limited gaming, sports betting, fantasy contests, and enforces rules like age verification and taxes.
- Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC): Sets policy for the Division of Gaming, approving licenses and rules.
- Colorado Lottery Commission: Manages lottery operations, retailer compliance, and fund allocation.
- Division of Racing Events: Regulates horse and greyhound racing, ADWs, and simulcast wagering.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Colorado
Colorado provides various tools and programs to promote safe gambling, including a statewide self-exclusion list for sports betting and casinos. Operators must offer limits and referrals.
Colorado Self-Exclusion Resources
- Bet Smart Colorado Self-Exclusion Program: Allows voluntary bans from sports betting and casinos for 1-5 years or lifetime; accessible online or via form.
- Lottery Self-Exclusion: Available at retailers for problem gamblers.
- ADW Self-Exclusion: Platforms like TVG provide account-level exclusions and cooling-off periods.
Colorado Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC): Offers counseling and education; helpline 303-955-4682
- Bet Smart Colorado: Offers responsible gambling tools, self-exclusion assistance, and information about problem gambling.
- Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS): Provides treatment referrals and prevention programs.
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): National support at 1-800-GAMBLER (call/text/chat at 1800gamblerchat.org).