Does Colorado Have Legal Gambling
With only gambling, you’ll have a perfect record of your wins and losses — which make it easy for individuals to itemize for tax return purposes. Pari-Mutuel betting is also taxed, though at a lower rate. While there is no greyhound racing in Colorado after the 2014 ban, it.
- Legal Gambling States
- Does Colorado Have Legal Sports Betting
- Does Colorado Have Legal Gambling
- Does Arkansas Have Legal Gambling
- Colorado Gambling Sites
- Legalized Gambling Colorado
Legal Colorado online gambling exists in several forms, although not every type of gambling online has been legalized yet.
- Colorado regulates a wider range of online gambling activities than many people realize. Sports betting was authorized by voters in November 2019 as you may have heard, but that is not the only form of online gambling that is legal in Colorado. Legal Forms of Online Betting in CO.
- Colorado casinos were legalized in an attempt to revive the ailing economies in three mountain towns. Casinos in Colorado are only legal if located in Black Hawk, Central City or Cripple Creek. The bet limit at all of these Colorado casinos is $100, where all games are permitted.
The biggest legal online betting option is sports betting, which is legal as of May 1, 2020, in Colorado.
Colorado online gambling laws
The Centennial State joined the list of those with legal sports betting when its citizens voted “Yes” to Proposition DD in 2019. The new CO sports betting law contains full provisions for both retail and online wagering, the latter of which began in May 2020.
For now, at least, online casinos and traditional real-money poker sites are not authorized in Colorado. The state does, however, have an extensive brick-and-mortar casino industry and a number of popular live poker rooms.
Sweepstakes online poker and casino games are also offered legally in Colorado.
Colorado online sports betting
Online sports betting in Colorado is live as of May 1, 2020.
The 30+ casinos in the state — located in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek — hold the sports betting licenses. They then develop their own products or partner with third-party operators above for online sports betting and retail sportsbooks.
Colorado offers what should be a robust market for sports bettors, with a competitive marketplace that will allow most operators into the state, a modest tax rate, and little reliance on land-based wagering.
Colorado daily fantasy sports
Daily fantasy sports is also legal in the state of Colorado. In 2016, the state became one of the earliest to pass a law allowing DFS to operate legally. Contests are available on just about any sport that exists, including football, baseball, hockey, basketball and golf.
Legal Gambling States
DraftKings and FanDuel are the two leading DFS operators in Colorado and across the country.
Colorado online casinos
Colorado legalized no other forms of online gambling beyond sports betting with the 2019 referendum.
Non-sports online gambling has started to gain some momentum in states around the country. Given Colorado has been on the leading edge of legalizing sports betting, there’s at least a chance other forms of online gambling are authorized in the future.
Colorado online poker sites
Like online casino gambling, real-money online poker is not legal in Colorado.
Colorado online horse betting
Like the majority of US states, horse betting can be conducted legally over the internet in Colorado.
Pari-mutuel wagering on races predates the 2018 repeal of PASPA and the inception of other forms of legal sports betting in the greater US. Advance-deposit wagering apps like TVG are available for use in Colorado.
Colorado online lottery
The Colorado Lottery does not directly offer online games or online ticket sales. It does, however, offer an app where customers can scan tickets to check for winners.
Some lottery courier services also operate legally in Colorado.
Sweepstakes online poker/casino in Colorado
There’s currently no legal option for conventional real-money online poker and casino gambling in Colorado. Sweepstakes sites, however, operate legally and provide the same opportunity to win cash prizes.
Colorado online gambling FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about online gambling in Colorado.
Is online gambling legal in Colorado?
So far, sports betting is the only major form of legal online gambling available in Colorado. Daily fantasy sports, horse betting, and sweepstakes gambling sites also operate legally in the state, as do some online lottery courier services.
Does Colorado Have Legal Sports Betting
Is online poker legal in Colorado?
No, traditional real-money online poker is not legal in Colorado. Sweepstakes online poker sites, however, are compliant with state law.
Is sports betting legal in Colorado?
Yes, Colorado voters approved sports betting — both retail and online — via a statewide referendum in 2019. The first legal sports wagers were booked on May 1, 2020.
Is horse betting legal in Colorado?
Yes. There are horse racing tracks in the state, and advance-deposit wager apps take online wagers.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Colorado?
Yes. The state legalized it in 2016.
Does Colorado have an online lottery?
Not directly. Colorado’s lottery, established in 1983, only sells tickets through brick-and-mortar retailers. Some online lottery courier services do, however, operate legally in the state.
What are the tax rates for online gambling in Colorado?
The state of Colorado taxes online sports betting revenue at a rate of 10%.
Depending on the type, horse betting is taxed at between 0.5% and 1.5% of total wagers.
There is no dedicated state tax on fantasy sports in Colorado.
How much revenue does Colorado online gambling generate?
Right now, that’s mostly the subject of speculation. The possibility exists for sports betting to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, in turn creating tens of million in tax revenue for the state.
Daily fantasy sports creates a relatively small amount of revenue compared to what online sports betting will ultimately produce.
Who regulates online gambling in Colorado?
The Colorado Limited Gambling Control Commission (CLGCC) licenses and regulates sports betting in the state.
17301 W. Colfax Ave.
Suite 135
Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (303) 205-1300
Email: [email protected]
The CLGCC is a five-member regulatory body appointed by the Governor. It was created by the Colorado Limited Gaming Act of 1991 in order to oversee the state’s casinos. By extension, this authority has come to include sports betting as well.
For horse betting, the relevant authority is the Racing Division of the Department of Revenue. For fantasy sports, it is the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
History of gambling in Colorado
Here’s a brief timeline of the relevant laws and regulations involving gambling in Colorado.
Pre-2005: The offline era
The first forms of legal gambling in Colorado were pari-mutuel wagering on races and charitable bingo, both dating back to 1950.
The state lottery was established in 1982 and was initially limited to scratch tickets. Land-based casino gambling then came to the state in 1991. The maximum bet at that time was a paltry $5 before being raised to $100 in 2008.
In 2005, the state’s tribes signed an agreement not to offer any form of gambling not available at the state’s commercial casinos, receiving a tax break in return.
2005: Online casinos expressly outlawed
During first decade of the 21st century, online gambling in the US was a gray market.
Colorado was among those states to take action on its own to prevent unregulated online gambling. In 2005, the state outlawed online casinos.
The following year, the federal government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
2014: Attempts at expanded gambling fail
Nearly a decade later, there was a failed attempt to expand gambling in the state. This included bills for online casino and poker and a referendum on allowing casino gambling at the state’s racetracks. The online bills failed to pass, and racetrack casino gambling was voted down.
2016: DFS gets the green light
The appearance and rapid popularization of daily fantasy sports in the early 2010s caught US legislators by surprise. Despite falling under a carve-out for season long fantasy sports, DFS allowed wagering at a pace more closely resembling conventional sports betting.
Even now, some states have yet to adopt a clear position on DFS. Colorado was among those quick to take action, however.
In 2016, it became the fifth state to pass a law legalizing and regulating DFS, and a fairly permissive one at that. It was, perhaps a sign of changing attitudes among the public and the state’s legislators.
That set the stage for sports betting to be legalized a few years later after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA, which had until that point made it illegal at the federal level.
2018: Sports betting legislation passes
House Bill 1327, legalizing sports betting, passed the state’s legislature in April 2019. It couldn’t become law immediately, however.
Colorado’s Tax-Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires that any law implementing a new tax get direct voter approval by way of a referendum before it can become law. That included H 1327 due to its 10% tax on operators’ gross revenues.
That November, Colorado voters went to the polls to cast their ballots on Proposition DD. Over 1.5 million people voted in the referendum. In the end, the Proposition passed by a margin of less than 3% — with 800,745 in favor and 756,712 opposed.
After New Jersey's Supreme Court victory in May 2018, any state that wishes can legalize sports betting.
At the same time various state lawmakers are considering sports betting legislation, Congress is too. Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and now-retired Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, co-introduced comprehensive sports betting legislation at the end of 2018. On Sept. 27, 2018 the House Judiciary Committee held a formal hearing on the topic.
The dual track of proposals -- state and federal -- have increased in frequency since the start of 2017.
To measure the change in the landscape, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of how likely it is for each jurisdiction to offer full-scale legal sports betting. A brief synopsis for the active states is included, with updates to follow.
Last updated on November 3, 2020.
Already there
1. Nevada
No longer the only state to permit a wide variety of legal sports betting, Nevada is a mature market that has existed for decades. Given its long history in successfully offering regulated sports wagering, many states might look to Nevada for best practices.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 223
Population: 3,034,392 (2,246,259 21+)
2. Delaware
On June 5, 2018, Delaware moved to offer single-game betting on a number of different sports at three casinos in the state. Expanded sports wagering options could take place at additional locations or online. Delaware's authorization of what Gov. John Carney described as 'a full-scale sports gaming operation' happened less than a month after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal law restricting single-game betting to Nevada was unconstitutional.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 967,171 (726,161 21+)
3. New Jersey
On June 11, 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the sports betting bill that had passed the previous week. A William Hill sportsbook at Monmouth Park took the first bets on Thursday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Gov. Murphy was the first customer in line. The Borgata in Atlantic City booked sports bets 30 minutes later. Other sportsbooks in New Jersey opened soon thereafter. For example, FanDuel's first sportsbook at the Meadowlands opened its doors on July 14.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams and collegiate events held within the state
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 9
Population: 8,908,520 (6,634,683 21+)
4. Mississippi
Two casinos owned by MGM Resorts booked their first sports bets in Mississippi on Aug. 1, 2018. Mississippi enacted a new law in 2017 that allowed for sports betting pending a favorable decision by the Supreme Court. In June 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted implementing regulations that require all betting to take place in person, with mobile wagering to be considered later.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 29
Population: 2,986,530 (2,153,795 21+)
5. West Virginia
On Aug. 30, 2018, West Virginia became the fifth state to offer legal and regulated sports betting when the Hollywood Casino -- a sportsbook owned by Penn National -- opened its doors. The move came six months after the West Virginia legislature passed a new bill with the West Virginia Lottery Commission serving as the chief regulator.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 5
Population: 1,805,832 (1,375,788 21+)
6. New Mexico
On Oct. 16, 2018, the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel booked its first sports bet in partnership with Nevada-based USBookmaking. Although New Mexico has not passed any new sports betting legislation since the Supreme Court's decision, the move by the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel was made via a gaming compact with the state. According to Nedra Darling, spokeswoman at the Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Affairs -- the federal agency in Washington, DC that oversees tribal gaming compacts -- the New Mexico compacts permit 'any or all forms of Class III Gaming,' a category in the federal regulations that specifically includes '[a]ny sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.'
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 32
Population: 2,095,428 (1,529,540 21+)
7. Pennsylvania
The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course booked the first legal sports bets in Pennsylvania in mid-November 2018. The move came just over a year after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new sports betting bill as part of a broad legislation push that included online poker and DFS. The October 2017 bill became effective after the Supreme Court's May 2018 ruling upending the federal ban on single-game betting outside of Nevada.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 12
Population: 12,807,060 (9,645,705 21+)
8. Rhode Island
The Twin River Casino in Lincoln opened its doors for legal sports betting on Nov. 26, 2018. The move came five months after Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the state budget, which included language allowing sports betting. Only two locations would be allowed to offer sports betting under the law, with the state's lottery providing regulatory oversight. In early 2019, the law was tweaked to provide for mobile betting.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 2
Population: 1,057,315 (800,838 21+)
9. Arkansas
On July 1, 2019, the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort booked the first legal sports bets in Arkansas. Two other retail locations opened sportsbooks in the subsequent months. Sports betting is regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 3,013,825 (2,191,256 21+)
10. New York
On July 16, 2019, the first legal sports bets were placed in New York. J. Gary Pretlow -- a New York lawmaker and chair of the state's racing and wagering committee -- was among the first to place a wager at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. The opening of a legal sportsbook came six years after New York passed a law to allow sports betting at four on-site locations, all in upstate New York. After lying dormant for years, the law was revived after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018 and the issuance of regulations earlier this year. The current law does not allow for mobile wagering.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 28
Population: 19,542,209 (14,724,807 21+)
11. Iowa
Legal sports betting arrived in Iowa on Aug. 15, with multiple operators all opening their doors to customers on the first day. The move came three months after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into a law a comprehensive bill to legalize sports betting in the Hawkeye State. Operators must pay a $45,000 licensing fee and there is a 6.75 percent tax on revenue. The new law permits mobile wagering. Betting on college sports is permitted, but certain kinds of in-game prop bets involving college games are banned. The new law bestows the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission with authority to regulate sports betting.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 23
Population: 3,156,145 (2,286,374 21+)
12. Oregon
Legal sports betting returned to Oregon on Aug. 27 after a long hiatus, with the first bets booked on-site at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. Oregon is one of a small number of states that already had a law on the books permitting some forms of sports betting, so the resumption of wagering did not require the legislature to pass any new law or have the governor amend an existing tribal-state compact. In mid-October, mobile sports betting arrived in Oregon too, with the state-run lottery overseeing the launch of a new website and app.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort, but sportsbook operated by the Oregon Lottery does not permit betting on games involving in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 4,190,713 (3,167,912 21+)
13. Indiana
Legal sports betting opened up at a number of locations in Indiana on Sept. 1. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all sports betting regulations and has issued licenses to operators across the state. Wagering on both college and pro sports is permitted, but betting on esports and high school sports is banned. Indiana's new law allows for both mobile and in-person wagering. Regulations permit sports leagues or colleges to request 'to utilize a geofence to prohibit wagers at the location of a particular sporting event.'
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 14
Population: 6,691,878 (4,842,337 21+)
14. New Hampshire
Governor Chris Sununo placed the ceremonial first legal sports wager -- on the New England Patriots -- in New Hampshire on Dec. 30, 2019. The state's lottery is in charge of regulatory of regulatory oversight. Both retail and mobile sports betting will be permitted on a wide variety of sports, although no betting on New Hampshire's in-state colleges is allowed.
Type of wagering permitted: Mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 0
Population: 1,356,458 (1,042,882 21+)
15. Illinois
Legal sports betting arrived in Illinois on March 9, 2020. The move came less than a year after the Illinois legislature passed a broad gaming bill that allowed for both online and in-person sports betting. With Governor J.B. Pritzker's signature, the new law also provided for betting on-location at venues such as Wrigley Field. Operators and certain data providers are required to obtain a license under the new law.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No wagering on minor leagues or Illinois college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 12,741,080 (9,391,158 21+)
16. Michigan
Legal sports betting in Michigan commenced on March 11, 2020, with two Detroit-area casinos launching on the same day. The move came less than three months after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the 'Lawful Sports Betting Act' into law. The new law provides for wagering on a wide variety of sports, including college contests.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 27
Population: 9.995,915 (7,428,72721+)
17. Montana
Legal sports betting arrived in Montana in March 2020. The move came after Governor Steve Bullock formally signed into law a 28-page bill that brought sports wagering to Big Sky country via the state's lottery. Governor Bullock cited the Montana Lottery's 'proven track record of responsibility and integrity' when signing the bill.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 13
Population: 1,062,305 (793,151 21+)
18. Colorado
May 1, 2020 marked the launch of legal sports betting in Colorado, with multiple operators allowing residents to open accounts online and place wagers. The move came less than six months after Colorado voters -- by a narrow margin -- approved a ballot measure that would provide 'for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos.' Both mobile and retail sports betting are permitted. Tax revenue from sports betting will help fund various state water projects.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 35
Population: 5,695,564 (4,210,663.00 21+)
19. Washington, D.C.
In June 2020, the D.C. Lottery launched its 'GameBetDC' platform allowing consumers 'to wager while in the District on major sports worldwide' via computer or mobile device. Sports betting in nation's capital followed the passage of the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 and a Congressional review period during which time Congress did not formally object. The Office of Lottery and Gaming provides regulatory oversight of all sports wagering in D.C.
Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions:No betting on games involving colleges located in D.C.
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 705,749
20. Tennessee
Regulated sports wagering -- all online -- launched on November 1, 2020 in Tennessee with four licensed operators offering a wide variety of options. The 'Tennessee Sports Gaming Act' permits statewide mobile sports betting without any brick-and-mortar anchor. As such, there are no in-person retail sports betting locations in the state. Subject to an exception, Tennessee's new law requires all licensed operators to 'exclusively use official league data for purposes of live betting.'
Type of wagering permitted: Mobile only
Notable prohibitions:None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 6,829,174
On-deck circle
21. North Carolina
On July 26, 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed into a law a bill to 'allow sports and horse race wagering on tribal lands,' with such betting designated as a 'Class III' gaming activity under the state compact. The new law permits betting on both college and professional sports, but all bettors must place their wagers in-person at one of two retail locations.
22. Washington
Governor Jay Inslee signed Washington's sports betting bill into law on March 25, 2020. The new law permits sports wagering at Class III tribal casinos in the state. Mobile sports wagering is not allowed statewide, but is permitted when on-site at a licensed tribal casino. Betting on an 'esports competition or event' is allowed, but the new law bans wagering on games involving in-state colleges or minor league professional events. The new bill delegates regulatory oversight to the Washington State Gambling Commission.
23. Virginia
After some back-and-forth between Governor Ralph Northam and the legislature, legalized sports wagering was approved in the Commonwealth of Virginia in April 2020. Online betting is allowed, but wagering is not permitted on Virginia-based college sports or certain youth sports.
24. Maryland
In November 2020, Maryland voters approved 'sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education' by about a 2-1 margin. A regulatory framework must be created by Maryland lawmakers before any sports wagering takes place. The Maryland referendum would potentially allow for both in-person and mobile sports betting throughout the state.
25. South Dakota
On November 3, 2020, voters in South Dakota approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering in Deadwood.' Other tribal locations in South Dakota could see the arrival of regulated sports betting too. State lawmakers must now establish a regulatory apparatus and tax rate for legalized sports wagering.
26. Louisiana
In November 2020, voters in the vast majority of Louisiana's 64 parishes approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering activities and operations.' As a result, regulated sports wagering could come to New Orleans and certain other cities as early as 2021. Lawmakers will be tasked with setting up a regulatory scheme during an upcoming state legislative session.
Moving toward legalization
All of these states have seen some degree of legislative activity towards the legalization of sports betting the past few years.
27. Oklahoma
In April 2020, two federally-recognized tribes reached agreement with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on new gaming compacts that include sports betting. On June 8, 2020, Governor Stitt announced that the Department of the Interior had approved the compacts, paving the way for sports betting to start in Oklahoma as soon as the 'compacts are published in the Federal Register.' A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, along with Oklahoma's attorney general, have expressed opposition to the expansion of sports betting in Oklahoma and the prospect of legalized sports wagering remains uncertain.
28. Maine
On the last day of the state's 2019 legislative session -- June 19 -- Maine lawmakers passed 'An Act to Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State.' Shortly thereafter, the governor vetoed the bill. The legislature could re-introduce the bill later.
29. Nebraska
On November 3, 2020, Nebraska voters approved certain amendments to its state constitution legalizing 'all games of chance.' If the new constitutional amendments are construed to include wagering on sporting events, legalized sports betting could arrive in Nebraska upon the establishment of certain regulations.
30. Connecticut
31. Kentucky
32. Massachusetts
33. Minnesota
34. Missouri
35. Kansas
36. South Carolina
37. California
39. Ohio
40. Arizona
41. Hawaii
42. Texas
43. Georgia
44. Vermont
45. Alabama
46. Florida
47. Alaska
Does Colorado Have Legal Gambling
48. Wyoming
No legalization activity ... yet
49-50. Idaho and Wisconsin
These states have not had any publicly-announced bills devoted to sports betting legalization.
Does Arkansas Have Legal Gambling
Unlikely
Colorado Gambling Sites
51. Utah
Legalized Gambling Colorado
Utah's anti-gambling stance is written into the state's constitution. Any change to existing state policy toward gambling would be a massive departure from decades of opposition to any form of gambling, including lottery tickets, table games and sports betting.