Updated on: Oct 23, 2024 12:00 PM ET Fact checked by: Dave Consolazio
Legal sports betting in Colorado has been thriving since May 1, 2020, when 15 different sports betting apps launched on the same day. Currently there are 18 regulated sports betting apps in Colorado accepting bets in addition to 10 retail options. If you’re considering sports betting, you’re fortunate to be in Colorado which allows remote registration so you can wager with popular apps like DraftKings and FanDuel from the comfort of your living room.
Colorado has more sports betting apps (18) than the Denver Broncos have Hall of Famers (15). With so many sportsbooks to choose from, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. I will provide you with details on your best sportsbook options in Colorado and explain how to get started with sports betting. I’ll also detail the state’s path toward legal sports betting, which Colorado teams to wager on and responsible gambling resources.
Best Betting Sites In Colorado
Best Betting Sites in Colorado
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Best Betting Sites in Colorado
is sports betting legal in colorado
Yes, sports betting is legal and regulated in Colorado. In November of 2019, voters approved a ballot referendum (Proposition DD), allowing in-person and online sports betting statewide. Six months later, in May of 2020, the state launched 15 sports betting apps including DraftKings and FanDuel. Unlike some other states with legalized sports betting, Colorado bettors are allowed to wager on the NFL Draft and esports, but be aware that betting on college player props isn’t prohibited.
colorado quick facts
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Launch Date: May, 2020
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Legal Betting Age: 21
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Online Sports Betting: Yes
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Online Casino Sites: No
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Online Poker Sites: No
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Best Available Sportsbook: Fanduel
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Regulatory Body: Colorado Department of Revenue, Gaming
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Legal online sportsbooks: 18
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College Sports Betting: Yes, but college player prop betting is prohibited
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Political or entertainment betting: No
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High School sports Betting: No
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Esports betting: Yes
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NFL Draft: Yes
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Remote registration: Yes
Timeline of Betting Legislation & Latest News
Colorado became the 18th state in the U.S. to legalize sports betting with a ballot referendum in 2019, and sports betting officially went live on May 1, 2020. Like a Denver Broncos overtime thriller, the public vote to legalize sports betting went down to the wire, but in the end, those advocating for sports betting prevailed.
how to start betting in colorado
Sports betting in Colorado is simple thanks to remote registration which allows you to register for sportsbooks and deposit money without having to go to a casino like in some other states. If you’re over 21-years-old and located inside Colorado, just download your favorite sports betting app, fund your account, verify your identity, and start betting.
Home Field Advantage
Roughly 12% of Colorado’s population of 5.8 million residents live in the state’s capital city of Denver. All four of Colorado’s top sports teams play their home games in Denver, which has been nicknamed the Mile High City for its elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level. The lower oxygen levels at that elevation give teams based in Colorado that are accustomed to it a unique home field advantage unlike any other in the United States.
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NFL - Denver Broncos: The Broncos have had two of the NFL’s all-time great quarterbacks under center in John Elway (who led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1997 and 1998) and Peyton Manning (who helped Denver win its 2015 Super Bowl). Unfortunately for Broncos fans, the team has been stuck in an eight-year playoff drought since Manning’s retirement following that Super Bowl victory.
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NBA - Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic established himself as one of the best players in the NBA with back-to-back regular season NBA MVP awards in 2021 and 2022. But in 2023 he cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats in Colorado sports history by leading the Nuggets to their first NBA Championship and securing an NBA Finals MVP award in the process. The Nuggets figure to be a contender for years to come with Jokic at the helm.
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NHL - Colorado Avalanche: The former Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche in 1995. They made an immediate splash in their new home state by winning the Stanley Cup in 1995-96 with a team led by NHL legends Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy. The Avalanche are still among the NHL’s best and most consistent teams today, most recently winning the franchise’s third Stanley Cup in 2022.
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MLB - Colorado Rockies: And then there’s the Rockies. Colorado has been a perennial doormat at the bottom of the NL West since its inception in 1993, and it’s hard to see things getting better any time soon with the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers finalising their super-team with the addition of Shohei Ohtani in the 2023 offseason. If Colorado sports fans could pick any of their teams to watch and bet on 162 times per season, it wouldn’t be the Rockies, but that’s what they’re stuck with.
The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC) is an excellent resource for people in Colorado who have a gambling problem or know someone who is struggling with gambling addiction. Their website features several resources including links to treatment providers in the state and information on the state’s self inclusion list.
There’s also a separate Gamblers Anonymous phone number for those in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah (1-800-222-5542) and information for meetings can be found at Coloradoga.org.