As the popularity of sports betting continues to surge across America, more and more states are legalizing the activity, and Colorado-sanctioned sports betting in 2019.
Despite launching in the midst of a global pandemic, the sports betting scene in Colorado has grown markedly in the subsequent months, with significant sums of investment within the industry.
The unique landscape of Colorado as a state makes locating sports betting retailers a potentially tricky process, but with outlets in Denver, Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek – most punters are catered for in the ‘Centennial State’.
Online gambling was made available to punters at the start of 2020. Although access was suspended during the COVID-19 outbreak, sporting action has steadily returned, and so has interest in online betting in Colorado.
The convenience of being able to bet online has added another element to the sports betting scene in Colorado, with sports such as baseball, American Football, and basketball dominating the sportsbooks statewide.
Legality of Sports Betting in Colorado
Due to its unique location in America, both geographically and politically, Colorado has always been seen as representative of American voters. Both Democrats and Republicans have had recent success in Colorado, and its status as a ‘Swing State’ is well documented.
Consequently, Colorado’s decision to legalize sports gambling in 2019 was in keeping with the national trend. Subsequently, Colorado has been less rigorous than some other states in the sports gambling regulations it has imposed on its punters.
Back in 2019, the decision to legalize sports betting was hotly contested. Still, the vote narrowly passed, with the legalization stating that the increased tax revenue created by sports betting would be used for water projects within Colorado.
While 33 different casino locations applied for licenses to operate in Colorado back in 2019, five central in-person sports betting retail locations are now open in the Centennial State.
Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City all have fully operational sports betting complexes, whilst two further Casino hotels in Ute possess sportsbook licenses.
Colorado Online Sports Betting
Online betting was sanctioned in 2020 in Colorado under Proposition DD and has been heralded as a success. The relative lack of restrictions on punters within the online gambling sphere (compared to some other States) has been beneficial for gamblers and sportsbooks alike, with the industry seemingly thriving in Colorado.
Whilst Colorado is relatively relaxed compared to some states in their licensing, there are still rules punters need to abide by when online sports betting in the state:
- Physical Location in Colorado – Sports gambling companies are keen to ensure all punters betting are operating in the correct legal state. Anyone trying to place a bet with a Colorado-based sportsbook from outside the state will be barred, and the geolocation technology used by most of the significant sportsbooks is rigorous.
- Online Sports Betting Licenses -All sports punters need to remain vigilant when choosing which online sportsbook to bet with. Trustworthy and licensed operations should clearly present their relevant license on their betting homepage. The Colorado Government provides all accepted operations with a licensing number, and punters should only bet with organizations that possess the applicable legislation.
One of the key innovations Colorado introduced when sanctioning sports betting in the state was the implementation of three different licenses for betting sites.
This bespoke approach allows local bookmakers to have healthy competition within the state and enables national operations to provide a service within Colorado.
- Master License – Existing Colorado-based casinos and sportsbooks can operate under the Master License, which allows them to operate as standalone enterprises in the state.
- Operator License – Operator licenses are issued to land-based operators providing services to master license holders at their on-site premises and apply only in cases with third-party operators.
- Internet Sports Betting License – In order to offer online sports betting services in Colorado, companies must obtain an Internet Sports Betting License. Consequently, major national bookmakers must partner with a local Colorado casino in order to launch branded sportsbooks and online betting apps in the state.
Who Can Bet on Sports in Colorado?
Keeping abreast of the sports betting rules within each American state can make it tricky for punters to establish who can and can’t bet on sports in a given state.
Colorado’s sports betting laws were only introduced in 2019, but they consequently accommodate the needs and wants of regular punters and experienced bettors alike.
Punters must be at least 21 years of age to legally place a sports bet in Colorado, and all of the significant in-store and online sports betting companies require verification and identification before a new customer can start betting with their company.
The key ruling punters encounter with Colorado is the state boundary law, which states that players must be within Colorado state lines (in person) in order to bet. This has been the cause of much conjecture within the Colorado online sports betting sphere. Still, each player must be physically located within the state of Colorado in order to operate under local regulations.
However, punters do not need to be residents of Colorado to bet there; the regulations work on the gambler’s physical location at the time a bet is placed.
Legal Colorado Online Betting Sites
Nationally, a wealth of sports betting companies are growing in stature (from State to State) in an attempt to boost their profile amongst the sports betting fraternity.
All of the below sites are national operations, but must affiliate with local, Colorado-based betting sites in order to be able to offer services from the Centennial State:
- William Hill
- BetMGM
- Draft Kings
- Pointsbet
- Betfred
The best Colorado sports betting sites are reputed the world over and are emerging in the Colorado sports betting market. Finding the ideal bookmaker can be difficult for some punters. Still, with relatively lax laws in Colorado and plenty of choice on the market, there are sportsbook options available for all levels of punters.
What Sports Can You Bet on in Colorado?
Colorado isn’t perhaps the first state that sports fans think of when they think of America, but sports in the Centennial State are movable feasts.
College sports are well-represented in Colorado, and most of the leading institutions have successful sports teams that residents can support. The only ruling is the absence of live betting on college sports action in Colorado.
Across the professional sporting sphere, Colorado stands out well, with teams in the NFL (Denver Broncos), the NBA (Denver Nuggets), the MLB (Colorado Rockies), and the NHL (Colorado Avalanche) – giving punters of all interests in sports to back in the state.
In addition, the Colorado Rapids are a successful MLS team, and the lack of wagering restrictions in Colorado allows a wide range of sports to appeal to everyone.
Betting staples such as tennis, golf, and horse racing can all be accessed through online and in-person sports betting operations in Colorado as the state looks to cater to the gambling needs of every sports betting enthusiast.
More niche offerings, such as motorsports, UFC/MMA, and Esports, are also popping up among Colorado’s sportsbooks as the state looks to fully embrace the online sports betting revolution.
What Types of Sports Bets Can You Place in Colorado?
There is a national framework across America that sports punters must adhere to when betting on sports. Yet, Colorado is notoriously lax in the rules and regulations that it imposes on its players.
Straight-win bets continue to be the most popular gambling medium in the state, and with so many different sports and fixtures to bet on, Colorado’s punters are generally spoilt for choice.
In-play betting isn’t enabled for College sports, but punters can access a range of betting markets once the action has begun. With reputable bookmakers offering excellent odds in Colorado, sports betting enthusiasts always have markets they can access as the action unfolds.
Moneyline and spread bets are also very popular across American sports, and the in-play markets have boomed online since their launch in Colorado in 2020.
Fixture compilers in America are notoriously savvy, and with events such as Sunday Night Football primetime viewing in Colorado, the betting opportunities for punters continue to grow. Parlays and accumulators offer low-risk, high-reward options for punters, and they are becoming increasingly popular with Colorado gamblers within both the online and in-play spheres, as a small stake can yield a substantial amount of money returned if things go your way!
In comparison to some states in the US, Colorado was a little late to the draw with online betting regulations, and the impact of COVID-19 saw an initial dip in uptake from the state’s gamblers. Subsequently, however, the online sports betting market in Colorado has boomed with the sheer amount of sports bets available, coupled with the limited betting regulations, encouraging punters of all bank balances and betting aspirations to get on board with the growing sports betting trend in Colorado.
