Sports betting in Colorado is big business – whether it’s online sports betting or retail sports betting. Here, we take a look at everything you need to know about the Colorado sports betting market.
The Best Colorado Online Sportsbooks & Sports Betting Apps
Although there are plenty of online sports betting sites, Colorado mobile sports betting is also popular, with a number of household names available in the state including FanDuel and DraftKings. However, Colorado sports bettors can enjoy a whole host of options from big names to the new and local sports betting operators.
Legal Sports Betting Android & iOS Apps
Because sports betting in Colorado has been legal for some time, it’s thriving. The state positively encourages the industry, with legal sports betting being taxed just 10%. It has low fees and all Colorado casinos are eligible to apply for a sports betting license.
At this time, Colorado sports betting fans can enjoy over twenty legal sports betting apps on iOS and Android, all free to download.
The Best Colorado Sports Betting Apps
- DraftKings Colorado
- BetMGM Colorado
- TwinSpires Colorado
- Bally Bet Colorado
- Barstool Colorado
- BetFred Colorado
- BetRivers Colorado
- Betway Colorado
- BetWildwood Colorado
- Caesars Colorado
- Circa Sports Colorado
- Elite Colorado
- FanDuel Colorado
- FOX Bet Colorado
- MaximBet Colorado
- Monarch Colorado
- PlayUp Colorado
- Play Maverick Colorado
- PointBet Colorado
- Smarkets (SBK) Colorado
- Superbook Colorado
- theScore Colorado
- Tipico Colorado
- WynnBet Colorado
- Sports Illustrated Colorado
Our Top Colorado Sports Betting Sites
Here are our best online sports betting sites available for bettors in Colorado right now:
DraftKings Colorado
DraftKings sees the Colorado sports betting market as one of its biggest priorities. It is favored by many as it is easy to use, quick, seamless, has lots of bonuses and plenty of betting options.
BetMGM Colorado
The BetMGM Colorado mobile app is hailed as one of the best – being easy to navigate and user friendly. It offers nearly all online sports betting markets, plenty of options with many promotions and bonuses.
FanDuel Colorado
FanDuel is excellent for sports bettors and daily fantasy sports fans alike. It has created a great mobile sports betting app, plenty of promotions and is partnered with the Denver Broncos – the first NFL team to sign an official online sports betting partner.
Caesars Colorado
This legal sports betting site is working hard on its digital online presence. It recently bought world-famous global sports betting operator, William Hill – and is rebranding. It has a generous welcome bonus and a user-friendly sports betting app.
BetRivers
Although this is a Pennsylvania company, it is now all over the US, offering lots of sports betting markets, bonuses and promotions. It is user friendly and is working hard to make its mobile app as good as the desktop site.
TwinSpires Colorado
This is a generous Colorado online sports betting site with a user-friendly app offering sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.
PointsBet Colorado
The PointsBet Colorado app offers a seamless and intuitive betting app. Its USP is its PointBetting system, which allows players to win or lose more, depending on how right or wrong their bet is.
Colorado Sports Betting Bonuses & Promotions
If you are interested in getting started at one of the top online sports betting Colorado apps, you will want to make sure you take advantage of all the Colorado online sports betting bonuses. Here are some to look out for…
Sports Betting Welcome Bonus
This is one of the most generous of all bonuses available at legal sports betting sites. When you make your first deposit, the Colorado sports betting site will either add bonus funds to your account or free bets. However, check the terms and conditions as these will be subject to time limits and wagering requirements.
Loyalty Rewards
These are very popular when betting in Colorado sportsbooks. These will offer points and perks for regular players.
Risk-Free Bets
A risk-free bet allows a punter to make a wager – and if this wager loses, their bet will be reimbursed as bonus money (terms apply).
Odds Boost
This is where a sports betting site will give very generous odds for certain events and games. Instead of offering odds of +210 for the Denver Broncos, they will instead offer odds of +275.
Parlay Insurance
If you make a parlay wager and one loses, then you would normally lose. However, with parlay insurance, if one of your legs loses, you will get your initial wager refunded.
Sports Leagues and Events To Bet on in Colorado
As well as major professional sports, most online sports betting sites in Colorado offer lots of sports markets.
- Football leagues including NFL, CFL and NCAA
- Basketball leagues including NBA, WNBA, NCAA and the EuroLeague
- Baseball leagues including the MLB
- Hockey leagues such as NHL
- Soccer leagues and tournaments including MLS, English Premier League, English Championship League and others
- Golf tournaments including PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, others
- Tennis tours and tournaments – ATP and WTA
- Auto Racing including NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy racing and others
- Boxing
- Mixed Martial Arts including the UFC.
However, it’s worth noting that prop bets and live bets are not allowed on college sports in Colorado. However, when betting in Colorado, you can place standard wagers on teams such as the Colorado State Rams and Colorado Buffaloes. You can place whatever types of bets you like on professional sports teams like Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rockies.
Colorado Major Sports Events to Bet on
Here are some of the sporting events popular for online sports betting in Colorado.
1. Super Bowl
This is the main sporting event for wagers not just in Colorado but across the whole of the US. It has been known for some bettors to wager millions on the biggest game of the NFL season.
2. NBA Finals
With Denver Nuggets being top contenders, this is often a significant betting event in the state of Colorado. In fact, professional basketball was the biggest betting attraction in the state every month between January 2021 through to the finals in June 2021.
3. MLB season, World Series:
Between April to June 2021, Colorado online sports betting sites took in more money on MLB betting than any other pro league apart from the NBA. The MLB Playoffs and World Series are hugely anticipated betting events in Colorado.
4. NCAA March Madness
The annual NCAA college basketball tournament, March Madness is a massive betting event in Colorado and across the US. Denver played host to the 2021 NCAA Tournament West Regional and is scheduled to host first and second-round matches in 2023 and again in 2025.
5. Table Tennis
Strange, yes – but true. During the lockdown in 2020, table tennis gained quite the audience- and even now, betting on the sport is still popular in Colorado. In fact, in the first half of 2021, people wagered more money on table tennis than on MMA, golf and even motor racing.
How to Sign Up for a Colorado Sports Betting Site
As soon as you have chosen your preferred Colorado online sports betting site, it’s easy to get started.
- Firstly, you need to register. You will need to enter your full name, DOB and contact details as well as the last four digits of your Social Security number in order to confirm that you are aged 21 or over, which is the legal age for gambling in the state.
- You need to be located in the state of Colorado- although you don’t necessarily have to be a resident of the state, you need to be located within state borders.
- Choose your preferred banking method. Then make a deposit, claim your welcome bonus and you’re ready to make a wager.
- Download the online betting app so you can start betting on the go.
What To Look For in a Colorado Sports Betting Site
Here are all the factors you need to look out for in a good, legal online sports betting site.
User-Friendly Desktop and App
Bettors should find it easy to use both desktop and mobile app. You should find all of the sports betting market options, easy deposits and withdrawals, a good FAQ section and more. The easier to place your wager, the better.
Plenty of Betting Odds
You should be able to find lots of betting lines and odds for all different sports and markets. They should be well organized, transparent and generous!
Live Betting and Live Streaming
The best Colorado casinos and sports betting sites should have plenty of live betting options so you can bet on the event after it has started. The very best offer live streaming, so you can watch your bet play out.
Sports Betting Payment Options
Not every Colorado sports betting site has the same variety of payment options. Most accept options such as credit and debit cards, Play+, eWallets, PayPal, Neteller, prepaid cards etc. Make sure you check for any fees and speed of withdrawals.
Withdrawals can take some time, especially depending on what method you use. Many eWallets offer immediate withdrawals, although options such as eChecks can take up to 5 days.
Moreover, some Colorado online sports betting sites will require ID to process withdrawals. Whatever method you choose, if you have deposited at a site that has been licensed under the Colorado Sports Betting Law, your funds will be safe.
Play+
This was created especially for online sportsbooks and casinos. This is a virtual prepaid card that you can fund with any bank account or credit card. Deposits are instant.
PayPal:
This is the most popular eWallet in the US. This allows you to quickly, easily and safely from your PayPal account to your online sports betting account. It’s quick, simple and deposits and withdrawals are instant.
Credit and Debit Cards
Practically every Colorado sports betting site will accept credit and debit card payments. However, you need to be sure that your credit card or bank allows online gambling transactions. Deposits are instant although withdrawals can take a few days – and some banks charge fees.
Choosing the Best Sports Betting Sites
There are many options available for Colorado sports betting. Here are some of the most important criteria to check out carefully before making a decision.
Safety and Site Security
One of the biggest benefits to any state, when they legalize sports betting, is that they can ensure the highest standards of sportsbook security and safety. If you make sure that your bookmaker is regulated and licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming then you can be assured that your personal information and finances are safe.
Variety of Payment Options
Although all will offer a pretty decent variety of payment methods, the very best will offer even the more niche methods. There should be instant deposits and quick, easy and seamless withdrawals as well. Also, look for sites with no fees or minimal fees.
Welcome Bonus Offers
The best online sports betting sites in Colorado will offer generous welcome bonuses – meaning high amounts and fair terms and conditions. Look out for options such as free bets, deposit match offers – up to $500 and even more. Read the terms and conditions carefully to check the wagering requirements.
Ease of Use
All sites work differently – and although two sites may offer the same features, one might be less confusing than the other. Ease of use means you can make bets quicker and you will have a better experience. This is true of mobile and desktop.
Odds and Sports Betting Options
Not all sports betting sites offer the same betting odds. Every sports betting site in Colorado will offer NBA game lines – however, this doesn’t mean they all offer live bets and prop bets. You might prefer to bet against the spread or bet on a player rather than the team. The more options the better. Make sure your online sportsbook offers, not just generous odds, but also lots of betting options. The best will also offer live betting and live streaming (but not on Colorado college teams).
Is All Online Sports Betting Legal in Colorado?
Mostly. Apart from live and props bets on Colorado college teams. Voters in Colorado approved legalized online and in-person sports betting in 2019. Online sports betting in the state finally went live in May 2020 – with the launch of BetMGM, BetRivers and DraftKings.
The sports betting market is regulated by two bodies, the Colorado Division of Gaming and The Colorado Limited Gaming Control (LGCC). The LGCC regulates taxes and fees as well as setting responsible gambling guidelines, enforcing statutes and administering the licensing process. It meets once a month, minimum.
The Top Colorado Professional Sports Teams
There are only 12 cities in the US with professional sports teams in all four major leagues – and one is Denver. It also has a soccer team in the MLS, the Colorado Rapids, based in Commerce City.
Denver Broncos
NFL betting fans will no doubt follow the Denver Broncos. This team has won three Super Bowl titles – 1997, 1998 and 2015. However, they have been less successful recently with four losing seasons in a row between 2017-2020.
Colorado Avalanche
NHL betting fans can follow the action of the Colorado Avalanche, which has won two Stanley Cups – in 1996 and again in 2001. The team has reached the Stanley Cup playoffs for four consecutive seasons but have never made it past the second round.
Denver Nuggets
NBA betting fans have the Denver Nuggets to bet on – who have still yet to win their first NBA championship. However, they reached the Western Conference semifinals and finals for all of the last three seasons, led by Nikola Jokic, voted 2021’s MVP.
Colorado Rockies
Colorado’s MLB team, the Rockies, started play in 1993 as an expansion team. They have won just one National League pennant in 2007 before they lost the World Series. They have failed to end the season with a winning record since 2018.
Why Bet Online?
So, what makes online sportsbetting more appealing than in-person wagers? Well, there’s certainly a taste for it in Colorado, where it makes up 95% of the state’s betting revenue.
Most retail sports betting in Colorado is done in the state casinos, which are based in the less densely populated mountain towns – and the two Native American tribal reservations. However, online sports betting means that punters don’t need to drive all the way to one of these locations to make their bets. These punters have access to whatever sports bets they live, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without even having to step foot outside.
In fact, in June 2021, the figures were such that out of the $229.7 million that was spent on sportsbetting, only $2.6 million was retail sports betting.
Colorado Sports Betting FAQ
When Did Colorado Legalize Sports Betting?
Sports betting was legalized in 2019, with the first online sports betting sites opening up in May 2020.
Is It Legal To Bet on College Football in Colorado?
Yes, betting on college football is legal, apart from live bets and props bets on the teams, which are prohibited.
