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Yes. Colorado state law permits six forms of gambling:
Otherwise, gambling activities outside of a licensed casino are against Colorado law. Illegal gambling (CRS 18-10-103) can be a petty offense, misdemeanor, or felony depending on the case.
All the licensed Colorado casinos are located in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, Central City, Towaoc, and Ignacio.1 They offer traditional casino games, including:
| Black Hawk casinos | Central City casinos | Cripple Creek casinos |
|
Finally, Sky Ute is located on an Indian Reservation in Ignacio, and Ute Mountain is located on the Indian Reservation in Towaoc .
The legal Colorado state lottery games include:
The only active race track in Colorado is at Arapahoe Park in Aurora. The biggest races there are the Cherry Creek Futurity and the Mile High Derby.
There are also 11 off-track betting (OTB) sites where wagering on horse- and greyhound racing is permitted.
Finally, bettors can place horse racing bets online. The two main pari-mutuel betting platforms are the BetAmerica and TVG gambling sites.3
Colorado permits betting on horse races through licensed sportsbooks.
Licensed online sports betting – including daily fantasy sports – has been legal in Colorado since May 1, 2020.4 The top sportsbooks for online Colorado sports betting include:
Other than licensed online sports betting, internet gambling is illegal in Colorado. There are no online casinos or online poker betting sites that are legal in Colorado.
Meanwhile, federal law under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act forbids online gamblers from using credit cards, checks and electronic fund transfers to make or settle bets.5
Non-profit charity organizations that are at least five years old are eligible for a license to hold bingo games and raffles. Though there are various rules and jackpot limits the organizations must comply with.6
To apply for a license, contact the Colorado Secretary of State at 303-869-4910 or [email protected].
Under Colorado law, social gambling is
“any game, wager, or transaction which is incidental to a bona fide social relationship, participated in by natural persons only, and in which no person is participating in professional gambling.”7
Common examples of lawful social gambling are a poker night among friends or an office pool for the Super Bowl. Though any organized tournament would be illegal, even if all the participants know each other.
| Gambling offense | Colorado sentence |
| In-person or online gambling outside of Colorado’s legal confines | Petty offense: Up to 10 days in jail and/or up to $300.8 |
| Professional gambling (profiting off illegal gambling such as bookies) | Class 2 misdemeanor (for first-time offenders): Up to 120 days in jail and/or up to $750. Class 5 felony (for repeat offenders): 1 to 3 years in prison and/or $1,000 to $100,000.9 |
| Owning, possessing, using, or selling a gambling device or gambling record | Class 2 misdemeanor (for first-time offenders): Up to 120 days in jail and/or up to $750. Class 6 felony (for repeat offenders): 12 to 18 months in prison and/or $1,000 to $100,000.10 |
Note that you may also have to forfeit any of their proceeds or gaming devices to the police.11
For more gambling information, visit the Colorado Division of Gaming and the Limited Gaming Control Commission. Also refer to these scholarly articles:
Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.