Yes, but there are five exceptions:
- social gambling;
- the Colorado Lottery;
- in Colorado’s licensed casinos;
- legal horse and greyhound racing through the Colorado Division of Racing; and
- licensed bingo, raffles, or charitable games
Legal gambling in Colorado
Colorado gambling laws under C.R.S. 18-10-103 limit legal gambling to the above exceptions. Otherwise, placing bets in a game or sporting event is illegal throughout the state.
Illegal gambling is often linked with racketeering and organized crime. Examples of illegal gambling may include:
- betting at an unlicensed casino;
- betting on sports (other than through the Colorado Division of Racing);
- betting in an unlicensed lottery game
Note that C.R.S. 18-10-106 also prohibits internet gambling and telephone sports book betting. Even if the gambling company or gaming event is taking place in a jurisdiction where gambling is legal, any person who is physically in Colorado may not place a bet.
Social Gambling
Social gambling is legal in Colorado. Social gambling comprises any wager or game that is:
- incidental to a social relationship,
- participated in by people (not companies), and
- no otherwise illegal gambling is taking place
Common examples are when friends or family:
- gather for a poker night or a casino night;
- start a pool on who may win the Super Bowl or other contest; or
- hold an raffle on a prize
Colorado Lottery
People in Colorado may lawfully enter the Colorado Lottery, which holds the following games:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Lucky for Life
- Lotto
- Cash 5
- Pick 3
- Scratch
Colorado Casinos
Gambling is legal is Colorado’s licensed casinos:
| Colorado Casino | City |
| Ameristar Casino Black Hawk | Black Hawk |
| Black Diamond Casino and Saloon | Cripple Creek |
| Brass Ass Casino of Cripple Creek | Cripple Creek |
| Bronco Billy’s Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Bull Durham Saloon and Casino | Black Hawk |
| Bullpen Casino | Black Hawk |
| Bullwhacker’s Black Hawk Canyon and Grand Plateau Casino | Black Hawk |
| Century Casino Central City | Central City |
| Colorado Central Station Casino | Black Hawk |
| Colorado Grande Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Creeker’s Gaming Hall | Cripple Creek |
| Dan Cooper’s Eureka! Casino | Black Hawk |
| Doc Holliday | Central City |
| Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino | Central City |
| Double Eagle Hotel & Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Double Eagle Hotel & Casino & the Gold Creek Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Easy Street | Central City |
| Famous Bonanza | Central City |
| The Gilpin Casino | Black Hawk |
| Gold Rush Hotel & Casino/Gold Digger’s Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Golden Gates | Black Hawk |
| Golden Gulch | Black Hawk |
| Golden Mardi Gras Casino | Black Hawk |
| Imperial | Cripple Creek |
| Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel | Black Hawk |
| J.P. McGills Hotel & Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino | Cripple Creek |
| The Lodge Casino at Black Hawk | Black Hawk |
| Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Red Dolly | Black Hawk |
| Reserve Casino Hotel | Central City |
| The Richman Casino Wild Card Saloon & Casino | Black Hawk |
| Riviera Black Hawk Casino | Black Hawk |
| Saratoga Casino Black Hawk | Black Hawk |
| Scarlet’s Casino | Central City |
| Silver Hawk Saloon & Casino | Black Hawk |
| Sky Ute Lodge and Casino | Ignacio |
| Teller House | Central City |
| Uncle Sam’s Casino | Cripple Creek |
| Ute Mountain Casino Hotel & Resort | Towaoc |
| Wild Horse | Cripple Creek |
| Womacks Casino & Hotel | Cripple Creek |
Horse and Greyhound Racing
Betting on horses is legal at the racetrack facility in Arapahoe Park in Aurora. Note that this facility runs only for 13 consecutive weekends during the summer, and there is no live greyhound racing there.
However, there are several legal off track betting (OTB) facilities that take bets on simulcast horse and greyhound races throughout the year. Only people 18 and older may place wagers.
Charitable Events
Charities are allowed to sponsor gaming events at licensed casinos in Colorado. Otherwise, any events they hold outside of the casinos may not include any gaming events that would otherwise be considered illegal gambling.
Penalties
The punishment for illegal gambling in Colorado depends on the activity the defendant is accused of and whether he/she has a criminal history.
Illegal gambling is usually a class 1 petty offense in Colorado, carrying:
- up to 6 months in jail, and
- up to $500 in fines
But “professional gambling” — which is a legal term for profiting from illegal gambling — carries a harsher penalty. A first-time conviction is a class 1 misdemeanor, carrying:
- 6 – 18 months in jail, and
- up to $5,000
A successive conviction of professional gambling is a class 5 felony, carrying:
- 1 – 3 years in prison, and
- up to $100,000 in fines
A person who owns, sells, possesses, or uses a gambling device or gambling record faces a class 2 misdemeanor for a first-time conviction. The sentence includes:
- 3 – 12 months in jail, and
- up to $1,000 in fines
A successive conviction of having or using a gambling device is a class 6 felony, carrying:
- 12 – 18 months in prison, and
- up to $100,000 in fines
Finally, a first-offense of internet gambling or sports book betting is a class 3 misdemeanor, carrying:
- up to 6 months in jail, and
- up to $750 in fines
And a subsequent offense of internet gambling or sports book betting is a class 6 felony, carrying:
- 12 – 18 months in prison, and
- up to $100,000 in fines
