Colorado runs one of the most competitive, consumer-friendly betting markets in the country. Rather than cap licences, the state lets dozens of operators compete, so bettors have more than two dozen apps to choose from. Handle reached about $6.52 billion in 2025, and a distinctive feature sets Colorado apart: its sports betting tax funds the state’s water-conservation efforts. This Colorado guide covers what’s legal and how to start.
Is online gambling legal in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado voters approved Proposition DD in November 2019 and the market launched on 1 May 2020, regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming (within the Department of Revenue). You must be 21 or older and physically located in Colorado to bet, confirmed by geolocation. The state permits betting on in-state college teams. Real-money online casino is not legal in Colorado.
What you can play in Colorado
- Sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport and league.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in Colorado through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for Colorado bettors via licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in Colorado — see the outlook below.
Online gambling in Colorado by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1 May 2020 (after Proposition DD) |
| Tax rate | 10% of net proceeds |
| 2025 handle | $6.52 billion (up 5.4% on 2024) |
| Operators | More than two dozen mobile sportsbooks |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
The widest operator field in the US
Colorado’s philosophy is competition as consumer protection: with unlimited licences and a low 10% tax on net proceeds, more than two dozen sportsbooks fight for players, which tends to mean sharper lines and stronger promotions than in high-tax states. The tax revenue is earmarked for the Colorado Water Conservation Board — a genuinely unusual public-benefit tie-in. One change to note: the state is phasing out operators’ ability to deduct “free bet” promotions from taxable revenue, fully effective by July 2026, which may gradually trim the biggest bonus offers. Fun fact: bet365 chose the Denver area for its US headquarters.
The best Colorado sportsbooks
We only feature operators we work with and can verify, and all four of our sportsbook partners operate in Colorado: FanDuel (best app and same-game parlays), bet365 (US-headquartered in Colorado, strong on live betting), Hard Rock Bet and BetRivers (iRush Rewards). With the widest field in the country, line-shopping really pays off — the offers on this page show what’s live now.
See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full Colorado sportsbook guide.
Popular bets and Colorado sports
Colorado bettors play the standard markets — moneylines, point spreads, totals and parlays/same-game parlays. Local action runs across the NFL’s Broncos, the NBA’s Nuggets, the NHL’s Avalanche and MLB’s Rockies, plus the Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State — and since Colorado allows in-state college betting, those games count too. The NFL drives the most handle, with the NBA, NHL and college close behind.
Choosing a Colorado sportsbook
With more competition than any other state, Colorado rewards bettors who line-shop. Before you commit, weigh the welcome offer (safety-net first bet versus bonus bets), the depth of markets on the Broncos, Avalanche and CU, the quality of live betting and same-game parlays, and withdrawal speed. Because so many books operate here, you’ll often find the same game priced slightly differently across apps — keeping two or three accounts lets you take the best number every time.
Bet types explained
Most Colorado bettors get by with a few wager types. In Colorado the moneyline backs a winner straight up — the Broncos, for instance — and a point spread adds a margin to balance favorite and underdog. A Colorado totals bet shifts the focus to combined scoring, parlays reward Colorado players who tie several picks together on one slip (every leg must hit), same-game parlays do that within a single the Broncos fixture, and futures plus live betting round out the Colorado menu as the odds move during play.
Colorado’s market by the numbers
Colorado’s competition-first model has produced big lifetime figures: bettors have wagered roughly $26 billion since launch, generating close to $2 billion in operator revenue. Annual handle reached about $6.52 billion in 2025, up 5.4% on 2024, while revenue jumped 36% to roughly $443 million as hold improved. January is typically the peak month, topping $650 million in wagers around the NFL playoffs, and online betting now accounts for more than 99% of all activity — retail at the mountain casinos is a rounding error by comparison.
Because the 10% tax applies to net proceeds (after winnings and, for now, some promotional deductions), Colorado’s tax receipts are modest relative to its handle — around $38 million in fiscal 2025. That is by design: the state treats competition, not high taxes, as the main protection for bettors. As the “free bet” deduction is phased out by July 2026, expect the state’s share to rise even if the headline rate stays at 10%. The trade-off for players is one of the sharpest, most innovative markets in the country.
How to start betting in Colorado
Signing up in Colorado is quick — be 21+ and inside Colorado, pick a licensed Colorado sportsbook, and create an account with accurate information for verification. After opting into the Colorado promo and depositing, set your limits, place your first Colorado bet, and cash out whenever the offer’s Colorado conditions are satisfied.
Will Colorado legalize online casino?
Not yet. Real-money online casino is not legal in Colorado, and while sports betting’s success keeps iGaming in the conversation, no bill has passed. For now, sports betting, DFS and horse racing are Colorado’s only legal online options — stick to licensed operators rather than unregulated offshore sites. We’ll keep this Colorado page updated if that changes.
For the full picture, see our Colorado online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach Colorado.
Is online gambling safe in Colorado?
Yes, as long as you use operators licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming — every book we list is. Licensed apps are independently audited for fair odds and prompt payouts, safeguard your deposits and verify your age and location on every bet. Offshore sites that aren’t state-licensed carry real risk to your money and data, so confirm a book is regulated in Colorado before signing up, and use the state’s BetSmart resources if you ever need support.
Responsible gambling in Colorado
Betting in Colorado should stay entertainment, not a way to chase money or claw back losses. Every licensed Colorado operator hands you deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools, and the trick is to set them when you open the Colorado account rather than after a rough night. If it stops being fun, that is your cue to step away — and confidential help in Colorado is a free call or text to 1-800-GAMBLER, around the clock.
Colorado sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in Colorado?
Yes. Sports betting launched on 1 May 2020 after voters approved Proposition DD, regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming. You must be 21+ and physically in Colorado to bet.
2. Is online casino legal in Colorado?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in Colorado — only sports betting, DFS and horse racing.
3. Why does Colorado have so many sportsbooks?
The state doesn’t cap licences, so more than two dozen operators compete. That competition, plus a low 10% tax, generally means sharper odds and stronger promotions for bettors.
4. Where does Colorado’s sports betting tax go?
To the Colorado Water Conservation Board, funding water projects across the state — an unusually direct public-benefit use of gambling tax.
5. Which sportsbook is best in Colorado?
All four of our partners — FanDuel, bet365, Hard Rock Bet and BetRivers — operate in Colorado, alongside DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars. With the widest field in the US, compare lines and promos.
6. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Colorado?
Yes — Kalshi-style platforms operate in Colorado under federal CFTC oversight, not Colorado gambling law, which is how they sidestep state licensing. Because their sports markets resemble wagering, Colorado’s status for them is unsettled, with 2026 court rulings favoring Kalshi even as the appeals grind on. In Colorado, treat them as adjacent to a licensed sportsbook, not a swap for one.
7. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Colorado?
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba, LuckyLand and Stake.us reach Colorado adults through a virtual-currency model designed to sit outside Colorado gambling licensing. That leaves Colorado players in a grey area with weaker safeguards than a regulated site, one regulators keep testing — so use them cautiously in Colorado.
8. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in Colorado?
DFS is available to Colorado players under its own rules, distinct from Colorado sports betting. The main names in Colorado are DraftKings and FanDuel, with PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper offering the player-pick format.
9. Can I bet on horse racing online in Colorado?
Yes — Colorado bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from Colorado sports betting.
10. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Colorado?
Help in Colorado is free, confidential and available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed Colorado app. Nobody in Colorado has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in Colorado. Gambling problem in Colorado? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.