Colorado Sports Betting 2023 – Top Sportsbook Apps in CO
Colorado sports betting is legal and live. The state now features 19 legal online sportsbooks, including bet365, FanDuel, Caesars, BetRivers, and some local companies more native to the market.
Colorado sports betting law allows for up to 30 online sportsbooks. Read on for a comprehensive look at Colorado’s online sportsbooks and the bonuses and promotions available now.
Best Colorado sports betting sites 2023
What’s happening in Colorado sports betting right now
- Nov. 17, 2023 — Colorado sports betting handle rose to $512.7 million in September, a 67.5% increase from August and a 13.8% increase year-over-year.
- Nov. 17, 2023 — Organizations in Colorado can now apply for a Responsible Gaming grant from the state to address problem gambling.
- Nov. 14, 2023 — ESPN Bet launched in Colorado and 16 other states. The new sportsbook replaces Barstool Sportsbook.
- Nov. 8, 2023 — Elys Gaming announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The deal will allow Elys to open a sportsbook in Colorado under the SportBet.com brand.
- Nov. 2, 2023 — ESPN Bet is slated to launch in Colorado on Nov. 14. The sportsbook, owned by PENN Entertainment, will take over Barstool Sportsbook’s spot in 17 states.
- Oct. 26, 2023 — The Colorado Department of Revenue is holding a hearing to examine DFS rules in the state to try and better define that sector of the sports betting industry.
- Oct. 11, 2023 — Sports betting exchange Novig received an online sports betting license from the Colorado Division of Gaming. If approved, Colorado will be Novig’s first state launch.
Colorado Sportsbook Promos Today
Comparing top Colorado sportsbooks
Deciding where to place a bet in Colorado is a subjective choice with many elements in play. Site navigation, available sports betting promos, and other unique features will all play a role in your choice. Here’s a brief look at where Colorado apps shine, plus reviews of the top sites in the state:
- Best sportsbook for loyalty programs: Caesars. Caesars Rewards is one of the best loyalty programs available to bettors today. Users are automatically enrolled when they sign up with Caesars and can collect points to use at Caesars hotels and resorts and on the app.
- Best sportsbook for sports variety: BetMGM. BetMGM has more diverse options than almost any other sportsbook in Colorado. Alongside the standards like football and basketball, you can find betting options like Gaelic sports, handball, and snooker.
- Best sportsbook for odds boosts: bet365. Bet365 offers bet boosts and super boosts to make some wagers more enticing for bettors. The app is also known for its deep menu of available markets.
1. Bet365 Colorado
European sports betting company Bet365 arrived in Colorado in September 2022. The betting options are plentiful, and the odds are competitive on this app. It also boasts plenty of live-betting features, display personalization, and is known to provide daily bets and super boosts. Occasional hiccups can happen when navigating between the betting sections, however.
- Welcome bonus: Bet $5, get $150
- App rating: 4.6 (iOS), 2.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A strong brand with an easy-to-use app and competitive odds.
- Best feature: Personalized display
with Bet365 promo code LSRCO
2. BetMGM Colorado
BetMGM offers more sports to bet on than almost any other sportsbook app. Furthermore, the “edit my bet” function allows you to increase your wagers, change the teams on the bet, or even add legs to a parlay. One of the top choices in Colorado, this app’s only issue is that navigating can be a bit unwieldy.
- Welcome bonus: Up to $1,500
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: More options for sports to bet on than almost any app.
- Best feature: Edit my bet
with BetMGM bonus code LSR50
3. Caesars Colorado
Caesars has a deep list of sports you can bet on and extensive gambling provider experience. Also well known for its casinos and hotels, bettors can participate in the Caesars Rewards program, which provides redeemable points for rewards at company locations. However, Caesars could improve its app presentation and navigation a bit.
- Welcome bonus: Up to $1,000
- App rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A solid app with plenty of sports and experience.
- Best feature: Caesars Rewards
with Caesars Sportsbook promo code LSR1000
4. BetRivers Colorado
BetRivers is the sportsbook brand for Rush Street Gaming, a casino company primarily focused in the northeast. Bettors at the online book can participate in one of the only rewards programs, iRush Rewards, specifically for sports bettors. BetRivers also trumpets players’ big wins in its main lobby. However, as you can see from its app ratings, it could stand to improve navigation and usability.
- Welcome bonus: Up to $250
- App rating: 3.1 (iOS), 3.1 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A solid sportsbook with good experience and options.
- Best feature: iRush Rewards
with BetRivers bonus code LSRRIV
Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
How to get started with the best Colorado sportsbook bonuses
Signing up at a Colorado online sports betting site is pretty easy. Once you register for an account, you can deposit money and be ready to go. The only thing to add is that you might have to provide additional documentation to withdraw funds. Be aware that verifying a joint bank account likely requires ID from everyone on the account.
With so many online sportsbooks in Colorado, competition is fierce to attract bettors. Books offer bonuses and promotions to attract new customers and keep them returning. Here are some of the best sports betting promotions and bonuses available to Colorado sports bettors at the moment and the codes to access them:
- Bet365 bonus code: Use the code LSRCO. Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets.
- BetMGM bonus code: Up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if you don’t win + $50 bonus bet. Use code LSR50.
- Caesars Sportsbook promo code: $1,000 first bet on Caesars with code LSR1000.
- BetRivers bonus code: Second-chance bet up to $250 if your first bet loses with code LSRRIV.
Just as a refresher, here’s how these bonuses work:
- Deposit bonuses: Sportsbooks will match all or a portion of your deposit. You may also see these appear as match bonuses.
- First bet bonuses: You must place a wager that meets the sportsbook’s conditions. If you win, you collect the profit from your win and don’t get a bonus. If you lose, the sports betting site will issue you site credits or a bonus bet equivalent to a percentage of your lost bet.
- Odds boosts: Odds boosts are when a sportsbook bumps the odds on a bet, usually between 15% and 35%, to attract more wagers. Odds boosts often have their own tab on an app and may not be visible on the main promotions page.
- Loyalty programs: Many sportsbooks offer company-wide loyalty programs, but what they offer will change from book to book. These programs will give you points as you wager, which can be exchanged for various perks.
Full list of Colorado sports betting sites
19 legal online sportsbooks are active in Colorado as of November 2023. There is also one sports betting app in Colorado that isn’t quite a sportsbook. Sporttrade is legal in Colorado as a sports betting exchange rather than a traditional book. The app allows bettors to trade bets like stocks.
Here are the live sportsbooks in Colorado:
- Bally Bet
- Bet365
- Betfred
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetMonarch
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Betsafe
- Betway
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Circa Sports
- ClutchBet
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet
- SBK Sportsbook
- SI Sportsbook
- SuperBook
- Tipico Sportsbook
New Colorado sports betting apps
While the number of live and legal Colorado sportsbooks is now 19, that total will change over time. Any of the more than 30 casinos in the state can partner with an online sportsbook so that more books could join soon. The total number of books in the state was as high as 26 at one point, but the list has dwindled to 19 after FOX Bet, WynnBET, SkyUte Sportsbook, MaximBet, PlayUp, and Maverick Sports exited the state, and Elite Sportsbook merged with Betfred. Here is another online sportsbook that may join the Colorado sports betting industry in the future:
- Fanatics Sportsbook (taking over for PointsBet)
10 quick facts about Colorado sports betting
- Colorado legalized sports betting in November 2019.
- Legalization required voter approval via referendum due to Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
- Colorado sports betting launched in both online and retail formats in May 2020.
- All online sportsbooks must be partnered with casinos located in Colorado.
- You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in the state.
- Principal actors in sports — players, referees, coaches, etc. — cannot legally bet on their sports.
- You can bet on table tennis and cornhole, but not the Oscars or other awards events.
- Colorado does not permit esports betting, nor does it allow betting on high school sports or any event where most participants are younger than 18.
- Colorado sports betting law allows up to 30 online sportsbooks in the state.
- Colorado sportsbooks booked more than $5 billion in wagers in their first 18 months.
What to expect at a legal Colorado sports betting site
With so many legal sportsbooks in Colorado, there is no reason to visit illegal offshore sites. Sports betting in the state is under the oversight of the Division of Gaming in the Colorado Department of Revenue — Specialized Business Group. The regulator keeps an updated list of every online sportsbook cleared to operate in the state.
Legal online sportsbooks offer convenience, and regulators have standards that aim to ensure safety, fairness, and security. They are also safer than retail books on a broader level since they don’t require you to navigate the state’s (sometimes) icy and treacherous roads to bet at a retail location.
Colorado sports betting law and regulations
The Colorado General Assembly approved statewide sports betting in May 2019, but the vote essentially moved the final decision to voters in November. A voter-approved constitutional amendment requires that any legislative vote to raise taxes go to the ballot for approval. HB 1327 was signed by Gov. Jared Polis, approved by voters, and became law. It includes the following core tenets:
- The state licenses sportsbooks that partner with casinos in the state.
- Betting can take place both online and in physical sportsbooks.
- The state taxes Colorado sportsbooks at a rate of 10%.
Additionally, the law created three types of licenses:
- Master license — reserved for the state’s 33 casinos
- Sports betting operator — land-based retail sportsbook
- Internet sports betting operator — one online skin per casino
Each of Colorado’s 33 casinos can apply for a master license. There is a $10,000 initial nonrefundable fee, followed by a two-year $125,000 licensing fee. An approved casino could then partner with a land-based sportsbook and an internet sportsbook (or use the same partner for both) and utilize one online platform.
Popular sports to bet on in Colorado
Colorado is similar to many states in that it has one large city that commands most of the sports action. All major sports teams that call the state home are based in and around Denver, and they are popular betting options in the state.
- NFL: Denver Broncos
- NBA: Denver Nuggets
- MLB: Colorado Rockies
- NHL: Colorado Avalanche
- MLS: Colorado Rapids
Aside from these big teams in Colorado, there are also major college teams. The Colorado Buffaloes football team is a top draw, as is the gridiron crew at Colorado State. Other options like motorsports, mixed martial arts, and rugby are all available to bet on, as well. Table tennis became a popular sport to bet on during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and has remained a cornerstone of Colorado sportsbooks ever since.
Colorado sports betting history
Colorado sports betting history is relatively short, mainly because the state legalized the activity and went live within a year. In the first year of legal betting, Colorado saw 15 online sportsbooks start taking wagers. Here is a timeline of how things have grown:
- 2019: Colorado begins its push to legalize sports betting at the behest of Rep. Alec Garnett, the House majority leader. Garnett produces a bill in 2019 that narrowly passes both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly on the last day of the session. Due to Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, the question of sports betting then has to go before the voters before it can become law. Although the vote on Proposition DD is only 20,000 votes apart, the people of Colorado decide to allow the state’s casinos to offer online and retail sports betting.
- 2020: Colorado sports betting starts in earnest in May 2020. Both online and retail books open their doors for business, although the COVID-19 pandemic creates an extra set of challenges for in-person wagering. However, the online expansion continues unabated, and 15 online books launch by the end of the year.
- 2021: Sports betting continues to expand in its first full year of being legal in the state. The number of active sportsbooks nearly doubles. By the time 2022 rolls around, there are 26 online sportsbooks doing business in Colorado, including one of the few truly tribal options, Sky Ute. December 2021’s numbers push the total amount of legal wagering in the state over the $5 billion mark for roughly 20 months of activity.
- 2022: The number of sportsbooks in the state continues to fluctuate in 2022 as MaximBet and theScore Bet exit the state.
- 2023: The list of live Colorado sportsbooks continues to shrink as Sky Ute Sportsbook and Maverick Sports leave the state, and Elite Sportsbook is absorbed by Betfred. Bally Bet also pauses operations for several months.
Colorado sports betting FAQ
Can I legally bet on sports in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado sports betting is legal and live. Top apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel are among the authorized and regulated sportsbooks and operators. The state officially legalized sports betting via a voter referendum in November 2019 and launched in May 2020.
Where can I bet on sports in Colorado?
With online sports betting, you can wager from anywhere inside the state lines of Colorado. However, if you prefer to experience sports betting in person, there are several retail sportsbook locations:
- Ameristar Casino Black Hawk
- Wildwood Casino
- Billy’s Casino
- Colorado Grande
- Golden Mardi Gras Casino
- Grand Z Casino
- Isle of Capri Casino
- Johnny Nolon’s
- Johnny Z’s Casino
- Lady Luck Casino
- Monarch Casino Blackhawk
- Red Dolly Casino
- Saratoga Casino
- Sasquatch Casino
- The Lodge Casino at Black Hawk
- Wild Card Casino
- Z Casino
Is BetOnline legal in Colorado?
No, BetOnline is not a legal sportsbook in Colorado. Because it is based outside of the US, BetOnline does not comply with Colorado or US laws, restrictions, or business regulations. With so many legal betting options in the Centennial State, they far outweigh the risk of betting overseas.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports in Colorado?
You need to be 21 or older to place a sports wager in Colorado, either online or in person.
Do I have to be a resident of Colorado to bet on sports?
Not at all. The only requirements are that you are 21 or older and inside state lines. Be aware, however, that you will have to verify your location with your mobile device or computer before you can wager.
Is horse betting legal in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado is home to a single facility that offers live horse racing. Bally’s Arapahoe Park in Aurora is a thoroughbred racetrack and a simulcast facility. Live racing and betting are available during August, September, and October each year. In addition, there are 10 standalone off-track betting locations scattered around the state. Finally, online horse betting sites like TVG can legally accept wagers from Coloradans.
Is DFS legal in Colorado?
Yes. Daily fantasy sports contests are legal in Colorado. The state legalized them in 2016. You can play on FanDuel, DraftKings or any other licensed DFS site in the state if you are 18 or older.
List of Colorado resources
Please see the links below if you want more details about sports betting and other gambling in Colorado. These agencies and businesses are the best resources for more in-depth information about the various subjects related to sports betting in the state.
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Specialized Business Group — Gaming Division — Gambling regulator.
- Colorado General Assembly — Lawmaking body in Colorado.
- Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado — Top resource for responsible gambling in the state.
- The Denver Post — Primary Denver newspaper, covering pro sports, the Legislature, and more.
- The Gazette — Primary Colorado Springs newspaper that covers local sports and the state Legislature.
- The Coloradoan — Primary Fort Collins newspaper that covers local sports.