Is Sports Betting Legal In Colorado

In the thin air of the Centennial State is a wonderland of great skiing, busy cities, and legal sports betting in Colorado. Whether you live in Denver, Boulder, or any of the other great cities in the Colorado state boundaries, you probably know that there is more nuance and culture in your state than most people give it credit for. It stands to reason that when you have a state full of people and a sports town as great as Denver, you're going to run into a lot of avid sports fans. This will naturally lead to a lot of questions about sports betting, and that's exactly what we're here to help for.

The first thing that always comes up due to the high level of confusion surrounding the topic is whether or not you can be legally prosecuted for betting on sports. Happily, we can report that betting on sports is safe for Colorado residents. Colorado voters officially legalized sports betting when they approved CO HB 19-1327 on their 2019 November ballot. Wh ere the confusion tends to stem is that it is, in fact, unlawful to host any sports betting if you’re not a licensed operator. Many of these laws were written at the peak of organized crime in order to break up racketeering, so essentially anyone who stands to profit from sports betting without actually making a wager (like an unlicensed bookie) can be punished by law. However, it is important to remember that Colorado residents cannot be punished for merely participating in sports betting. This is especially true for those that try to use online offshore sportsbooks.

Land-Based Sports Betting in Colorado:

Land-based sports betting in Colorado exists and there are plenty of sportsbook options… If you’re located in any of the three towns that are legally allowed to host land-based sportsbooks. As written by state legislators and passed by local voters, the only towns that can have land-based sportsbooks in Colorado are Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The only venues within those towns that can host sportsbooks are casinos. These casinos are located near heavily populated metro areas like Denver and Colorado Springs. But, they are not the most convenient option for casual sports bettors.

Legal Online Sports Betting in Colorado:

Legal online sports betting in Colorado exists in two different ways. The first way is through state-regulated online sportsbooks. There are now well over a dozen of these options and they provide a safe, reliable, and legal way to bet on sports. But, their options and features are limited because of the rules set upon them by the state’s gaming commission. The other legal way to bet on sports in Colorado is through online sportsbooks that are based overseas. These sites don’t have to abide by state and federal laws and there are no laws preventing CO residents from using these sites. These sites can offer bitcoin betting, betting on politics, and more. Best of all, CO residents can’t be punished for using them.