Best Colorado Sportsbooks: CO Sports Betting Apps October 2023

Legal sports betting officially launched in Colorado on May 1st 2020. The launch comes six months after the state voted through its legalization bill, Proposition DD, in November 2019.

Following the US Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to give each state the authority to legalize sports betting, many states such as New Jersey and Delaware immediately jumped on board and started offering legal betting on sports.

Other states, Colorado included, took a more cautious approach – preferring to take their time and move towards legalization gradually.

Now, almost exactly two years since the Supreme Court decision, the long wait is over for sports fans in Colorado.

Four different sportsbooks launched immediately and an additional 20 have since gained licenses to offer legal sports betting in Colorado.

In this guide we’ll explain everything you to know about CO sports betting including:

• Exactly how legal sports betting functions in Colorado.
• Where and how you can bet on sports right now, and what developments we expect for the future.
• The daily fantasy sports (DFS) picture in Colorado.

We’ll also give the current situation some context with a quick Colorado gambling history lesson and take a look at the state’s favorite sports and teams to get an idea of what the betting action is going to focus on now that legalization has finally come to the Centennial State.

Best Betting Sites in Colorado October 2023

Closer Look at the Best Online Sportsbooks in Colorado

DraftKings Sportsbook

• WSN Review Rating: 10/10
• Welcome Bonus: $1,000 Deposit Match or Bet $5 to Get $200
• Minimum Deposit: $10

One our expert betting teams favorite sportsbook, DraftKings has everything you need to bet on in Colorado. They have fantastic odds and lines on every sports betting market you could hope for or imagine. 

DraftKings also has the best new user betting promo of any sportsbook in the country right now. It is a choice of either a $1,000 deposit match or a bet of $5 to get $150 in DraftKings betting bonus credits. Sports bettors love choices, and DraftKings is giving them to us.

After signing up and getting a great promo, DraftKings doesn't stop, as they are one of the industry's best at giving users ongoing promos throughout every sports season and playoffs. Not only that, though, using the DraftKings app is so easy and enjoyable that you will see why we rate it so highly.

FanDuel Sportsbook

• WSN Review Rating: 10/10
• Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 to get $200 in Bonus Bets
• Minimum Deposit: $10

The top-ranked sportsbook in our review of legal online sportsbooks in the US is FanDuel. It is not hard to see why the FanDuel Sportsbook is simply awesome. The navigation of the site and mobile app, along with the layout, is easy to understand and find what you want. 

FanDuel also has some of the very best promos of any sportsbook in the country. The promos don't stop after signing up but go on with daily, weekly, and season-long promo offers for various sports and events. Right now, new users of FanDuel can get 30 times their money when placing their first bet. A $5 bet gets you $150 in FanDuel bonus betting money.

With many banking options and an industry-leading withdrawal speed, FanDuel makes the money side of using a sportsbook as easy as possible. Colorado sports bettors will also find every betting market they are looking for, as FanDuel has great odds on every major sport and many niche sports and events.

If you try FanDuel, you won't be disappointed with the user experience, whether using the desktop site or the mobile app. It is easy to see why FanDuel is the most used sportsbook in America.

BetMGM Sportsbook

• WSN Review Rating: 9/10
• Welcome Bonus: $1,500 First Bet
• Minimum Deposit: $10

Looking to jump in big on your first bet, BetMGM is the place to do it as if you follow our exclusive sign up link you can score a $1,000 first bet. If that first bet loses, you will get back up to $1,000 in BetMGM bonus betting credits.

After signing up, you will find that BetMGM has one of the best live betting platforms of any available Colorado Sportsbook. Users love live betting on BetMGM as it operates smoothly and efficiently, along with finding the games and odds you are looking for comes easy because of the great layout.

Maybe you hit big on one of your live bets, well BetMGM will get you your winnings fast with one of the industry's fastest payout times and many options to choose from when making both deposits and withdrawals.

Caesars Sportsbook

• WSN Review Rating: 9/10
• Welcome Bonus: $1,000 First Bet
• Minimum Deposit: $20

If the $1,000 first bet offer wasn’t big enough for you at BetMGM or you want another first bet offer. Try Caesars, as you can get a $1,250 first bet when signing up. Follow our exclusive sign-up link and use promo code “WSNFULL” which will ensure you get the best value betting promo.

That is just part of the offer, though as all new Caesars users get 1,000 Reward Credits® and 1,000 Tier Credits. Caesars has the best rewards program of any sportsbook in Colorado, with betting bonuses, stays at Caesars resorts, event tickets, gift cards, and more all available when cashing in your rewards points.

Not only is Caesars first bet offer the biggest in the US sports betting marketplace, Caesars also has the best, most competitive odds of any sportsbook. Whether you are betting on the Nuggets to win the NBA Championship or on Colorado and Deion Sanders moneyline upsets, chances are the best value you can get is at Caesars.

Parent company William Hill is a globally recognized and trusted brand, so you know you are safe using Caesars Sportsbook. 

How We Rated the Top Colorado Sports Betting Sites

When it comes to evaluating sports betting sites in Colorado, there are several factors that are considered, including:

• Licensing and Regulation: It is essential for sports betting sites to be licensed and regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming. In Colorado, the Colorado Division of Gaming oversees all legal and regulatory aspects of sports betting.

• Range of Sports and Events: Top sports betting sites should offer various betting markets, sports, and events to bet on. It is vital that it includes Colorado bettors' favorite sports like the NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and baseball. We ensured that the sites we rated highly have betting markets available for the Nuggets, Broncos, Rockies, and your other favorite Colorado sports teams.

• User Interface and Experience: A good sports betting site should have a user-friendly interface and an error-free user experience. This includes making it easy to place bets, navigate the site, have easy access to banking options for deposits and withdrawals, and have fast access to solid customer support.

• Quality of Bonuses and Promotions: Sports betting sites often offer bonuses and promotions to attract new customers and retain existing ones. These can include welcome bonuses, free bets, cashback offers, and more.

• Payment Methods: Sports betting sites should offer a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and more. The site should also have a secure payment system to protect customer information.

• Customer Support: Good customer support is crucial for any sports betting site. This includes providing a variety of ways to contact customer support, such as email, phone, or live chat, and ensuring that support is available 24/7.

By evaluating these factors and others, WSN experts can determine which online sports betting sites are the best for Colorado residents. However, it's important to remember that individual preferences and experiences may vary.

Why You Should Trust Us

WSN (World Sports Network) is a trustworthy source of information on all things online sports betting for several reasons. Firstly, WSN is made up of a team of experts with extensive experience in the sports betting industry, which helps provide our users with in-depth knowledge of the sports betting market and valuable, exclusive insights only available on WSN. 

Additionally, WSN has conducted hands-on testing of each Colorado sports betting provider and its features, allowing for a thorough review of its performance, reliability, and usability. Moreover, WSN is committed to providing unbiased information to its users, ensuring that our recommendations are based solely on the platform's merits rather than any external factors. 

Therefore, WSN is a reliable and credible source of information for anyone seeking to make informed decisions about what Colorado sports betting sites to use.

Full List of Legal Sportsbooks in Colorado

Online Colorado Sports Betting Sites

Land-Based Colorado Sportsbooks

Is Sports Betting Legal in Colorado?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Colorado and has been for quite a while now. The Rocky Mountain state is also one of the most diverse and least restrictive states laws-wise. The only thing not allowed betting-wise in Colorado is college prop bets; otherwise, betting markets are wide open.

That's not all, though as Colorado has over 20 available online sportsbooks, meaning the options for what sportsbook to use is almost limitless. Many Colorado bettors do use more than one or at least try another to get all the best promo offers for new users. 

How to Get Started Sports Betting in Colorado

The majority of players in Colorado bet online, either using their phones or laptops. In order to do so, you’ll need to sign up for the sportsbook and deposit funds to bet with.

All the top sportsbooks these days make this process extremely easy.

Signing up generally involves a couple of steps. Regardless of which sportsbook you choose, it will probably look something like this:

1. Choose a unique username and password, and provide your email address.

2. Give some personal information, including your full name and date of birth.

3. You’ll need to give your address and possibly some digits from your SSN, which are used to confirm your identity.

4. You’ll need to confirm you accept the sportsbook’s terms and conditions and confirm the information you’ve provided is accurate.

That’s generally it, and it normally only takes a couple of minutes to complete. You can check out some of our reviews of sportsbooks in other states to get a more complete picture of the sign-up and deposit process.

Alternatively, you will be able to place your bets in Colorado in one of the physical sportsbooks. This is even easier and can be done in cash by talking to the teller in the sportsbook.

Real books also have the added fun of watching games live as you bet with other sports fans.

Sports betting operators are managed by Colorado's Division of Gaming. Legal sportsbooks must comply with the division of gaming, ensuring that CO sportsbooks and betting operations are managed and operating legally.  This means that sports betting apps operating in CO are operating legally for any Colorado bettor.

To get started betting on your favorite sports, read up on the links below to get started today:

• How to bet on the NBA legally Guide

• How to bet on the NFL legally Guide

• How to bet on MLB legally Guide

• How to bet on the College Football legally Guide

Colorado Sportsbook Promo and Bonus Codes

What Mobile Sportsbooks Are Available in Colorado?

As we mentioned previously, there are over 20 online sportsbooks in Colorado, and most have an Android and/or iOS mobile app. There are several we recommend, as they are the best when it comes to things like customer support, odds/lines, banking, user security, promos, and a few other minor details. The top sportsbook we recommend you try first are:

• Caesars Sportsbook

• bet365 Sportsbook

• FanDuel Sportsbook

• DraftKings Sportsbook

What Sports Can You Bet on Online in Colorado?

People in CO will be able to bet on all major North American leagues, college sports and other popular leagues and teams from all over the world.

We know that betting on high school sports is not permissible under the new laws, and that although college sports are legal to bet on, proposition bets on college sports are not allowed.

We expect the same massive list of betting options that we’re already seeing in other states that have legal sports betting.

There are also a number of local sports franchises that are sure to attract a ton of betting action. Colorado is home to the:

• Denver Nuggets (NBA)
• Denver Broncos (NFL)
• Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
• Colorado Rockies (MLB)

The state also has teams in lots of other sports and leagues like the NCAA, MLS soccer, the Central Hockey League, rugby, lacrosse and minor league baseball.

People in CO will be able to bet on all major North American leagues, college sports and other popular leagues and teams from all over the world including college basketball, college football.

Betting on College Sports in Colorado

As mentioned, betting on college sports, including in-state teams in Colorado, is legal. The only minor restriction is that you cannot bet on college prop bets. 

As far as teams to bet on that are in Colorado, there are some good options. First off, there is the University of Colorado which, with a coach like Deion Sanders, stays in the headlines constantly. Past them, though, there are quite a few college teams playing at the division one level, the list below shares each in the state:

• Air Force Falcons

• Colorado Buffaloes

• Colorado State Rams

• Denver Pioneers

• Northern Colorado Bears.

Colorado Sports Betting Facts

How Does Colorado Online Sports Betting Compare to Other States?

The Rocky Mountains is a very desirable sports betting market for operators, and that can be seen as over 20 online sportsbooks are operating in Colorado. The 10% tax rate for operators for retail and online is very reasonable for a state of Colorado's size. 

The State boasts many strong professional sports franchises and is a desirable destination for travelers, especially during the winter skiing/snowboarding season. So whether you live in Colorado as a resident or just visiting, you will find an excellent sports betting industry.

The market is not restrictive either; while you can't make college prop bets, all other college sports betting is allowed. The open market in Colorado makes for one of the nation's best sports betting industries; while the population is not as much as in other states, the tax revenue brought in from sports betting has been great for the state's finances. 

The History of Online Sports Betting in Colorado

While some states have a long, drawn-out and varied history regarding sports betting, there haven’t been a ton of events in Colorado that are specific to the state. It’s sufficient to say that sports betting in Colorado wasn’t at the forefront of public discourse until the last year or two.

That being said, there are some quirky laws in Colorado that have affected the sports betting landscape. Let’s take a look at some of the federal activity and state-specific activity that brought us to the current situation in Colorado.

1910 – Ban on Gambling

Leading to the federal ban in 1910, gambling was starting to become more popular in the stats. As settlers made their way to the United States, they brought along table and card games for the common citizen to bet on. Often, these gambling setups were unlawful, unregulated and unfair.

There were also a number of lotteries across the United States that were outright scams. These were both problems for decades leading into the 20th century, which led to the Western ban on all types of gambling in 1910.

1930s – Gambling Comeback

After the great depression, gambling slowly made its way back into Colorado. In 1933, limited forms of gambling were once again legalized in the state in bars.

1991 – Legal Colorado Casinos

In November of 1990, Colorado legislators set their sights on casino gambling and in 1991, the state allowed casinos to be built in three towns: Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City.

All three are considered historical towns. The decision to limit casinos to these three locations was meant to reinvigorate the historic sites and raise money for the state through taxes and regulations.

1992 – PASPA Stops Colorado Sports Betting

Legal gambling was on the rise in Colorado but sports betting was never included thanks to a key law passed by the federal government in 1992. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act basically banned sports betting everywhere in the United States save Nevada.

2014 – Racetrack Gambling Bill Fails

Gambling was only legal in Casinos in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City and a bill was introduced to expand those locations to include racetracks in other parts of the state. It was put to a vote and the proposal lost by a huge margin with 70% of voters objecting.

May 2020 – Legal Sports Betting Goes Live

Almost exactly two years after PASPA was repealed, sports betting is finally legalized and Colorado prepares to book it’s first sports bets.

Is Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Colorado?

Colorado has already legalized access to daily fantasy sports betting sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel. The legislation came down on June 10th, 2016, and specifically made betting on DFS in Colorado legal.

Fantasy sports betting is available for betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL but does not include NCAA college sports.

While some people won’t like the monopolized aspect of having only two options available, the reality is that these are your best options until other websites can be legalized and approved by the state. We do not recommend using illegal websites for daily fantasy sports betting.

Colorado Sportsbook Partnerships

With a pro sports team in each of the four major sports leagues in the US, there are several noteworthy partnerships between Colorado teams and sportsbook operators. They include:

• In the NFL, the Denver Broncos are partnered with BetMGM, and the deal includes an in-person betting lounge at Mile High Stadium.
• In the MLB, the Colorado Rockies are partnered with bet365 Sportsbook.
• In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets are partnered with PointsBet, as are the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, as the two share a stadium at the Pepsi Center. PointsBet has an in-stadium sports bar with an outdoor patio and a seating level called the “PointsBet Club Level”. 

Responsible Gambling in Colorado

Colorado is a legal sports betting state, and the Colorado Division of Gaming takes problem gambling seriously. The CDG aims to help each of its residents and provide multiple resources for anyone with a problem gambling issue.

• Problem Gambling Hotline: 1-855-222-5542
• The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous

Final Verdict on Colorado Sports Betting

The Colorado sports betting industry is one of the very best markets in the entire US. Any bettor, whether a resident of Colorado or a visitor to the state, will find they have plenty of options for sports bettors and a ton of excellent betting promos. 

Each of the major sports teams also has a sportsbook partner, which makes attending games more exciting, and several have in-house sports betting options for their fans. Overall, it is tough to find a better sports betting market than Colorado.

References

• Colorado Department-Gaming Division Problem Gambling
• Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission
• Gambling in Colorado (Wikipedia)
• Proposition DD (legalization of sports betting in CO)
• National Council on Problem Gambling (Colorado)

Colorado Sports Betting FAQs

Here are answers to the New Jersey sports betting questions we’re asked most frequently: