Gambling in Colorado
Colorado is one of the most gambling-friendly states in the U.S. There’s a flourishing casino scene, plus sports betting, a state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. Legalized gambling has helped to preserve the historic nature of towns like Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek, and both state and native-run venues are available.
Top Gambling Cities In Colorado
There are only three cities where Colorado casinos can legally operate: Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Gaming was legalized in these mountain towns in part to revive their ailing economies. Since then, the scene has exploded, and you’ll find everything from high-roller action to penny slots with luxurious accommodations and delicious local cuisine, plus a host of incredible local attractions and outdoor activities.
Black Hawk Casinos
Black Hawk is the most successful gambling town in Colorado thanks to its proximity to the state capital, Denver. There are a number of high-end establishments across the historic mountain town, which has attracted significant levels of investment in recent years from names like Caesar’s Entertainment, Monarch and Bally Corp.
Top Gambling Destinations
Players looking for a glitzy Vegas-style experience should definitely head for Black Hawk, the most successful casino city in Colorado. The Ameristar and Lady Luck casinos alone offer thousands of slots and heart-pounding live action.
Covering just two square miles, Black Hawk has plenty to offer visitors looking for a unique combination of history, entertainment and luxury set against the awesome backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Fun Things to Do Near Black Hawk
Take the cog railways to the top of Pike’s Peak for some breathtaking views, or enjoy more than 90 miles of hiking and biking trails on the doorstep. Explore the scenic Peak to Peak highway, or stay closer to home with Main Street’s free shuttle bus.
Central City
Like its sister town Black Hawk, Central City boomed during the Gold Rush years of the 1850s and 60s but had been in slow decline since the 1880s. However, inspired by the success of gambling as a means for regeneration in Deadwood, South Dakota, Central City partnered with Black Hawk and Cripple Creek to push for the legalization of limited-stakes gambling.
By the early 2000s, Colorado’s new gaming towns were thriving, having made more from gambling in just a few years than from mining.
Central City is a gambling city in Colorado that has a more artistic vibe than its neighbor, with a number of local art galleries and the world-class Central City Opera House. The jewel box of an opera house was constructed in 1878 by Welsh and Cornish miners and has hosted everyone from PT Barnum and Buffalo Bill to silent movie stars and international opera singers.
Fun Things to Do Near Central City
Located just an hour from Denver, you can hop on the Peak to Peak highway for spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas, or hit the trails through the nearby Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests. Head for the Chase Gulf reservoir for fly fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
You can also enjoy the Hidee Gold Mine tour through a scenic canyon filled with native species including deer, bear, elk, hawks and eagles. You can dig a little deeper into Colorado history with a range of museums and mine tours.
Cripple Creek
If you’re looking for your own gold rush with plenty of fun thrown in, head for Cripple Creek. The second biggest gambling town in Colorado in terms of revenue, Cripple Creek exudes charm and heritage. All of its casinos are within walking distance of storied Bennett Avenue, and it really is like stepping back into the Wild West!
Legendary Cripple Creek Casinos
Bronco Billy’s has been named Colorado’s number-one casino, and it offers a great gaming experience with the best hot and retro slots. Century Casino is popular for its penny slots and Gold Club comps, while Johnny Nolan’s is the place for awesome progressive slots. If table games are your thing, the Double Eagle is one of Cripple Creek’s largest casinos, with some adrenaline-pulsing action on offer.
Fun Things to Do Near Cripple Creek
Once the scene of Colorado’s richest gold camp, Cripple Creek is surrounded by incredible scenery, and there are plenty of ways to get closer to nature in this awesome mountain setting. Take a trip back into gold rush history on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, with its lovingly restored steam locomotives, or head for the Heritage Center for an interactive look back into the town’s gold mining history.
Lovingly preserved buildings include the old fire station, jail and Homestead House, the town’s most famous brothel complete with original "viewing room".
History
Gambling in Colorado dates back to the earliest days of mining in the state, when Spanish, French, English and Irish immigrants arrived, bringing games of chance with them.
A bastion of Wild West gambling, legendary figures like Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday would frequent the popular casinos that sprung up in the Rockies.
However, this type of unregulated gambling was stamped out in Colorado and elsewhere, and legalized casinos would have to wait until the 1990s before operating again.
Thanks to legislative changes over the years, players in Colorado currently enjoy casino gambling, online sports betting, pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and lotteries. Charitable gambling, including raffles and bingo, is also legal.
State of Online Gambling in Colorado
Despite the generally relaxed attitude to gambling in the state, \r. If you search for 'real money online casino Colorado', don’t expect to get any legal results.
No legislation is currently planned to legalize online casino gaming as this would involve amending the state constitution. This hard and fast requirement was affirmed by the state’s Attorney General in 2013.
Online Betting Laws in Colorado
Under Colorado law, an online bet is placed where you are located. Therefore, even if you choose to play at an online casino located in another state or overseas where online gambling is legal, you’re still committing an offense if you place a bet from your home computer or phone. If your search for 'online casino Colorado' turns up results, it’s still illegal to play.
However, the 2019 Legalize Sports Betting with Tax Revenue for Water Projects measure allows Colorado casinos to operate online sports betting. This may signal a change of attitude toward online casino gaming, but currently, legislators remain resistant to expanding the mandate to online casino games and poker.
Colorado Online Poker
Online poker is currently illegal in Colorado. However, you can play live and video poker at any of the casinos across Colorado.
Online Sports Betting Colorado
Online sports betting was legalized in Colorado in 2019. Online sports betting was officially launched across the state in 2020. However, online betting on slots and table games remains illegal.
Casino Games In Colorado
As defined by the current version of the Colorado Limited Gaming Initiative, Colorado casinos can offer: “Physical and electronic versions of slot machines, craps, roulette and the card games of poker and blackjack authorized by this article and defined and regulated by the commission, each game having a maximum single bet of one hundred dollars.”
So if you head for the casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek, you’ll be able to play all your favorite slots and casino table games including poker, blackjack, craps and roulette.
Tribal Gaming In Colorado
There are two tribal-run casinos in Colorado, both operating in the southwest of the state in the Four Corners region. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are not subject to taxation and can offer keno in addition to slots, poker, craps, roulette and blackjack.
Ute Mountain Casino, Towaoc
Ute Mountain Casino hotel bills itself as "Still the One for a Mountain of Fun", and with its combination of southwestern hospitality, delicious dining, impeccable gaming chops including legal sports betting and comfortable accommodations, it’s a great base for exploring the region.
Fun Things to Do Near Ute Mountain Casino
Beyond the casino, there’s plenty to see and do. Located in the shadow of the legendary Sleeping Ute Mountain, you can schedule a tour of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park to explore Ute and Pueblan history. Stand in four states at once at the Four Corners National Monument, and explore the spectacular cliff dwellings in the Mesa Verde National Park.
Sky Ute Casino Resort, Ignacio
Park your RV or book a comfortable suite at the Sky Ute casino and enjoy heart-stopping gaming in a beautiful valley setting. Join the Ace’s Club for great player benefits and enjoy outstanding dining and entertainment.
Fun Things to Do Near Sky Ute
Ignacio is a gateway to the Navajo State Park, where you can hire a pontoon boat to navigate the 35-mile lake spanning the New Mexico-Colorado border. Take a day trip to Durango on the Tracks Across Borders Byway and experience the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway, or stay closer to home and catch a summer concert at the Fox Fire Farms winery located at 6500 feet!