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PTLegal Colorado Online Poker Sites
In this guide find out the Legality of Online Poker in Colorado
Gambling laws in Colorado are among the more liberal in the country. Sports betting became legal in 2019 in both its retail and online form, and the state boasts a few dozen land-based casinos, most of them located in three small towns near Denver — Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City. These towns are where you’ll find most of Colorado’s well-known poker rooms.
But what about online poker? Can poker players from Colorado join poker sites and enjoy their favorite games on computers and mobile devices? Let’s find out.
Is Online Poker Legal in Colorado?
The short answer is no — online poker is not legal in Colorado. There are currently only six states where you can play online poker on officially licensed and regulated platforms: Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Regulated online gambling options in CO are limited to sports betting, as online casinos are not legal either. The last legislative effort for online poker in Colorado came in 2013, but it gained no traction.
Therefore, if you want to play online poker within the state’s borders, you are left with two options — play on free poker sites and apps and those that use the sweepstakes model or register at one of the offshore poker rooms.
The second option is the only one that allows you to play for real money, but it also comes with legal risks. Offshore poker sites are not legal in Colorado or any other US state, as they are not licensed and regulated by local authorities.
The state considers participating in all gambling activities a crime, as defined in Section 18-10-102(2) of the Colorado Criminal Code:
“…risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device, or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control….”
Of course, there are exceptions to this law, as several forms of gambling are legal in Colorado.
Meanwhile, the state’s law doesn’t expressly forbid the use of offshore poker rooms, which is why many players from Colorado choose to join them anyway.
Colorado’s authorities usually don’t bother with offshore poker players. Moreover, players face only a small fine (class 1 petty offense) if caught. Punishments are much more strict for those that operate and promote illegal gambling businesses.
Poker Laws
Following are a couple of crucial resource links on the legality of poker and other gambling activities in Colorado:
- Colorado Criminal Code Section 18-10-102
- What is Legal? Gambling Questions in Colorado — Colorado Department of Revenue
Best Legal Poker Rooms in Colorado
The following paragraphs will discuss both online and physical options for poker players in Colorado, followed by a list of the best and most trusted offshore poker sites and the most prominent land-based poker rooms.
Legal Online Poker in Colorado
As discussed, real-money online poker is not officially legal in Colorado, but a way to circumvent this is by playing on offshore poker sites.
While there are dozens of offshore poker operators out there, we suggest being extra cautious when selecting a platform to play on. Not all of these poker sites are particularly safe, while some exist for the sole purpose of scamming people.
To remain protected and enjoy the best online poker experience, we recommend picking an online poker room from the list below, as our veteran team of online poker specialists handpicked them. They tested these sites for their bonuses, variety of games, tournament selection, rake, payment options, software features, and everything in between.
Meanwhile, if you want to stay entirely on the legal side of playing online poker in Colorado, you’ll have to resort to social poker sites and apps. While this option is less exciting as you can’t wager and win real money, it’s still good for sharpening your poker skills and playing casually with your friends and family.
Some of the best social poker platforms include PPPoker, Zynga, partypoker and WSOP (via Facebook).
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Legal Land-Based Poker in California
Unlike online poker, land-based poker is legal in Colorado. The Colorado Limited Gaming Act of 1991 allowed some of the first modern casinos to arrive in the Centennial State, specifically the small towns of Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City.
There are currently over 20 casinos in Colorado offering everything from video slots and video poker to blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and many other table and electronic games. However, not all of them have dedicated poker rooms.
A significant restriction regarding poker in Colorado was that the casinos had to set a $100 max limit on all bets. Fortunately, this was abolished in 2021, allowing the Colorado poker scene to become more competitive.
Still, the market is not exactly booming, as there are only five Colorado casinos with poker rooms and only one casino that frequently runs tournaments.
You must be at least 21 years old to play poker in Colorado. This also applies to all other land-based casino gambling and retail and online sports betting.
How to Register at a Legal Online Poker Site in Colorado
Before you can start playing for real money, you must create an account on one of the poker sites we shared on this page. While the official gambling age in Colorado is 21, most offshore poker sites allow players as young as 18 to play.
In case you’ve never registered at a poker site before, here’s what the process usually looks like:
Choose A Poker Room
Make a pick from the list we provided and click/tap on the Visit Site button from the platform’s information card.
Signup
Once you’re on the site, hit the Sign Up/Register/Join button.
Complete the form presented to you, including details regarding your full name, age, email address, country of residence, and more.
Proceed to verify your account by following the instructions on the website.
Deposit & Play
You can proceed to the cashier page to complete a deposit once your account is active.
Choose a payment method, input the deposit amount, and finish the transaction.
Once the money appears in your account (usually instantly), you can jump into the game. Also, after completing the deposit, you can claim the poker site’s first deposit bonus (if there is one).
Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker
Five land-based casinos in Colorado offer live poker cash games, and only one casino features tournaments. Here are their names and addresses:
- Ameristar Black Hawk (11 tables) — 111 Richman St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Bally’s Black Hawk (17 tables + tournaments) — 300 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Horseshoe Black Hawk (7 tables) — 401 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Midnight Rose (6 tables) — 256 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
- Monarch Casino (14 tables) — 488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Other Resources
Final Thoughts
There have been no legal efforts to legalize online poker in Colorado since 2013. Still, you can play poker over the internet in Colorado, either via social/sweepstakes poker platforms or by going to one of the offshore poker sites we recommended on this page.Meanwhile, if you’re hungry for some live poker action, you can choose among five land-based Colorado casinos that feature poker rooms and where playing poker for real money is entirely legal.
FAQ
Is online poker legal in Colorado?
Online poker is not legal in Colorado in the sense that the state’s gambling authority licenses no poker sites and apps. Therefore, offshore poker sites remain the only option for players wanting to enjoy real-money poker over the internet. These sites are not legal, but the authorities rarely focus on punishing the players for using them.
What online poker sites are legal in Colorado?
The only legal poker sites in Colorado are those where you can play for free or via the sweepstakes model.
What’s the legal gambling age in Colorado?
The legal gambling age in Colorado is 21, although most offshore poker sites accept players as young as 18 years old.
When is Colorado going to legalize online poker?
It’s anyone’s guess. Considering that the state recently legalized online sports betting, authorizing casino and poker sites might be in the plans for the future.