Do you want to know is sports betting legal in Denver? The good news is that sports betting in Denver is completely legal as of 2024. This means that you can go online and carry out Colorado sports betting using any of the licensed and regulated operators in the state.
The situation is clear-cut in that respect, but there are some points you need to know about. Read on to find out about the general details of how to bet online and everything else Denver sports bettors should be interested in knowing.
Legal Status of Sports Betting in Denver
Online sports betting has been legal in Colorado since 2020 when the laws were passed by the Colorado General Assembly. This reflects public opinion since Proposition DD was a state-wide consultation on legalized gambling that the public approved in 2019.
This means that the new Colorado sports betting law introduced in 2020 has given sports fans in Denver the chance to legally bet online since then. In fact, the first Colorado sports betting apps went live that same year, so residents have been able to bet legally since then.
Understanding Sports Betting in Denver
The process of carrying out sports betting in Denver is simple. First, You need to look for a regulated operator with a master sports betting license. These are the sites and apps you can use safely for Colorado sports betting, as they give you the guarantee of being licensed and responsible.
A short registration process is needed, to ensure that you meet the current regulations. This is where they use geolocation services to confirm that you’re accessing the online sportsbook from this state.
Since you can use sports betting sites with real cash in Denver, you’ll be asked what banking method you want to use. Only reputable e-wallets and other trustworthy methods are accepted by the best Colorado sports betting operators.
The History of Gambling in the State
This wasn’t the first time that gambling was allowed in Colorado, as the likes of Cripple Creek and Black Hawk have been home to casinos that offer sports betting. The likes of Lodge Casino, Lady Luck Casino, and Mardi Gras Casino have all attracted gamblers in the past but the recent sports betting legislation has made it easier to place bets without travelling Cripple Creek or any other specific place.
Collecting Sporting Betting Promos on Your First Bet and Beyond
When you join any of the Colorado sports betting sites, you should look for bonus bets. These are deposit bonus offers that let you bet for free, or with some other benefit, when you join and make your first bet. This is often done using a promo code and you should read the terms & conditions carefully before accepting a bonus bet or other type of deposit bonus.
As you carry on betting after your first bet, you might be able to pick up more bonus bets and other sports betting promos. These are useful for betting on sports in Colorado or further afield, with the T&Cs always explaining the full details of how to use them.
For example, insurance is a bet safety net that gives you a second chance if your bet loses. It’s often offered on a specific sport or game and you need to use it in a certain period. This bet safety net is sometimes offered on parlays or championship games.
Type of Bets
For many new sports bettors, the moneyline bet is the simplest option. This is where you bet on the outright winner of the game or event. You’ll see a favorite and an underdog listed, with the favorite showing a negative number that tells you how much you need to bet to win $100. The underdog has a positive number which is the amount you would win with a $100 sports wager.
You can bet on sports in many other ways. This includes wagering on the total number of points or runs scored. Prop bets are based on the statistics posted by individual players.
Parlays are combined bets that cover several outcomes on a single bet slip and they all need to come true for you to win. Looking further ahead, future bets are based on outcomes such as winning the Super Bowl or the Stanley Cup.
Live In Game Betting
Live sports betting is also offered by online sportsbooks as an interesting alternative to pre-game odds. In the case of live betting, you carry out your sports wagering as the action takes place. This gives you the chance to watch the games and make your bets according to what you see. Early cashout is offered as a way of closing your bet early if you’re happy with the current profit.
Betting on Denver Teams
Naturally, betting on Colorado’s top teams is hugely popular among sports fans in the state. The Denver Broncos, the Colorado Avalanche, the Rockies, and the Denver Nuggets are among the pro teams that compete in the top leagues in different sports.
Each sport has a selection of wagers you can choose from. However, the range of sports bets is similar in most cases. What varies are the numbers and odds. For example, an over-under bet is where you decide how many points you think will be scored between both teams. In the NHL, this could be 4.5 goals, while in the NBA it’s more likely to be a high number like 225.5 points.
This is where a good understanding of the sport and the teams involved is crucial. It also helps to show us why people in Denver tend to carry out betting on their favorite teams that they know well.
Denver’s Sports Betting Regulations
The decision to legalize sports betting in Colorado wasn’t taken lightly. To make this activity completely safe and reliable, the authorities have created laws with specific rules in place.
- You need to be physically present in the state. This means that Colorado residents and visitors alike can carry out betting online while here.
- You need to be aged at least 21 to legally bet on sports.
- High school sports betting isn’t allowed.
- College sports are allowed, but not prop bets on specific players.
When you register for an online sportsbook, you’ll be asked to find that you comply with these details. As well as the geolocation check, you’ll be asked for your social security number for verification purposes.
Impact of Sports Betting on Denver’s Economy
The move to add online apps to the legalized retail sports betting in Colorado has had an immediate beneficial effect on the revenue generated from the Colorado sports betting handle.
As confirmed by the state’s Department of Revenue, a total of over $3.3 million in taxes were levied in October 2023. You can see the details here of how the revenue from Colorado casinos and sportsbooks is distributed and used in a variety of ways.
With the Colorado sports betting laws being relatively new, the industry is still growing. It’s also worth bearing in mind that these sites have peaks at different times of year and depending on the fortunes of the local teams.
The Denver Nuggets’ march to win the NBA Finals in 2023 led to Colorado sportsbooks receiving many bets on the team. If the Broncos reach the Super Bowl or the Avalanche get to the Stanley Cup Finals again, expect to see the level of betting increase.
What’s more difficult to assess is the overall impact on the economy since sports betting is legal here. Do Denver sports bars receive more clients who open up their sports betting account while spending on food and drink there? Are people investing their winnings in other walks of life?
Denver’s Sports Culture and Betting
Denver has long been classed as one of the biggest sports cities in the US. With various massive franchises that have won numerous championships over the years, it’s easy to see why so many residents are sports fans. How does their love of the top teams interact with the rise of legal sportsbooks?
The Denver Broncos
Playing in the AFC West Division of the NFL, the Broncos have won three Super Bowls, with the last one coming in 2015. At the time of writing, Denver hasn’t won the divisional title or reached the playoffs in seven years, Yet, football remains the most popular sport and most sports bars stream NFL games for fans.
Check our NFL Colorado betting guide here.
The Denver Nuggets
With the Ball Arena as their home, the Nuggets give a great option for finding basketball odds on a sports betting app. Driven by MVP Nikola Jokic, they won their first NBA Finals in 2023, which was great news for the many locals who follow them and placed bets in the Colorado sports betting market backing them.
The Colorado Avalanche
Representing the state in the NHL, the Avalanche won the Stanley Finals in 2022 to keep up their 100% record in this championship series. Devon Toews, Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen all made it into the Top 100 2023-24 predictions by ESPN and might interest fans looking for player prop bets.
The Colorado Rockies
If baseball is your favorite sport, the Rockies could be the team you place your sports wagers on. They’ve yet to win a major championship but that won’t stop fans from looking for competitive odds on them reaching the World Series this season.
Other Options
Let’s not neglect the other teams that sports fans here love to watch and bet on. The Colorado Buffaloes, the Air Force Falcons, and the Colorado State Rams all have large followings and the presence of legal sports betting here makes it possible for fans to engage with the team in this way.
Remember that you can bet on college basketball betting but only on Colorado college sports teams rather than individual players.
Responsible Gambling Practices in Denver
With betting legal in Colorado now, this has led to the need for responsible gambling practices to be adopted here by the regulated online sports betting sites. This is handled by the Colorado Division of Gambling, which makes sure that anyone who wants to self-exclude from all legal online sportsbooks for a period is added to the list.
Spotting problem gambling and doing something about it is easier when you have access to the list of responsible gambling organizatons in Colorado. Resources include The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (call or text 1-800-GAMBLER) and Gamblers Anonymous (call 1-855-2-CALLGA).
Gambling more on mobile sports betting than you can afford to lose or using it to escape from other problems are a couple of the telltale signs to look for.
Navigating Legal Challenges and Considerations
Having legalized sports betting in Colorado has been a huge boost for the sports betting industry, but it hasn’t come without some legal challenges along the way. Perhaps the biggest concern is that players who aren’t eligible could join a Colorado sportsbook.
This is why the rigorous registration process has been designed to only allow people who can legally join. If you’re over 21 and in Colorado, you can bet on the games listed in licensed sportsbooks and follow the Colorado sports betting rules safely. Issues such as bonus bets gambling problem are handled responsibly through sportsbooks working closely with the authorities
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the arrival of regulated sites is a massive plus in Colorado sports betting history. It’s now easy for fans of the local teams to use a Colorado sports betting app and find a new way of engaging with their chosen sport and team.
With online sports betting legal here and the sports betting revenue being used for various purposes, it’s an industry that’s making a positive impact in different ways.
