Colorado Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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The Colorado Department of Revenue relies heavily on the Interstate Wire Act and the UIGEA bill; it claims, on its official website, that ‘internet gambling is illegal under state and federal laws’. However, there’s no mention of any type of prohibition against online gambling anywhere in Colorado statutes or penal code.
Some of the owners of Colorado’s most successful land-based casinos have stated in the past few years that they have been closely monitoring internet gambling legislation developments in other states. So far, there has been no action.
The legislators also see a challenge in the act of introducing online gambling into the Colorado market, mostly because of the uncertainty about what kind of impact such ventures might have on land-based revenue. According to some preliminary estimation, the online revenue would not jeopardize profits from brick and mortar casinos in the Rocky Mountain State.
In a legal sense, online gambling doesn’t exist in the state of Colorado. This pertains to casino games, as sports betting was introduced in 2020. The decision was backed by a state referendum, where voters voted largely in favor of bringing sportsbooks to Colorado.
Lottery games also exist in an online form, with Powerball, Colorado Lotto+, and other brands all being available on multiple platforms.
The last attempt at getting the legal online gambling snowball rolling was an online poker bill that didn’t even survive to see the first round of voting.
Fantasy sports are also legal, with legislators introducing DFS in 2016. Interestingly, sites with less than 7,500 users can operate without a license from the state.
In Colorado, the same rule of thumb applies as in many other US states - as long as you’re placing online wagers at offshore websites, you are not breaking any laws in your state, or federal laws for that matter. This puts Colorado players in the same position as players from Texas, Arizona or California. Bettors are free to join sites that accept members from the United States and accept deposits in US Dollars. For extra safety, these venues need to be licensed within a reliable jurisdiction, they need to provide efficient payment methods and they should take too long with the payouts.
The passionate search for wealth led many gold miners across Colorado plains. They made their stops in numerous casinos that hoped to grab a share of what gold these prospectors may have found. The Puritans judged gambling and the laws fluctuated for decades to come. Legalized gambling got more and more support as once proud cities such as Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek began to suffer after the end of the Gold Rush.
The State government passed a law that allowed casino establishments in these cities at which point their economy recovered. The first gambling bill was passed in 1991, slowing slots, card games and video poker machines. By 2008 Coloradans passed new legislation that allowed more Vegas-style table games, like craps. At first, the betting limits were just $5. In 2009, the government allowed for higher limits up to $100.
The existing Colorado gambling laws permit two ways that casino gambling can be permitted within the state: Native American casinos and casino localities designated by the state government, such as Blackhawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. Tribal casinos are run by the Ute Tribe, and are located in Towaoc and Ignacio. There are more than a dozen casino venues in the towns of Blackhawk and Cripple Creek. Central City houses 7 gambling facilities.
Most slot machines in Colorado casinos are manufactured by IGT, Bally or Aristocrat. Most venues also offer plenty of video poker machines, live blackjack and poker tables. Notable establishments are Ameristar Hotel & Casino, Isle of Capri, Lady Luck and The Lodge Casino & Resort in Blackhawk, Century Casino, Fortune Valley Hotel & Casino and Johnny Z's in Central City and Double Eagle Hotel & Casino and Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek. Ameristar Casino boasts over 1,250 slots, 40 table games and nearly two dozen poker tables. Isle of Capri offers more than a thousand slot machines, 25 table games and 9 poker tables.
Although locals don’t hesitate to visit the casino venues in the Centennial State, they have their revenues increased each year by tourists who come to ski the majestic slopes of the Rockies.
Neighbouring States: Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming
Just because there is no legislature to define online casinos in the Centennial State, that doesn’t mean anyone can gamble without consequences. Keep in mind that law enforcement can technically take action against the operators, but choose not to.
Therefore, it would be best to play it safe and not try to play at online casinos in Colorado if you’re under 18. Again, as there are no casinos officially based in Colorado, you will be subject to the laws of the country/territory/state where the site is based. 18 is the usual limit.
If you’re based in Colorado, that means that you can gamble online using one of two ways - exploiting the leniency of out-of-state sites or using a VPN. Therefore, you can basically access any online casino and get access to all types of games.
Slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, and many other casino staples are available in multiple versions. Since most software development companies release games with the aim of pushing boundaries, you can find just about any modification of old-school table games and iconic slots.
Yes, almost every casino that accepts players from Colorado has a live casino section. This is a growing niche, so almost every sportsbook and casino site is racing to purchase the best titles and knock out the competition.
If you’re unable to find a title that interests you, you won’t be searching for long, as many sites like to experiment with mixing different software providers. Just be patient and you’ll find a site that can fulfill your needs.
There is no definite answer to this question. It depends on the personal preferences of each player, as well as the financial muscle of the site.
You’ll find that most sites offer credit/debit cards such as VISA and MasterCard, along with the occasional transfer. It’s easy and cheap to offer these platforms, plus most people aren’t interested in creating accounts or using other options.
If you’re more internet-savvy, then you’ll encounter many casinos offering eWallets such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill. By going down this route, you’re essentially ensuring that your money is always readily available for your gambling needs.
For those that are advocates of anonymity whilst playing at online casinos in Colorado, cryptocurrencies are the real deal. There is a myriad of sites that are crypto-only, giving you a chance to explore the benefits of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and other digital currencies.
Since there are so many payment options currently available, it’s easy to forget that waiting times can vary greatly. Traditional options like cards or bank transfers can take up to three business days, as the bank is obliged to verify the instruction and check for any suspicious activity.
Since online casinos can essentially be blacklisted by certain banks, eWallets are much better. Albeit more difficult to find, these platforms can aid you in getting your money in as little as 24 hours.
When it comes to the fastest of the bunch, there are many niche options that pride themselves on speed but offer literally nothing else. As for widely available payment options in Colorado, cryptocurrencies are by far the quickest when it comes to delivering cash. Expect a payout in no more than 30 minutes.
You most certainly can, if you find the right promotion. Most casinos don’t have promotions with such a number of free spins, as they usually come with a high minimum deposit. This is so that the casino doesn’t lose money when offering a certain game to players.
Some gargantuan bonuses of 200 spins and a 100% match on a $500 deposit do exist, but they’re mostly available during Christmas time.
Playing in a state without legally defined online gambling means that there is no protection or arbitrary organization to oversee the matter in case a dispute occurs. For this reason, many sites either don’t accept or periodically ban Coloradoan players.
This is a means of legal protection, as some online casinos are unwilling to risk a messy situation for a bit more profit.
Since promotions are basically somewhat of a legal agreement between you and the online casinos, sites only offer promotions to players from states where online gambling is legal.
You’ll find that many of the best offers are unavailable, simply because no site is willing to risk losing money to fraud without sufficient legal protection.
Of course, titles such as Quantum Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack have been acquired by just about every online casino in the country. Find a secure one, with a good promotion, and you’ll get to enjoy blackjack like a pro.
References
[1] Colorado Division of Gaming
[2] Colorado Division of Racing Events
[3] Colorado Lottery
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