Poker In Colorado
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Those who do not live in Colorado may not know this, but the state is actually one of the most gambler-friendly places in the country—and indeed, those looking for legal Colorado poker opportunities do not have to look very far. This does not mean that Colorado has an anything-goes attitude toward poker, or that the state is quite as lax as Nevada or even New Jersey. Like all states, Colorado has an interest in regulating and monitoring gambling, and in ensuring that it does not devolve into organized crime. With that said, and with a few caveats aside, Colorado really is a state in which gamblers can find many chances to play poker, without fear of legal woes.
This page is all about poker and the state of Colorado. We will look first to the state’s laws, and then turn our attention to some of the specific opportunities that exist for legal Colorado poker. We will also make a few comments about the nature of online gaming in the state of Colorado. Above all, this page is designed as an educational resource for those Colorado gaming enthusiasts who wish to know more about where they are able to play poker, free of worries over legal problems.
Colorado Poker Laws & Statutes
To begin with, we might note that Colorado is, indeed, a gambler-friendly state. The state of Colorado has a booming casino business, including both some larger casinos as well as some small-scale poker rooms. As such, those who wish to play cards while in Colorado can find plenty of opportunities.
And there are further chances to play poker in Colorado, besides. Home games are fine, so long as they are played on a not-for-profit basis. Even online poker, while not expressly sanctioned by Colorado’s laws, is something that the state’s many gamers can turn to without worry over legal repercussions—but we will say more on that topic later.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Colorado?
Next, we turn our attention to the topic of online poker. Is it legal for Colorado residents to gamble at online poker sites? The answer to this one is actually rather tricky, as technically speaking, the laws in Colorado do not make explicit mentions of online poker rooms. While it is fair to say that online poker is not strictly sanctioned, then, it is also fair to say that it is perfectly safe for Colorado games to participate in.
Indeed, online poker is something that countless Colorado gamers participate in, day after day—and they do so without any prosecution or legal trouble. Colorado does not penalize those who play in online poker sites, plain and simple. As such, it is a perfectly safe way to gamble—even if it is not, strictly speaking, regulated by the state.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Colorado?
To put the same question another way, will Colorado residents stand to get into trouble for playing in online poker rooms? Here again, the answer is a no. Online poker is perfectly safe for Colorado residents.
As we have noted, Colorado is a fairly lax and permissive state, as far as gambling is concerned. If anything, those who would be penalized for online gambling are those who own and operate the sites, but there is no history of legal action against Colorado residents who play in online poker rooms. These gambling sites can be enjoyed, without worry and without fear.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Colorado Players
Life in Colorado may be a throne of ease for residents who love poker as Colorado is home to some of the best poker rooms in the nation, but what if you find the rules of some those tournaments too restrictive? We don’t believe that poker players need restrict themselves to any specific style of play, and we certainly feel like poker should be enjoyed not only from a specific room, but anywhere you like. That’s why we heartily endorse the following legal poker sites to fully enjoy the hobby.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Colorado
If you’re looking to start up a relationship with any kind of service, the best advice is to always start with the best, so before you do anything else, make a stop to the Bovada online poker room. When you have an account with this legal poker site for Colorado residents, you have the freedom to play poker any way you choose. Whether you want to enter a tournament for a small buy in of $2 to play all day, or play a couple lightning quick, high stakes hands, Bovada has a table for you.
Best of all is the legal online poker room’s feature to be there for you no matter where in the world you are. Through use of the superb Bovada mobile poker app, you can easily play a few hands of poker for profit while stuck in a waiting room, riding the subway, or virtually anywhere you can get a phone signal. In our modern era of technology, there is no reason to feel tied down to a room or a clunky computer in order to participate in your hobby. Most Colorado residents carry their most powerful computer around in their pocket, so why not use it to log on and play some poker?
BetOnline Poker - All Colorado Players 18+ Welcome Here
If you’re still in the market for a fresh take to legal online poker for Colorado residents, consider an account with BetOnline. They are one of the fastest growing poker rooms in the entire nation, and when you pay them a quick visit you will surely see why. Simply put, when you have a poker account with BetOnline, you call the shots. There are hundreds of ways to play, and through the many virtual tables offered via their downloadable poker client, they are all available.
Do you need some incentive to start an account at BetOnline poker? Consider their unmatched entry bonus for new players. When you start you BetOnline account and put cash in it for the first time, you will become instantly eligible to receive up to a full 200% of your deposit back in the form of free bonus play to use anywhere in the poker room. You may ask what the catch is. Are you ready? You have to use your account to play poker! Unless we’re sorely mistaken about your intentions for signing up with a legal online poker room, there should be very little standing between you and collecting one of the biggest bonuses in the entire industry, online or otherwise. Don’t hesitate, go grab your free money today!
Legal Colorado Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo | |
BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |
Does Colorado Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
All of that said, when it comes to the question of whether poker is legal in Colorado, the answer is unquestionably a yes. The chances to play legal games of poker in Colorado are abundant, and we will list some of them below. We will begin with live, land-based play.
As already noted, Colorado has numerous casinos. Gambling is big business in Colorado, and the state offers plenty of poker rooms. Texas Hold ‘Em is a particularly popular game in Colorado’s poker rooms. And for those who do not wish to venture into casinos, the state also allows for home poker games—great for any gamers who prefer poker on more of a social basis.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Colorado Players
So where, then, can Colorado’s gaming enthusiasts turn to play poker? We have already listed numerous options, for land-based and online poker alike. Live, land-based games can be found in any of the state’s many fine casinos. They are also perfectly safe to hold from the comfort of your own home, so long as you do not turn your living room into a for-profit casino!
As for online poker, there are myriad online poker sites, many of them perfectly reputable and above board. Any of them will prove more than willing to accept wagers from Colorado poker buffs. Playing through these sites is totally safe.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Colorado
A final question to consider: Will the state of Colorado ever go as far as to expressly sanction online poker for its residents? No one can predict the future, of course, but it seems likely that this will happen sooner or later. Simply put, there are numerous states already moving down the path of full, legalized online poker—Nevada is there already—and, as permissive as Colorado is when it comes to gambling, it just makes sense that this state would also head down that road.
For now, though, those who live in Colorado, and who enjoy playing online poker, do not have to worry about the fact that it is not expressly condoned by the state. The truth is, online poker is a great, safe opportunity for Colorado gambling enthusiasts who wish to play their favorite game. Add in the state’s many casinos and you have a place that is truly gamer-friendly.
Online poker is not legal in Colorado, yet.
Voters did pass Proposition DD on Nov. 5, 2019, essentially legalizing retail and online sports betting in Colorado. However, online poker and casino games were not attached.
The last legislative effort to bring legal online poker sites to Colorado was in 2013, and it didn’t even get to a vote. That said, the hope is that legal online sports betting can pave the way for other forms of online gambling, including online poker in Colorado.
Fortunately, poker fans can legally enjoy cash games and tournaments online via Global Poker. This room uses a sweepstakes gambling model — and operates legally around the country.
The successful launch of an online sports betting market in Colorado might change the opinion of lawmakers in the state and restart the conversation about online casinos and online poker.
Play real online poker in Colorado at Global Poker
Legal online poker options in CO
Fortunately, there is one legal online poker option in Colorado. You can legally enjoy cash games and tournaments online via Global Poker.
That’s because it uses a legal sweepstakes gambling model to operate legally all across the US.
On the surface, Global Poker looks like any other online poker site. There is a full range of cash games, tournaments, and sit and go’s with players from around the country competing.
The key difference is Global Poker’s sweepstakes model. Global Poker operates under laws designed for sweepstakes contests. Although you can win real money and withdraw it from Global Poker, you can’t use real money on the site. Instead, there is a dual currency system keeping the games legal.
Instead of making a traditional deposit, you buy “gold coins,” which you can use for “fun” play only. These gold coins have no monetary value, but when you purchase them, you are given “sweeps coins” for free. Sweeps coins have a cash value you can play with or withdraw from the site.
To stay legal, sweepstakes gambling sites need to give you a chance to enter for free. Global Poker will give you a small amount of sweeps coins if you write a letter to its registered address with your account information.
Which online poker sites will potentially launch in Colorado?
The Stars Group, a global leader in online gaming and the company behind the world’s largest poker site, PokerStars, has launched online poker operations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The company has also announced its intention to enter Michigan’s online poker market when it launches after signing a deal to operate online gambling verticals for a federally recognized Native tribe in that state.
The Stars Group’s aggressive approach to expansion into states with legalized online poker suggests if Colorado approves the launch of online poker, PokerStars will be headed here.
The same should hold true for Caesars Entertainment’s WSOP.com, which appears to have interests in any and all states approving the launch of online poker as well.
Like Caesars, MGM is a US casino giant without a property in Colorado. However, it does have online gaming agreements in place with GVC Holdings, partypoker’s parent company, which suggests the partypoker and BetMGM brands are interested in expanding everywhere it can in the US, including Colorado.
Colorado isn’t a state dominated by larger US casino corporations, therefore the market is wide open. Should lawmakers ultimately get behind the idea of legal online poker there’s really no telling which existing online poker operators, large and small, will partner with Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk casinos to launch inside the state.
Will Colorado join the MSIGA?
The Multi-State Internet Gaming Association agreement allows New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware online poker sites to share player pools.
This agreement is considered vital to the survival of the otherwise small independent markets.
Should Colorado lawmakers pass a bill legalizing online poker it may include language regarding Colorado’s participation in the agreement.
That would make multi-state poker a possibility in Colorado. In fact, it’s likely a must-have for the local online poker market to survive long-term.
The population in Colorado is larger than that of Nevada and Delaware, but smaller than New Jersey. Online poker barely survived in these states when they were on their own. Pooling players with other states seems like the best hope for a robust local online poker scene in Colorado.
Colorado online poker partnerships
Only existing Colorado casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek are eligible to apply for a sports betting license to offer both retail and online sports betting.
Online poker in Colorado will likely run under similar restrictions.
That means online poker operators without a physical presence in the state will need to find a local casino partner in order to legally launch.
While several will undoubtedly do so, none have to this point. Deals like this aren’t likely to be signed until legal online poker moves closer to becoming a reality inside the state.
Penn National Gaming does have a multi-year agreement with The Stars Group for online gaming market access in several states. Colorado is not currently one of those states.
Since Penn National Gaming operates Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk in Colorado, that agreement could be extended to include CO online poker under an Ameristar Black Hawk license should online poker be legalized in Colorado.
How Colorado online poker will work
Colorado isn’t likely to try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to online poker.
That means once legislation authorizing the launch of the first CO online poker sites passes, legal online poker will launch as a fenced-in market inside Colorado.
Players who are 21 years or older and within state lines will be eligible to play online poker cash games and tournaments.
Online poker operators will use geolocation technology to ensure every player on these sites are inside the state.
Players will need to sign up for an online account with the operator of their choice and go through identity and age verification processes before they can play.
In the future, state lawmakers may enter into a multi-state compact to allow operators to share player pools with online poker sites in other states with legal online poker.
Online poker bonuses and rewards
Colorado online poker sites will most likely offer free play to attract new customers, just like most legal online poker sites do in other states.
Giving free bonus cash as an incentive to sign up has proven to be a successful poker marketing strategy in other states.
PokerStars Pennsylvania offers you $30 in free play as long as you sign up using the PokerStars PA bonus code PLAY30 and deposit at least $20.
The offer includes $20 in free play and $10 in Spin and Go tickets.
You also get a ticket to a depositor freeroll event on the last Sunday of every month, featuring cash prizes and no entry fee.
You can also use the promo code STARS600 when you make their first deposit (or first three qualifying deposits within 60 days) to earn a 100% deposit match bonus of up to $600.
You’ll need to earn redemption points to unlock the bonus. However, you get 5 points for every $1 paid in tournament fees or rake in most games and PokerStars PA releases the first $10 in bonus cash into your account once you earn your first 100 redemption points.
You can only receive the free-money bonus or the deposit bonus, not both.
PokerStars CO should roll out with something similar. Other online poker sites launching in Colorado will try to compete with this bonus structure.
Fund your online poker account
Colorado online poker operators are going to do everything they can to make getting money on and off the sites as easy as possible.
That means offering a variety of deposit and withdrawal options. This will include credit and debit cards, third-party payment processors like PayPal, and cash at CO casinos.
Depositing
CO sportsbooks plan to be as flexible as possible when it comes to depositing.
Standard deposit options at online sportsbooks include:
- Cash at the casino cage
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Electronic checks (ACH/VIP Preferred)
- Electronic wallets (PayPal/Skrill)
- Online bank transfers
- PayNearMe
- Prepaid cards
- Wire transfers
Expect CO online poker operators to offer the same options.
Withdrawing
Withdrawing tends to be slightly more challenging with many payment processors only sending money in one direction.
That means standard withdrawal options tend to be limited. Common withdrawal methods at sportsbooks are:
- Cash at the casino cage
- Check by mail
- Electronic check
- Electronic wallet
- Prepaid card
- Wire transfers
Expect CO online poker operators to offer the same options, but the exact methods available will vary from operator to operator.
Where Can I Play Poker In Colorado
Of course, customer support options will be available to make getting your money on and off CO online poker sites as easy as possible.
Live poker in Colorado
The truth is there is a healthy and vibrant live poker scene in Colorado. In 1990, Colorado voters approved limited-stakes gaming in the former mining towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk.
The first limited-stakes casinos launched in these cities in October 1991. The maximum bet allowed was only $5 and casinos had to close from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. Slots, blackjack and poker were the only games authorized.
A small poker scene started and in 2008 it expanded when CO voters passed Amendment 50, raising the maximum bet to $100 and allowing the casinos to stay open 24 hours. Craps and roulette games were also authorized at the casinos.
There are now six live card rooms in Colorado, including:
- Ameristar Casino Poker Room: Black Hawk (22 tables)
- Golden Gates Casino Poker Parlour: Black Hawk (18 tables)
- Isle Casino Poker Room: Black Hawk (seven tables)
- Midnight Rose Poker Room: Cripple Creek (nine tables)
- Sky Ute Casino Poker Room (tribal casino): Ignacio (six tables)
- Ute Mountain Casino Poker Room (tribal casino): Towaoc (eight tables)
A proposal is also in the works that would allow Colorado casinos to remove the $100 betting limit. That could see the Colorado live poker scene expand even further.
Any further gambling expansion should be considered a plus for online poker. As CO laws regarding gambling are further relaxed the chances that online poker will be seriously considered increase.
Poker rooms in Colorado
Poker Tournaments In Colorado Springs
There’s a decent sized live poker scene in Colorado with six live poker rooms operating across the state.
Walk into any one of the Colorado poker rooms on this list, and you’ll find securing a seat at affordable stakes is as easy as asking for one.
Ameristar Casino Poker Room: Black Hawk
Ameristar Black Hawk’s Poker Room has 22 tables. It offers variety of games and limits around the clock, seven days a week, including:
- 1-3-100 Spread Hold’em
- 2-5-100 Spread Hold
- 30-60 Limit Hold’em
- 50-100 Limit Hold’em
- 2-5-100 Spread Big-O
Amenities include tableside food service, in-room chair massages, mobile charging ports at every seat and comps for live poker play.
Comps include $.50 mycash® (=$1 comp for food) per hour of live play.
Jackpots and High Hands promotions include a Primary Bad Beat Jackpot and $25,000 Mini Bad Beat Jackpot.
Golden Gates Casino Poker Parlour: Black Hawk
The Golden Gates Casino Poker Parlour has 18 tables. It offers a variety of spread cash games and tournaments.
In fact, the Golden Gates Casino and Poker Parlour is founder and home of the Colorado Poker Championship and an internationally-televised Heartland Poker Tour event and a Mid-States Poker Tour event.
Isle Casino Poker Room: Black Hawk
The Isle Casino Poker Room has seven tables. It offers a variety of cash games and tournaments around the clock.
Amenities include free beverages and tableside food service, 10 flat screen TVs around the room, dedicated restrooms, smoking terrace, and a cigarette and snack vending machine.
Midnight Rose Poker Room: Cripple Creek
The Midnight Rose Poker Room has nine tables open Tuesday through Sunday. It spreads $1/$2-100 and $1/$2-$20 Texas Hold’em daily with $5/$10 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo every Thursday and $5/$10 Omaha Hi-Lo every Saturday, plus weekend tournaments.
Amenities include meal service.
Sky Ute Casino Poker Room (tribal casino): Ignacio
Real Deal Poker In Colorado
The Sky Ute Casino Poker Room has six tables offering spread cash games and tournaments.
Ute Mountain Casino Poker Room (tribal casino): Towaoc
Pokerstars In Colorado Real Money
The Ute Mountain Casino Poker Room has eight tables offering spread cash games and tournaments.