Is it legal to play at online casinos in Colorado?
Online casinos are illegal in Colorado under state and federal laws. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, signed into law in October 2006 under President Bush, paved the way for many states to introduce strict restrictions on any type of online gambling activity that are unauthorized in the state. So if you are looking for real money online casinos in Colorado with no deposit bonuses, you won’t find one as of now.
Colorado has a pretty extensive legal code when it comes to regulating gaming and gambling in the state. The
Colorado Limited Gaming Act With Constitutional Amendment (DR 9100)
is a comprehensive document that outlines Colorado’s policy towards gaming and gambling activities in the state.
The legal code clearly states:
“All establishments where limited gaming is conducted and where gambling devices are operated and all manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of certain gambling devices and equipment must therefore be licensed, controlled, and assisted to protect the public health, safety, good order, and the general welfare of the inhabitants of the state to foster the stability and success of limited gaming and to preserve the economy and policies of free competition of the state of Colorado;”
The need for regulations led the state also to create the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission, which regulates all “licensing, conducting, and operating of limited gaming and sports betting as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this article 30.”
However, there are many forms of gambling besides online casinos in Colorado that are legal. Let’s take a look at what those are in the section below.
What is the history of gambling legislation in Colorado?
Colorado has had an interesting history when it comes to gambling.
Let’s take a look below at how this landscape has evolved:
Late 19th and 20th centuries
Back in the late 19th century, gambling was widespread in Colorado like most other parts of the United States. Back then, the practice was largely unregulated. In the early 20th century, Colorado first introduced bans on gambling based on moral and societal concerns, as did most other U.S. states at the time.
1983 - State Lottery introduced
The Colorado State Lottery was created in back 1983 after voters voted in favor of it. The revenue from that was expected to fund state projects in the areas of conservation and outdoor recreation.
1990 - limited-stakes gambling legalized
In 1990, after much ado, Colorado voters finally approved limited-stakes gambling and voted to pass Amendment 4 in the 90s. As a result, three Colorado towns—Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek—witnessed the emergence of the first land-based casinos in Colorado. The casinos were allowed to flourish in the hopes that they would add revenue to the struggling areas. For the longest time, all bets were limited to $5 per bet, and slot machines, blackjack, and poker were the only forms of gambling that were allowed.
2008 - Expansion of betting limits
In 2008, Colorado voters passed Amendment 50, which effectively increased the stakes to $100 per bet and allowed for other games like craps and roulette. This amendment also allowed casinos to be open for 24 hours.
In 2019, Colorado voters voted in favor of Proposition DD, which legalized sports betting in the state. Both retail sportsbooks and online sportsbooks were made legal under this law.
So while you won't find real money online casinos in Colorado with no deposit bonuses, you will find land-based casinos that you can go to and place bets. However, they won’t have no-deposit bonuses either, since that’s typically a feature of social and
sweepstakes casinos
in Colorado.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in Colorado?
If you have seen a bunch of ads for Colorado sweepstakes casinos, you must be wondering: How are sweepstakes coins legal if online casinos are illegal in Colorado?
Firstly, yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state as long as they operate according to
sweepstakes casino laws
in Colorado. Secondly, the reason they are legal and online casinos are not is because of the unique framework within which they operate.
You can play at sweepstakes casinos for free without having to make a purchase or deposit, and you can play games of chance on the site. These features differentiate sweepstakes casinos from online casinos in the state of Colorado. Here are some of the Colorado sweepstakes rules that brands need to keep in mind when operating in the state:
- No Gambling Activity:
Players should not be using any real money to play on sweepstakes casinos, since that would classify the activity as gambling. So they have to use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins to play the various games on the site.
- Prize Redemption:
All sweepstakes that promise a prize to the winner should display their rules and regulations before the game is started. The prizes that players usually win by redeeming their Sweepstakes Coins on the site range from cash prizes to gift cards.
Colorado sweepstakes have been around for a while and now the online sweepstakes casino boom is opening up new opportunities for Colorado residents to access sweepstakes games like slots, card games, and live dealer games from the comfort of their home.
Do sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of Colorado need to be licensed?
Since sweepstakes casinos operate within a different regulatory framework, they are not authorized and licensed by the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission, the same way as
online sportsbooks
and land-based casinos need to be licensed.
Given the lack of licensing, it has become increasingly important to determine whether a new sweepstakes site you are on is legitimate or not. If you are struggling with this assessment, we have explored ways to ascertain the legitimacy of a sweepstakes site in the section below.
How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?
Given the lack of online casinos in Colorado, several sweepstakes sites are popping up in the state. Therefore, it is super important to make sure you are signing up and playing on a legitimate site. You don’t want to have your local law enforcement send you a notice for a gambling felony now, do you?
To make sure the sweepstakes site is legitimate, here are a few things you can look for.
Look at the gaming model on the site
Is the site promising you prizes in exchange for a cash deposit or purchase or is it making you buy something to access their games? These business models don’t fit into the sweepstakes model so don’t fall for it.
Read what other players are saying about the site
Running a simple background check on any sweepstakes in Colorado will help preserve your peace of mind and keep your data secure.
What potential future updates on online casinos in Colorado can the people expect?
The future of iGaming legalizations in Colorado is pretty uncertain and there hasn’t been any substantial legislation that would point towards that being a possibility. Here are our thoughts for what to expect in the future:
- Looking back at 2023 conversations:
Back in July 2023, the director of Colorado’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting mentioned that they were having internal talks about iGaming legalization. Since then, there hasn’t been much movement on this topic but experts believe internal talks are ongoing and there is a fair amount of willingness among political entities to legalize online casinos in Colorado.
- Voter behavior in the past indicates willingness:
Back in November 2019,
Colorado voters approved Proposition DD to legalize sports betting and tax sportsbook operators in the state. Given the shifting public sentiment around gambling and online gaming specifically, we can expect voter support for any major legislation around iGaming.
While there haven't been any major political moves in Colorado in 2024 to legalize iGaming, we are hoping that in the next few years, the state might overturn the ban and pave the way for
online gambling legalization
in the state.
No-deposit bonus playthrough requirements in Colorado
If you are looking to play free casino games online without breaking the law, sweepstakes casinos are your best bet in Colorado. You will typically find several
no-deposit bonuses at Sweepstakes Casinos; however, they do come with certain playthrough requirements.
For example, if you wanted to open an account on High 5 Casino to claim their no-deposit welcome bonus of 5 free SC, along with 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds, you will not be able to immediately redeem the SC coins from the site. You will have to play with your SC coins once before they are eligible for redemption.
Below, we have a comprehensive list of some of the best no-deposit bonuses for Colorado sweepstakes, along with their
playthrough requirements.
| Sweepstakes Casino |
No-deposit bonus |
Playthrough requirements |
| Stake US |
$55 Stake Cash + 250,000 GC |
Must play through 3x before redemption |
| High 5 Casino |
5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| Vegas Gems |
1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
| McLuck |
27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption: 75 SC for cash, 100 SC for gift cards |
| Hello Millions |
2.5 SC +15,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| Sportzino |
SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| WOW Vegas |
35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Fortune Coins |
1,400 Fortune Coins Free 650,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Zula Casino |
Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
| Sweeptastic |
50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in Colorado?
From our review of conversations around online gambling on forums like Reddit and Facebook, we can gather that there is significant interest in online gaming in the state. However, since online casinos in the state are illegal, most players have turned to land-based casinos or
sweepstakes casino games
in Colorado.
One anonymous player asked for advice on where to play table games in Colorado, especially when not trying to access online sites illegally. The best alternative to online table games at real money casinos is to try out a sweepstakes casino, which usually has a large catalog of table games. For example, Stake.us has some of the top table games like Gravity Blackjack, Poker, Texas Hold'em and a bunch of
live dealer games.
Another person asked for advice online about where they could play poker online without breaking any of Colorado’s existing gambling laws.
Many folks were quick to point out in the comments that
social casinos
offer an excellent alternative for those looking to play online poker. Social casinos do not require you to play with any real currency and you will be playing with virtual coins, thereby staying within the legal limits of Colorad’s gambling laws.
As you can see, the online casino enthusiasts in Colorado are increasingly looking towards sweepstakes casinos and social casinos. As long as online casinos do not get legalized in the state, social casinos will continue to fill the gap and offer folks the opportunity to play online casino games without breaking the law.
Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in Colorado
While Colorado does not have a strict anti-gambling law, online casinos continue to remain illegal in the state. Although land-based casinos and sports betting have been legalized, it might be a while until online casinos and iGaming meet that same fate.
However, in the meantime, sweepstakes casinos are operating freely in the state and offering sweepstakes games in Colorado. Players are increasingly considering that option to access fun and free online casino games. We predict that in the future, these online sweepstakes sites will continue to gain more mainstream popularity, especially because of the no-deposit bonuses.
Colorado Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ
🗓️ When did online gambling become legal in Colorado?
Currently, only sports betting is legal in the state of Colorado. Online gambling continues to remain illegal, as far as online casinos are concerned.
❓ Can you bet online in Colorado?
🚏 What kind of gambling is legal in Colorado?
Charitable games, land-based casinos, social gambling, bingo, sports betting and raffles are permitted forms of gambling in the state of Colorado..
🤔 Are online casinos legal in Colorado?
No, online casinos are not legal in Colorado at the time of writing. The state has legalized sports betting and authorized several sportsbooks to operate widely in the state, but online casinos have not yet met the same fate.
👮 Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Colorado?
Yes, you can play at sweepstakes casinos in Colorado, since they are not the same as traditional online casinos and do not constitute gambling. All forms of casino gambling are illegal in Colorado, besides online sports betting.
🎯 Is there a state lottery in Colorado?
Yes, there is a state lottery in Colorado and it was legalized back in 1983.
🎰 Is it illegal to own an online casino in Colorado?
Yes, it is illegal to own an online casino in Colorado, since iGaming continues to remain illegal in Colorado. You can have a land-based casino, but only if you have the right authorization from the government.
🧐 Is Stake.us legal in Colorado?
Yes, Stake.us is legal in Colorado. All sweepstakes casinos are legal in Colorado as long as they follow sweepstakes laws in the state and do not break the law by offering traditional iGaming services.
🚔 Is McLuck Casino legal in Colorado?
Yes, McLuck Casino is a reputed sweepstakes casino that is legal in Colorado and has a fantastic collection of bonus and casino games and bonuses. The welcome bonus at McLuck Casino is 27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC for all new players who sign up on the site for the first time.
⁉️ Is bingo legal in Colorado?
You can host a legal Bingo in Colorado if you are a designated charitable organization and have the necessary authorization from the state.
Disclaimer:
Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
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