Colorado (CO) Sportsbooks: Best Sports Betting Sites & Apps – December 2024

Yes. On May 1, 2020, Colorado became the 18th state in the U.S. to legalize sports betting. Anyone in the state 21 or older can bet on sports in the state using a certified mobile sportsbook or at one of the state’s three retail sportsbooks in Black Hawk, Central City or Cripple Creek.

All of the sportsbooks available in Colorado are regulated and available in other states as well, making them safer and more secure than illegal offshore sportsbooks or bookies.

Bettors in the state can use these sportsbooks to bet on local professional teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Denver Nuggets. They can also wager on college teams like the Colorado Buffaloes.

You can use one or more online sportsbooks in Colorado. Here’s what to look for when deciding which sportsbook websites/apps to try first.

• App functionality: How does the app work for you? Is it laggy? Does the interface make sense? If you’re going to use a sportsbook, make sure it works the way you want it to.
• Betting market variety: The sportsbook you choose should have all the betting markets you’re interested in. While every licensed sportsbook has odds on all major U.S. sports, markets and bet types vary by sportsbook.
• Betting odds: How competitive are the sportsbook’s odds? Small differences in odds can add up in the long run if you bet frequently or place large wagers.
• Customer service: Reliable customer service is important in case you have any issues with your account.
• Live betting: Live betting is becoming more popular, so you’ll want a sportsbook that allows you to submit live bets quickly. If a sportsbook takes too long to load or place a live bet, you may miss out on favorable odds.
• Payment methods: There’s a variety of payment methods you can use to fund your sportsbook account, but make sure the sportsbook offers common ones like online banking, credit/debit cards and digital wallets.
• Promotions: You’ll want a sportsbook with strong promotions, including a good welcome offer and recurring promos for existing users.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the online sportsbooks in Colorado that meet our recommended criteria for your sports betting experience. All of the following sportsbooks rate highly for the aforementioned criteria, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.

DraftKings was one of the first sports betting apps to launch in the state and is one of the biggest names in North American sports betting.

It’s one of the biggest and most popular online sportsbooks in the U.S. It’s available in numerous states, including Colorado.

One of the best daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators as well, DraftKings boasts an impressive array of betting markets, especially prop bets and futures. It has plenty of odds boosts, a strong rewards program and a Parlay Builder tool that makes it easy to combine multiple wagers into one.

DraftKings is also the official betting partner of the UFC if you’re interested in wagering on MMA/UFC fights.

Category	Description
Offer	Bet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets if first bet wins
Promo Code	N/A
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	All bet types
Availability	AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, NH, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, WV
Offer Expires	Jan. 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Apple Store Score	4.8/5
Google Play Store Score	4.5/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
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The other big name in North American mobile sports betting, FanDuel was one of the first sportsbooks to launch in Colorado and is partnered with Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk.

Like DraftKings, FanDuel built its brand through DFS before sports betting became legal. It is now one of the top online sportsbooks on the market.

FanDuel stands out with its sleek, easy-to-use interface, which many bettors consider one of the best in the industry. FanDuel’s app is easy to navigate, helping users quickly find the bets they’re looking for.

FanDuel isn’t just eye candy either, boasting odds boosts, a strong welcome offer and good customer support.

Category	Description
Offer	Bet $5+, get $150 in Bonus Bets + 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
Promo Code	N/A
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	All bet types
Availability	AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY
Offer Expires	Dec. 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Apple Store Score	4.9/5
Google Play Store Score	4.7/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
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BetMGM has plenty of flair with advertisements featuring A-list celebrities like Jamie Foxx and Tom Brady.

As the sports betting wing of MGM, BetMGM lives up to the hype. It offers an impressive array of betting markets along with strong promotions and customer service.

Like DraftKings, BetMGM makes it easy to build your own parlays and same-game parlays with its “Build Parlay” button under each sporting event.

BetMGM also has a unique “Edit My Bet” feature that allows bettors to adjust eligible wagers even after the game has started.

Category	Description
Offer	Get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses
Promo Code	FORBES
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	All bet types
Availability	AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, PR, TN, VA, WV, WY
Offer Expires	Feb. 10, 2025
Apple Store Score	4.8/5
Google Play Store Score	4.3/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
Claim Bonus

Caesars launched in Colorado in September 2020. Like BetMGM, Caesars also has a strong marketing campaign with celebrities like J.B. Smoove and the Manning brothers.

As for the sportsbook, Caesars is teeming with odds boosts, offering dozens every day on a variety of sports.

Caesars has plenty of regular bets too. It has a vast menu of betting markets and options, plus an enticing welcome offer. It also has a strong rewards program and frequent promotions for loyal customers along with a “FireBets” feature that makes live betting quick and easy.

The interface makes finding prop bets and parlays seamless as well, making Caesars an enjoyable experience for sports bettors.

Category	Description
Offer	Bet $1, get 10 $100% profit boosts
Promo Code	FORBES1000
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	All bet types
Availability	AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, PR, TN, VA, WV, WY
Offer Expires	11:59 a.m. local time on Jan. 27, 2025
Apple Store Score	4.7/5
Google Play Store Score	4.3/5
Date Verified	Nov. 25, 2024
Claim Bonus

A British-based sports betting company founded in 2000, Bet365 first launched in the United States in 2019 and is regarded as a high-quality sportsbook.

While it doesn’t have the same flashy interface as other sportsbooks, it does almost everything well, offering a wide range of betting markets, customer support and payment methods.

It’s known for having betting lines for games both domestically and overseas, plus daily promotions and profit boosts. Bet365 is the perfect sportsbook for bettors who just want to place their wagers without much hassle.

Category	Description
Offer	Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets OR get up to $1,000 in bonus bets if your first bet loses
Promo Code	FORBES (U.S.), FORBESCAN (Canada ex. Ontario)
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	Min. -500 odds
Availability	AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, LA, NJ, NC, OH, PA, VA
Offer Expires	TBD
Apple Store Score	4.8/5
Google Play Store Score	4.6/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
Claim Bonus

Fanatics is one of the newest sportsbooks on the market, debuting in 2023 after merging with PointsBet.

Not surprisingly, Fanatics has a modern mobile app with daily odds boosts and pre-built parlays. It also tailors the home page based on your betting habits and history so you can easily find your favorite sports and bet types.

Fanatics’ biggest perk might be its generous rewards program, which gives bettors a percentage of every bet back in FanCash. FanCash can then be used for bonus bets at the sportsbook or as site credit at Fanatics’ retail website, where you can purchase merchandise and apparel of your favorite teams.

Category	Description
Offer	Get daily $100 no-sweat bet for 10 straight days
Promo Code	N/A
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	$1+, min. -500 odds
Availability	AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NY, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY
Offer Expires	Dec. 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Apple Store Score	4.8/5
Google Play Store Score	4.4/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
Claim Bonus

One of the first four sportsbooks to be legalized in Colorado, BetRivers has a physical sportsbook at the Triple Crown Casino in Cripple Creek.

It has a large number of markets, a secure sign-up process and an easy-to-use interface that allows bettors to easily find the markets they’re interested in.

Users who come back to BetRivers can take advantage of the sportsbooks’ loyalty rewards program, which offers points for making bets that can then be used to redeem bonus bets, gifts and special offers.

BetRivers also offers streaming options for select sporting events in the app so bettors can monitor their bets live.

Category	Description
Offer	Get $100-$500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses (depending on state)
Promo Code	SPORTS
Requirements	New users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet Types	Min. -200 odds
Availability	AZ, CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV
Offer Expires	TBD
Apple Store Score	4.8/5
Google Play Store Score	4.7/5
Date Verified	Nov. 26, 2024
Claim Bonus

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

Colorado was one of 17 states that ESPN BET launched in when it debuted in November 2023. Its app provides a smooth betting experience with its modern interface, quick load times and easy navigation.

ESPN BET has a solid welcome offer, exclusive odds boosts and rewards for existing customers like deposit matches and cash back on bets. It also has good customer service and fun tie-ins to its parent company. It features promos and tie-ins that correspond with ESPN personalities and shows.

We’ve taken the time to sample and research numerous sportsbooks, narrowing down a list of the best in the industry. These rankings can help you decide which ones to try first.

Our rankings are based on scores in the following categories:

• App reviews 
• Availability across states
• Size of welcome offer 
• Ease of claiming welcome offer
• Rewards program
• In-app streaming capabilities
• Existing user promos
• Customer service options

Below, we’ll break down each category and why they’re important to your sports betting experience. Then we’ll rank our favorite sportsbooks and explain what makes them stand out.

Criteria

Here are the factors we considered when constructing our list. 

App Reviews

A quick and easy way to get a sense of a sportsbook’s quality is by comparing user reviews on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). Since ratings are out of five stars, you’ll generally want a sportsbook that’s well-regarded with an average score of at least four stars.

You can also dive into specific user comments to get a sense of what people are saying about the app and if there are any recurring complaints or issues. This can be helpful for features that are hard to gauge until you actually use the app, like lagginess or customer service.

Many commenters are there to complain, so don’t put too much stock in specific reviews. 

That said, if you notice common themes throughout the comments, consider it a warning for issues you may encounter with the app.

State Availability

Each state handles sports betting differently. Some states allow both in-person and mobile sports betting, while others might only allow in-person sports betting or have a hard cap on the number of mobile sportsbooks permitted. 

Accordingly, sportsbooks vary by state, as each state has to approve a sportsbook before it can launch there. No sportsbook is available in every state with legal online sports betting, but a few have launched in the majority of them.

Generally speaking, the more states a sportsbook is available in, the better. That means it’s more likely to be available in your state, a bordering state or a state you’re likely to travel to, making it easier and more convenient to use. That way, you’ll be able to take your sportsbook with you rather than needing to sign up for a new one every time you leave your state.

While smaller “local” sportsbooks usually offer profit boosts and other bonuses based on hometown teams, they’re usually only available in a handful of states at most, offering limited availability.

Size of Welcome Offer

This is an important one. How much free money will a sportsbook give you for signing up?

Most sportsbooks have welcome offers to entice new customers, but it’s important to know how these offers work. Just because an offer has a higher dollar amount attached to it doesn’t necessarily make it better.

Some sportsbooks have “bet and get” promotions where you receive bonus bets (site credit) just for wagering a small amount of money. For example, you might get $200 in bonus bets just for placing a $5 wager. You’re essentially getting free money to bet with.

Other sportsbooks have “no-sweat” offers that give a bonus bet only if your first bet loses. 

For example, if you place a $20 bet after signing up and it loses, you’ll receive a $20 bonus bet, similar to a refund.

These offers tend to wow bettors with larger amounts than “bet and get” promos, often going up to $1,000 or $1,500. However, you’ll only receive a bonus bet if your first wager loses, in which case you’ll need to use the bonus bet to try to win your money back. If your wager wins, you’ll receive your cash winnings like a normal wager but won’t receive any bonus.

Accordingly, “no sweat” offers generally aren’t as good as “bet and get” promos. 

When comparing sportsbooks, it’s better to focus on welcome offers with guaranteed bonuses that give you site credit no matter what.

Ease of Claiming Welcome Offer

The size of the bonus offer won’t matter if it’s difficult to claim. 

The best sportsbook bonus offers are as easy to claim as they are generous, being simple and straightforward without requiring you to jump through hoops.

The best bonuses are guaranteed and hit your account instantly as soon as you place your first bet. They’ll also be easy to follow and won’t require you to check a bunch of boxes to get your bonus.

Some sportsbook bonus offers require you to make multiple wagers or wait days or weeks to unlock your full bonus. This can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to get your full bonus ahead of a major sporting event like the Super Bowl or March Madness.

More complex offers can be a pain, so we prefer simplified offers with fewer requirements.

Rewards Program

If you bet often and are planning to use a sportsbook frequently, a strong rewards program is essential.

Loyalty programs differ by sportsbook. Some give you rewards points for each bet, which can then be converted into bonus bets or other rewards. Others offer big rewards like free trips, hotel stays, tickets to sporting events and more.

On the other hand, some sportsbooks don’t have any rewards. That might not be a big deal for casual bettors, but it can make a difference for frequent sports bettors.

It’s like paying for something with cash versus a credit card. If you place a bet at a site without a loyalty program, you’re missing out on points elsewhere.

In-App Streaming Capabilities 

While bigger sports like football or basketball are usually only available to watch via traditional cable or streaming services, some sportsbooks offer the ability to stream smaller sports in the app, which is a benefit for bettors.

For example, FanDuel‘s app often streams tennis matches, which makes it easier to follow the action and place live wagers. 

Beyond just offering live streaming, we also considered how laggy the stream was, how much battery it used and the amount of events available to stream in the app. 

Existing User Promos

Most sportsbooks have some type of welcome offer to get new customers in the door, but where they really differ is with their promotions for existing customers.

Some sportsbooks offer a slew of daily promotions like odds boosts, no-sweat bets, bonus bets and more to keep customer coming back every day. Others only offer these sparingly, however, if at all.

One key existing user promo to consider is the referral bonus. Many sportsbooks have some type of referral bonus for getting someone else to sign up, but the amount can differ ($50 per person, $100, $200, etc.). If you’re planning to bet with friends or family, this can be a great way to score bonus bets for you and them.

Similar to a rewards program, you’ll want a sportsbook with frequent offers for existing customers if you plan to bet frequently.

Customer Service Options 

Strong customer service options are a must for any sportsbook considering most disputes or calls involve someone’s money. 

High marks were given to any sportsbook that offered 24/7 customer service (sporting events often end at night, after all), while points were deducted if a sportsbook relied on a FAQ page as a key part of its customer service profile. The more options for contacting customer service (email, chat, phone, etc.), the better.

Customer support is essential to guaranteeing a smooth sports betting experience. If a problem arises, it’s important to have it handled quickly and effectively.