Residents might be wondering about legal gambling for residents of Colorado and what options they have.. The laws that surround online gambling can be tough to navigate, which has caused a few misinformed people to spread rumors about the legality of it. We have extensively researched the federal and state laws in order to bring you a clear version of what they state. Residents will be delighted to know that there are many legal gambling sites for Colorado residents out there, and we will tell you about some of the best ones in this article. We will also demystify the legal language and paint you a clear picture of what the laws say.
Federal Policy – The federal laws that surround online casino gaming are clear-cut, but the complicated language has confused many people. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 bans the operation of online casinos stateside. This law effectively shut down almost all online casinos in America. The good news is that the UIGEA does not extend outside of the nation. There are plenty of legal online casinos operating outside of the US, and they are fine to play on. You may have noticed any language about the players at online casinos missing – this is not by accident, but rather by design. The UIGEA takes no umbrage with mere players at legal Colorado online casinos, only with the operations themselves.
State Law – The Colorado state laws have legalized low-stakes gaming, and many cities contain one or more land-based casinos. The operations are licensed and regulated by the Colorado Gaming Commission, and can be frequented by anyone over 21.
Central City and Black Hawk casinos are less than an hour’s drive from Denver and offer low-stakes gaming opportunities for adults. These large resorts offer scenic views and offer everything from blackjack to roulette. There are also smaller parlors across the state that offer more intimate games.
Legal online casinos are better for Colorado residents that want to play for larger amounts. These sites host massive amounts of gaming options, and offer safe transaction methods. Operating out of places like Canada and the UK, these online casinos have been functioning legally for decades, and have solid reputations to back them up.
Federal Policy – The federal laws that surround sports betting are unforgiving, but luckily, again, only target the purveyors of sports betting and not the mere participants in it. In 1992 the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed to target sports betting, which congress called a “national problem”. The PASPA makes it unlawful for bookmakers to operate anywhere in the United States, whether they use the internet as their medium or not. This law outlawed sports betting in every state except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon, which explains why even in Colorado which sanctions may land based casinos and poker rooms, you will not find any land based sports betting.
State Law – Colorado state law does not mention sports betting because the PASPA outlaws is in almost every state in the nation. Illegal sports betting rackets often pop up in many cities across America, players should stay away from such places. Since both federal and state agencies regularly raid these illegal sports wagering operations, your money will not be safe. Stick to the online sportsbooks for safe betting action. There are no legal, land-based sportsbooks found in Colorado.
Many legal online sportsbooks for Colorado residents function overseas, and are legal to use. These trusted sites offer the fastest lines on all the major sports, as well as entertainment and political props. Operating out of places like Canada and the Republic of Panama, and licensed by leading gaming commissions, these sites offer the safest sports betting action in the world. They also use top of the line security software and SSL protocols to ensure your money is safe. Depositing money at these sites is akin to keeping your funds in a virtual Fort Knox. Check out our many reviews for online sportsbooks to see which site is right for you.
Federal Policy – The federal laws surrounding poker are the same as the ones that regulate casino games. The UIGEA criminalizes those who attempt to establish or operate online poker rooms in the state of Colorado. Concisely, this means that owning or operating a poker site in Colorado is illegal. The UIGEA banned online poker sites across the nation, so many Americans turn to overseas venues for their poker action.
State Law – The Colorado state laws do not mention poker in their literature. This is because, other than the casinos that offer low-stakes poker games, the UIGEA has banned online sites from functioning in any state. It is not hard to find an illegal poker room in any city, but we suggest staying far away from these rackets. These small illegal operations are raided constantly, and your money will not be safe.
There are quite a few land-based casinos in Colorado that offer low-stakes poker. These are great places for card fans to pass the time, or get in from out of the harsh weather. For those looking for bigger tables or tournaments, the many online venues are better options.
There are many online poker rooms operating overseas that are legitimate, and great for higher-stakes action. These sites offer huge tournaments, satellites that can gain you free entry to the WSOP, and many perks and bonuses that players cannot find at land-based venues.
Since we have established that it is only the simple location of an online gambling site that makes it legal under federal law, one can imagine there are many options available. Indeed, there are a great many of choices for all those in Colorado to visit when wishing to place a bet but there are a few factors to consider before doing so. What takes an online gambling site from simply being good and making it truly great includes having exemplary customer support, secure financial transactions and of course, consistent and reliable payouts for their members. We have found a few sites that meet all these criteria.
The online betting network in place at Bovada.lv is among the industry's best and serves as the trailblazer among competing sites. With virtually every major form of gambling available at this state of the art site, users are able to pull the lever on virtual slots, challenge a dealer in a game of blackjack, sling chips in a high-stakes game of poker and even wager upon a favorite team or player.
Located in nearby Canada, this online gambling site is not bound to any federal or state regulations making this a legal gambling site for any Colorado resident to take advantage of. Users are able to navigate through an array of deposit and withdrawal options that leads to anyone collecting winnings in the Centennial State receiving a check of their payout within 4 to 7 business days. If all else fails, they have the backing of one of the best customer support teams in the business at Bovada. Anytime you call the phone line, day or night you’ll connect to a live person capable of analyzing and solving your problem within a matter of minutes. Forget gambling sites, we can’t think of a single service that offers this kind of support.