Online sports betting has really picked up in popularity in Denver over the past several years. The Denver Broncos have had success in the NFL, winning the Super Bowl (which is the most widely bet on sporting event in the USA every year) three times in their history. The Denver Nuggets brought the city the most recent championship, winning the NBA Championship in 2023. The Colorado Avalanche of the NHL won the Stanley Cup the year prior in 2022, so the city has had significant sporting success in recent years.
In addition to the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, the city is home to a team in each of the 5 major sports leagues in North America, so there isn’t any shortage of home teams to cheer for and bet on in Denver.
Even with the popularity of sports betting in the city there are still a lot of questions surrounding it’s legality. I will attempt to put these issues to bed on this page and also recommend a couple top quality sportsbooks where Denver residents are able to place their bets.
Is Sports Betting Allowed in Denver?
Regulated sports betting went live in Colorado in May 2020. Licensed sports betting operators started taking bets just 6 months after Colorado voters approved the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos in the state. You can now place bets, both online and in-person, at regulated bookies who have obtained a license to operate in Colorado. There are currently 16 regulated online sportsbooks in the state.
As a Denver resident you also still have the option to place your bets through offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States.
Whether you choose to place bets through regulated sportsbooks in state or at an offshore betting site, I do strongly suggest that you place your bets at well-established, reputable and trustworthy operators. I recommend two offshore betting sites that fit this criteria below.
Best Sportsbooks for Denver Residents
- Accepts players worldwide
- Competitive betting lines
- Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)
These are our two recommended betting sites for Colorado residents. Both sites are popular across the entire USA and offer safe, secure and well established platforms for placing your sports wagers.
BetOnline.ag is our top rated site for Denver residents because of their track record and commitment to the American market. BetOnline has served the US market for 25+ years and their current focus is still on providing the best sports betting option for American residents. This commitment to their American product can be seen throughout their business in terms of sportsbook customization, quick and easy to use banking options and outstanding customer service.
Offline Sports Betting in Denver
There are no offline sportsbooks currently located in the city of Denver. Several of the casinos located in Black Hawk and Central City have added sportsbooks, so Denver residents have the option to drive the 40 minutes west of the city to bet offline at a retail sportsbook.
Colorado also allows you to place horse racing and greyhound wagers at racetracks in the state, and luckily enough Denver is home to a very quality racetrack on the east edge of the city.
Arapahoe Park
Arapahoe Park Racetrack is located just a half hour drive south-east of downtown Denver. It’s a bit of a hike out to the racetrack, but it’s well worth it for the live racing experience.
The track offers live racing on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays over the summer months. The three featured races are the Mile High Futurity, the Mile High Derby, and the Gold Rush Futurity, each of which carry purses of ~$100,000.
On top of the live betting, simulcast betting is also available for horse races across the country.
***You can also bet on any Arapahoe Park races through the BetOnline Racebook.
Major Sports Teams in Denver
- Colorado Avalanche (Hockey – NHL)
- Colorado Rapids (Soccer – MLS)
- Colorado Rockies (Baseball – MLB)
- Denver Broncos (Football – NFL)
- Denver Nuggets (Basketball – NBA)