Colorado Legal Online Poker Guide For 2025
One of Colorado’s celebrities was a poker player named Alice Tubbs or cigar-smoking Poker Alice as she was more fondly called. She learned poker from her first husband and used it to survive financial difficulties.
Although she died in 1930, she is still remembered by the people of Colorado for her skills in playing the game of poker and being able to read the faces of other players. She was proof that poker is a game of skill and she would have loved the idea of a Colorado online poker option.
This guide was created to help Colorado residents learn the ins and outs of the online poker industry and what is deemed legal. We will explain the laws that apply to playing online poker for real money in CO so players have a clear understanding of what they can or can’t do regarding online gambling.
Best Online Poker Site For Players In Colorado In 2025
Bovada Poker is our recommended online poker site for Colorado Players. They offer a highly secure and reliable gaming environment, a smooth and fast software performance, and a nice game selection. Their welcome bonus for new players is a 100% match bonus up to $1000 on your first deposit, and they offer a substantial poker tournament schedule and special promotions. They welcome USA players, and also feature a full service casino, sportsbook and race book.
All Top Rated Online Poker Sites That Legally Accept Colorado Players In 2025
Each of these brands has been personally vetted by our team of online poker professionals, and is validated as a legally licensed and certified operation that deliver high quality poker gambling and active tournament schedules.
| Poker Site | Rating /5 | Bonus | USA Accepted | Visit Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker | 4.9 | 100% Max $500 | Yes | Play Now |
| Betonline Poker | 4.7 | 100% Max $1,000 | Yes | Play Now |
| SB Poker | 4.4 | 100% Max $1,000 | Yes | Play Now |
Is Playing Poker Legal in Colorado?
Colorado has about 40 casinos offering slots, roulette, craps and live poker, It is legal to play poker in legally licensed brick and mortar casinos in Colorado. The illegal poker operations have been getting the spotlight for the past several years. In 2008, 5 people were arrested and charged with illegal gambling because of a Texas Hold Em tournament they hosted which had a $20 buy-in.
This is evidence that Colorado authorities intend to enforce the state’s gambling laws and that they take efforts to operate poker gambling outside of the law very seriously.
Two years ago, the Colorado Supreme Court made a ruling that they will not turn over a lower court’s decision that poker is a game of chance, not skill and therefore is considered gambling. Poker Alice would have been furious had she been alive to see this day but the powers that be have spoken.
Is Online Poker Legal in Colorado?
While it is not currently legal to operate an online poker site within the state of Colorado, there are some legitimate CO online poker sites which are located outside of the U.S. and that welcome American players. These sites are legally licensed and have been verified by our team of professionals to be licensed, certified and regulated by a respected jurisdiction known for strict regulatory oversight.
Until Colorado moves forward with state licensed options for playing online poker, these legally licensed offshore brands are the safest and most enjoyable option for Colorado poker players to participate in. Based on the success that Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have had thus far with their online gambling initiatives, we would not be surprised to see states such as Colorado get on board since they are already semi-gambling friendly in many respects. Should any movement take place on this front for CO players, we will update the information on this page to reflect such.
Online poker or any other form of Colorado online gambling is a gray area. There are no existing laws banning it, but there are also no laws expressly permitting it either. Furthermore, the state has no way of monitoring offshore online poker participation, especially if you play within the comforts of your home.
The only 3 states that have passed laws allowing on online gambling are Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. Theirs are relatively new laws which Colorado and other states are monitoring to determine its effect on the industry and state revenues. There are no federal laws prohibiting US players from participating in legally licensed online poker originating from poker sites located and regulated outside of the United States.
Options For Playing Legal Online Poker in Colorado
The Centennial State has been credited for their pro-gambling stance, and their legal land based poker industry flourishes because of it, despite the fact that the game of poker does not receive the respect it deserves from Colorado courts for being a game of skill.
Players who opt for the legal offshore Colorado online poker options can be certain that they are engaging with a business that has sophisticated security measures in place and compliance certified software to operate their gaming offerings due to the stringent regulatory oversight that is present with these brands. These sites are subject to the same types of licensing requirements and certification validation that those poker sites operating in NJ and Nevada are subject to.
We cannot stress enough how crucial it is that you perform your due diligence when selecting an online poker site at which to play. Just because it is live on the Internet and accepts US players does not make it a legitimate and legal operation. There are poker sites out there which go to great lengths to appear as legal and professional operations through savvy web design and inviting gaming environments, however are actually designed to steal your sensitive personal data and never intend on paying out your winnings to you. These theft intent and fraudulent sites often appear to be legitimate operations and can easily ensnare trusting players.
To assist players in avoiding these types of situations, and to avoid simply low quality poker brands, we have taken all eligible online poker sites accepting Colorado players, and placed them through an intense review process to determine their legitimacy and value to the industry. We verify licensing and certifications, and the legitimacy of their regulatory authority.
We also test their software platform and security profile to ensure they offer a high quality and safe option for players, as well as their banking suite processes to determine how quickly and efficient they process player transactions in and out of their account. We of course evaluate every element of their operation to ensure they are a legal and reputable poker brand that takes good care of their players.
Will State Licensed Online Poker Be Legal In Colorado Anytime Soon?
There have been no bold moves by anyone to legalize state based and regulated online poker in the state of Colorado. This leaves players to the offshore brands featured in this guide. Should the state consider allowing online poker operations to be licensed and regulated by the state, then CO players will definitely have access to an enhanced selection of poker sites. This also increases competition, which is always a healthy situation for the consumer as it drives down prices and increases incentives, all good news for CO poker players.
While no one can say with certainty what direction Colorado will go when it comes to developing a state regulated online gambling system, it is nice to know that players are not at the mercy of this occurring thanks to the existing legal Colorado online poker options that are available to players. We do think that the possibility of legalizing online gambling in Colorado is probable as state lawmakers witness the successes that Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware are experiencing. These pioneering states have given those to follow a reliable blue print for state licensed online gambling and the infrastructure that supports it. There have been some discussions on this front in Colorado, but nothing notable has yet transpired. The moment it does, we will be updating this site to reflect current progress.
Land Based Poker Rooms Located in Colorado
For those players who would like to engage in some physical poker gaming at brick and mortar gambling destinations in Colorado, we’ve provided a listing here of some of the most popular options.