Colorado legalized mobile sports betting with legislation approved by the voters in 2019. Under the law, licensed operators are permitted to launch online platforms and mobile applications to accept wagers from across the state.
Unlike some states, Colorado does not require customers to visit a retail sportsbook in person to register an account. Sports fans may register for accounts remotely and make deposits from anywhere in the nation but must be physically located within Colorado in order to place wagers.
Licensed Mobile Betting Apps
The Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) oversees all sports betting in Colorado, including the licensing and monitoring of mobile sportsbooks. Strict regulations and a competent governing body have done much to ensure a high level of quality, giving bettors many solid options to choose from.
Each of the following betting apps is licensed and legal in Colorado.
DraftKings App
DraftKings launched on May 1st, 2020 with mobile apps for Android and iOS. Name recognition relating to its prior daily fantasy operations in Colorado put DraftKings off to a running start after launching full-on sports betting.
An extensive in-play betting menu and live streaming sports video make DraftKings one of the stronger operators in Colorado to date.
- Read more: DraftKings CO
- Download links: DraftKings.com
BetMGM App
The BetMGM mobile app came to Colorado in May 2020 and offers wagering on a long list of US and international sports. iOS and Android users can visit the BetMGM website to sign up for an account and for links to download the official app.
BetMGM is operated as a joint partnership between noted casino operator MGM Resorts International and online gaming behemoth GVC Holdings.
- Read more: BetMGM CO
- Download links: BetMGM.com
FanDuel App
FanDuel is the other major DFS provider to pivot to sports betting and is now one of the largest online sportsbooks in the USA. To date, FanDuel has maintained a positive reputation among customers as a reliable and trustworthy operator.
Betting options through the FanDuel app cover the full range of US and international sports, in-play betting and live streaming video.
- Read more: FanDuel CO
- Download links: FanDuel.com
BetRivers App
BetRivers is the product of Rush Street Gaming, a casino operator headquartered out of Chicago. The BetRivers app has launched in a handful of states so far and despite being operated by one of the smaller operators in the industry, it has proven competitive in every state.
Android users can download the mobile app from the BetRivers website, but development of an iOS app has been slow. iOS users can visit BetRivers.com to place wagers online through a mobile-friendly website.
- Read more: BetRivers CO
- Download links: BetRivers.com
SBK App
SBK Sportsbook is operated by Smarkets, which is an exchange betting operator that has been active in Europe since 2008. In Colorado, SBK Sportsbook leverages the power of the Smarkets exchange to extend lower commissions to US customers.
Customers can download the SBK Sportsbook app for iOS in the app store while Android users can visit GetSBK.com to download the app directly.
- Download links: GetSBK.com
Sky Ute Sportsbook App
Sky Ute Sportsbook is operated by USBookmaking in partnership with Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio, Colorado. The Sky Ute betting app is available iOS and Android devices with a full range of professional and college sports on offer.
- Download links: SkyUteCasino.com/sportsbook/
iOS and Android Betting Apps in Colorado
iPhone and Android users can make use of mobile gambling apps to wager on the go, but the process for getting started is a bit different for each.
What to Know About Betting on an iPhone or iPad
The App Store does allow mobile betting apps, but only after an extensive vetting process. Most notably, Apple only allows apps that are offered by licensed providers.
The majority of sports betting providers that are licensed in Colorado already offer iPhone and iPad apps. Customers can find those apps by opening the App Store and running a search for the name of their preferred sportsbook operator.
Alternatively, bettors can point their mobile browsers to the website of any licensed sportsbook for a direct link to the official app or to bet online with no download needed.
App Store Guidelines on Sports Betting
App Store guidelines are fairly demanding in terms of what Apple expects of mobile sports betting apps before accepting them into the store. Section 5.3.4 of the App Store policy providers a basic rundown of what is required of mobile betting apps:
Apps that offer real money gaming (e.g. sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) or lotteries must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the App is used, must be geo-restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store. Illegal gambling aids, including card counters, are not permitted on the App Store. Lottery apps must have consideration, chance, and a prize.
What to Know About Betting on an Android Device
The Google Play Store does not distribute gambling or sports betting apps in the United States, but that does not mean Android users are out of luck.
Most mobile sportsbooks in Colorado offer Android apps via direct download. Customers can point their mobile browsers to the betting site of their choice and tapping the Android download app for simple instructions on getting started.
In most cases, attempting to download the official Android app directly from a sportsbook’s website will prompt a security warning that asks users if they are sure they wish to proceed. Bettors may also need to navigate to their Android settings to permit installations from unknown sources.
Key Mobile Betting Regulations
Colorado sports betting apps are subject to a variety of regulations designed to protect the integrity of sports, ensure responsible gambling, verify the identities of customers and more.
Some of the key regulations that impact the customers of mobile sportsbooks in Colorado are explained below.
Age and Identity Verification
Section 6.11 of CO sports betting regulations states that operators must “make commercially reasonable efforts to confirm” customers are:
- At least 21 years of age
- Are not coaches, athletes, referees and the like who could exert an influence over sporting contests upon which wagers are accepted
- Are not people who are in position to have access to exclusive information on sports events upon which wagers are accepted
Section 7.11 of the regulations reinforce the above rule and further states mobile betting providers must safeguard the account details of patrons, provide problem gambling information to customers and provide easy mechanism for customers to set spending limits or to self-exclude entirely.
Additionally, mobile betting providers are required by law to collect the following information at a minimum from each customer:
- Name and address
- Date of birth
- Social security number or last four digits thereof, or a passport or taxpayer identification number
- E-mail address
- Phone number
Funding of Mobile Betting Accounts in Colorado
Under Colorado law, mobile sports betting operators are permitted to accept deposits through a wide range of methods. Section 7.11, part 5 of the regulations state mobile sportsbooks may accept deposits through the use of:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Cash or cash vouchers at locations approved by the LGCC
- Promotional credits/winnings/adjustments made by the operator
- ACH transfers
- Wire transfers
- “Any other means approved by the Commission”
State law also requires operators to honor withdrawal requests within five business days.
See our banking guide for more information on each of the most popular deposit methods.
Maximum Payout Rules
CO regulations allow operators to enforce maximum payout amounts, which is a common practice in the industry designed to give operators control over risk.
However, Colorado state law provides a unique benefit to customers in that maximum payouts may not be enforced by simply reducing any winning payout that exceeds the operator’s maximum payout rule. Instead, operators are required to limit the original wager such that a winning outcome does not exceed the maximum payable amount.
Section 6.10, part 11 states:
“Maximum payouts; however, such limits shall only be established through limiting the amount wagered and cannot be applied to reduce a winning wager amount…”
Geolocation Requirements
In order to comply with federal laws that prohibit interstate wagering, mobile betting providers are required to know the physical locations of customers at all times and to prevent wagers from being placed from anywhere outside state lines.
Section 7.10 states mobile sportsbooks must use geofence technology to “reasonably detect the physical location of a patron attempting to access the online sports betting system and place a wager; and to monitor and block unauthorized attempts to access the online sports betting system in order to place a wager.”
Mobile operators are also obligated to “dynamically monitor the patron’s location” to prevent customers from placing wagers from outside Colorado.
Customers are permitted to register accounts and make deposits under these regulations but must be located within state lines in order to place wagers.
A Note for Frequent Visitors to Colorado
Sports fans who visit Colorado frequently are welcome to place mobile wagers while within state lines. Colorado law does not require bettors to be residents in order to participate in sports betting. Customers need only be 21 years old and physically present in Colorado at the time any wager is placed.
Regulations adopted by the LGCC even permit customers to sign up for accounts and make deposits from outside Colorado. Anyone planning to visit Colorado can get an early start by downloading a mobile betting app, signing up for an account and making a deposit prior to arriving.
