Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Colorado

1. Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Colorado Rockies
2. Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Colorado City
3. Is Online Poker Legal In Colorado

Those who do not live in Colorado may not know this, but the state is actually one of the most gambler-friendly places in the country—and indeed, those looking for legal Colorado poker opportunities do not have to look very far. This does not mean that Colorado has an anything-goes attitude toward poker, or that the state is quite as lax as Nevada or even New Jersey. Like all states, Colorado has an interest in regulating and monitoring gambling, and in ensuring that it does not devolve into organized crime. With that said, and with a few caveats aside, Colorado really is a state in which gamblers can find many chances to play poker, without fear of legal woes.

This page is all about poker and the state of Colorado. We will look first to the state’s laws, and then turn our attention to some of the specific opportunities that exist for legal Colorado poker. We will also make a few comments about the nature of online gaming in the state of Colorado. Above all, this page is designed as an educational resource for those Colorado gaming enthusiasts who wish to know more about where they are able to play poker, free of worries over legal problems.

Colorado Poker Laws & Statutes

Indeed, online poker is something that countless Colorado gamers participate in, day after day—and they do so without any prosecution or legal trouble. Colorado does not penalize those who play in online poker sites, plain and simple. As such, it is a perfectly safe way to gamble—even if it is not, strictly speaking, regulated by the state. Is it Legal to Play Poker Online in Colorado? Since Colorado considers poker to be a form of gambling, it forms part of the Unlawful Gambling Act, which was signed in 2006. This limits players from using electronic payment methods such as credit cards, cheques and direct transfers.

Consult a lawyer if you plan on playing online poker in Colorado and want to make sure you’re not breaking the law, though it seems clear that any sort of online wagering is against state law. Are Home Poker Games Legal? As in most states, home poker games in Colorado are legal if they follow a handful of simple restrictions. Legal Online Poker For Colorado Residents We have looked deep into the industry of legal online poker in Colorado, as this is one of the most profitable games around. If you are going to play legal online poker in Colorado, you have to stick only to the best, and those that are open in the state of Colorado. Is it Legal to Play Poker Online in New York? The current state of online poker in New York is that it’s actually considered to be quite the illegal operation. This falls in line with the legality of online casino gaming, which is also considered not to be a legal activity according to the laws of the State of New York and wording of same.

To begin with, we might note that Colorado is, indeed, a gambler-friendly state. The state of Colorado has a booming casino business, including both some larger casinos as well as some small-scale poker rooms. As such, those who wish to play cards while in Colorado can find plenty of opportunities.

And there are further chances to play poker in Colorado, besides. Home games are fine, so long as they are played on a not-for-profit basis. Even online poker, while not expressly sanctioned by Colorado’s laws, is something that the state’s many gamers can turn to without worry over legal repercussions—but we will say more on that topic later.

Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Colorado?

Next, we turn our attention to the topic of online poker. Is it legal for Colorado residents to gamble at online poker sites? The answer to this one is actually rather tricky, as technically speaking, the laws in Colorado do not make explicit mentions of online poker rooms. While it is fair to say that online poker is not strictly sanctioned, then, it is also fair to say that it is perfectly safe for Colorado games to participate in.

Indeed, online poker is something that countless Colorado gamers participate in, day after day—and they do so without any prosecution or legal trouble. Colorado does not penalize those who play in online poker sites, plain and simple. As such, it is a perfectly safe way to gamble—even if it is not, strictly speaking, regulated by the state.

Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Colorado?

To put the same question another way, will Colorado residents stand to get into trouble for playing in online poker rooms? Here again, the answer is a no. Online poker is perfectly safe for Colorado residents.

As we have noted, Colorado is a fairly lax and permissive state, as far as gambling is concerned. If anything, those who would be penalized for online gambling are those who own and operate the sites, but there is no history of legal action against Colorado residents who play in online poker rooms. These gambling sites can be enjoyed, without worry and without fear.

Legal Poker Sites That Accept Colorado Players

Life in Colorado may be a throne of ease for residents who love poker as Colorado is home to some of the best poker rooms in the nation, but what if you find the rules of some those tournaments too restrictive? We don’t believe that poker players need restrict themselves to any specific style of play, and we certainly feel like poker should be enjoyed not only from a specific room, but anywhere you like. That’s why we heartily endorse the following legal poker sites to fully enjoy the hobby.

Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Colorado

If you’re looking to start up a relationship with any kind of service, the best advice is to always start with the best, so before you do anything else, make a stop to the Bovada online poker room. When you have an account with this legal poker site for Colorado residents, you have the freedom to play poker any way you choose. Whether you want to enter a tournament for a small buy in of $2 to play all day, or play a couple lightning quick, high stakes hands, Bovada has a table for you.

Best of all is the legal online poker room’s feature to be there for you no matter where in the world you are. Through use of the superb Bovada mobile poker app, you can easily play a few hands of poker for profit while stuck in a waiting room, riding the subway, or virtually anywhere you can get a phone signal. In our modern era of technology, there is no reason to feel tied down to a room or a clunky computer in order to participate in your hobby. Most Colorado residents carry their most powerful computer around in their pocket, so why not use it to log on and play some poker?

BetOnline Poker - All Colorado Players 18+ Welcome Here

If you’re still in the market for a fresh take to legal online poker for Colorado residents, consider an account with BetOnline. They are one of the fastest growing poker rooms in the entire nation, and when you pay them a quick visit you will surely see why. Simply put, when you have a poker account with BetOnline, you call the shots. There are hundreds of ways to play, and through the many virtual tables offered via their downloadable poker client, they are all available.

Do you need some incentive to start an account at BetOnline poker? Consider their unmatched entry bonus for new players. When you start you BetOnline account and put cash in it for the first time, you will become instantly eligible to receive up to a full 200% of your deposit back in the form of free bonus play to use anywhere in the poker room. You may ask what the catch is. Are you ready? You have to use your account to play poker! Unless we’re sorely mistaken about your intentions for signing up with a legal online poker room, there should be very little standing between you and collecting one of the biggest bonuses in the entire industry, online or otherwise. Don’t hesitate, go grab your free money today!​

Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Colorado Rockies

Does Colorado Have Legal Land-Based Poker?

All of that said, when it comes to the question of whether poker is legal in Colorado, the answer is unquestionably a yes. The chances to play legal games of poker in Colorado are abundant, and we will list some of them below. We will begin with live, land-based play.

As already noted, Colorado has numerous casinos. Gambling is big business in Colorado, and the state offers plenty of poker rooms. Texas Hold ‘Em is a particularly popular game in Colorado’s poker rooms. And for those who do not wish to venture into casinos, the state also allows for home poker games—great for any gamers who prefer poker on more of a social basis.

Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Colorado Players

So where, then, can Colorado’s gaming enthusiasts turn to play poker? We have already listed numerous options, for land-based and online poker alike. Live, land-based games can be found in any of the state’s many fine casinos. They are also perfectly safe to hold from the comfort of your own home, so long as you do not turn your living room into a for-profit casino!

As for online poker, there are myriad online poker sites, many of them perfectly reputable and above board. Any of them will prove more than willing to accept wagers from Colorado poker buffs. Playing through these sites is totally safe.

Future of Poker/Online Poker in Colorado

A final question to consider: Will the state of Colorado ever go as far as to expressly sanction online poker for its residents? No one can predict the future, of course, but it seems likely that this will happen sooner or later. Simply put, there are numerous states already moving down the path of full, legalized online poker—Nevada is there already—and, as permissive as Colorado is when it comes to gambling, it just makes sense that this state would also head down that road.

For now, though, those who live in Colorado, and who enjoy playing online poker, do not have to worry about the fact that it is not expressly condoned by the state. The truth is, online poker is a great, safe opportunity for Colorado gambling enthusiasts who wish to play their favorite game. Add in the state’s many casinos and you have a place that is truly gamer-friendly.

In the spring of 2012, the Colorado Gaming Association wrote a bill to legalize online gaming, including poker, with the support of the land-based casinos of the state. The plan was to introduce the measure during the legislative session that began in January 2013 in an effort to follow the lead of New Jersey in its online gambling endeavors. After discussions with legislators at the time, however, the group determined there was not enough support to push the issue and dropped the bill.

There have been no concerted efforts since that time.

Is Online Poker Legal or Illegal in Colorado?

Online poker and gambling are specifically prohibited in Colorado. The State of Colorado Department of Law, Office of the Attorney General, declared it illegal via a formal opinion in 2013.

Is Any Gambling Legal in Colorado?

Yes. Several types of gambling are legal in Colorado, including social gambling, charitable gambling, bingo, raffles, and pari-mutuel wagering for off-track simulcasts.

There are two casinos on Native American reservations, both run by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in the southwest portion of the state. Those casinos offer every thing from slot machines to poker and other table games, and bingo.

Casinos are also allowed in the mountain towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek to revitalize their struggling economies. The properties offer blackjack and poker games, as well as limited slot machine play, electronic keno, and video poker.

Colorado Laws Pertinent to Online Poker

The Code of Colorado lists the laws and regulations, as published by the Secretary of State, for all gaming allowed in the state.

The Colorado Limited Gaming Act of 1991 amended the state’s constitution and applied the Gambling Payment Intercept Act. The 106-page document outlined the details of the casinos allowed to operate in Central, Cripple Creek, and Black Hawk. It defined limited gaming as physical and electronic slot machines, craps, roulette, and poker and blackjack card games. The document even defines poker as a “card game played by a player or players who are dealt cards by the dealer,” and it goes on to describe the object of the game.

Originally, poker players were limited to $5 maximum wagers, and the hours of operation were limited from 8am to 2am. In 2009, however, Amendment 50 was passed to improve those conditions. Bets were raised to $100 maximums, and casinos were allowed to remain open 24 hours per day.

For the game of poker in Colorado, Rule 10 details all rules pertinent to the game and management procedures. The 147-page document starts by noting,

“The game of poker authorized pursuant to article 47.1 of title 12, C.R.S., including all variations thereof, shall be permitted and conducted according to the rules and provisions set forth in this Rule 10.”

Further, it details all requirements and rules for cash game and tournament poker, noting throughout that every entity involved in the game must be licensed by the state, and all poker must be conducted on licensed premises.

The Department of Revenue website does address internet gambling in its “frequently asked questions” section. Specifically, it reads:

“Internet gambling is illegal under state and federal laws. Colorado law prohibits the transmission or reception of gambling information by any means.”

Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Colorado City

Is Online Poker Legal In Colorado

It then cites reasons for this law.

• Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 prohibits gamblers from using credit cards, checks, and electronic fund transfers to place and settle bets
• 1961 Wire Act prohibits wire communications in interstate or foreign commerce for placing bets
• Persons who wager online have no recourse if not paid for winnings
• Players are not guaranteed odds

Further, the document states,

“Many online sites advertise they re ‘legal’ and ‘licensed’ forms of wagering. They may be legal or licensed where the bets are received, but it remains illegal to place bets from Colorado with these businesses. In addition, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission prohibits persons and businesses licensed in the casino industry in Colorado from having any involvement with internet gaming sites that can be accessed by Colorado residents.”

In 2013, the Division of Gaming Director at the Department of Revenue requested a formal legal opinion regarding the “permissibility of gambling via the internet under state law from Colorado Attorney General John Suthers”, and he wrote it on December 13, 2013. In the document, he addressed every potential loophole that might allow online gambling and debunked every one.

Suthers then addressed what would need to be done to authorize online gambling in Colorado. He noted that an amendment to the Colorado Constitution would be required, and the wording would have to specify where the servers and other hardware would need to be located. He also clarified that voter approval in a statewide election would not be necessary if an amendment is passed by the state legislature, which could also simply expand the definition of limited gaming.

According to Suthers, Colorado law prohibits the general assembly from authorizing lotteries except games of chance, and the Colorado Supreme Court concluded that poker and other wagering games were games of chance, per the Charnes v. Central City Opera House Association case of 1989 upholding Ginsberg v. Centennial Turf Club of 1952.

Ultimately, he wrote, “I conclude that a constitutional amendment is the only lawful means by which to expand limited gaming to include online gambling.” And that includes poker.

Disclaimer: This is not written by an attorney and is not or should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for help interpreting these laws as they pertain to any given situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do people in Colorado continue to play online poker?

Answer: There are some players who patronize online poker sites that are licensed outside of the United States. There have never been any prosecutions of those players, but the law is very clear that the activity is considered illegal under Colorado law.

Question: Could voters put a proposal on the ballot to legalize online poker?

Answer: Yes. While the attorney general suggested the most logical way to legalize online poker and gambling would be through a constitutional amendment in the legislature, voters could tackle the issue on their own and obtain enough signatures to put the measure on a ballot. However, the efforts required are significant. The Poker Players Alliance may have a better idea of the best way to pursue online poker legalization in Colorado, as that lobbying organization has spoken to lawmakers and knows the likelihood of obtaining enough legislative support to consider and then pass a bill.

Question: Can legalized casinos operate an online poker site?

Answer: No. The casino operators do not have the authority to operate online gambling under their current licenses. They have been supportive of a legalization bill in the past, however, and would likely support another effort to offer online poker. The three full-fledged casinos in Colorado are in fairly remote locations, so online poker and casino games would extend their reach and broaden their customer base.

Resources Available in the State of Colorado