Not only is online poker in Colorado legal, but you’ll find some of the best games in the world here, with everything from Texas Hold’em and Omaha to niche variants like 7 Card Stud and Short Deck available.
Locals in the Centennial State can access soft games, huge rakeback deals up to 65%, bonuses up to $2,000, and crypto-friendly withdrawals that only take minutes at the best poker sites in Colorado.
Top Colorado Online Poker Sites
In This Guide
- Top Colorado Online Poker Sites
- How We Rate the Best Colorado Poker Sites
- Comparing the Best Colorado Poker Sites
- Available Bonuses at Colorado Poker Sites
- Most Popular Online Poker Games in CO
- Supported Payment Methods at Colorado Online Poker Sites
- Pros and Cons of Colorado Poker Sites
- Colorado Online Poker Laws and Regulations
- Our Verdict
- Online Poker in Colorado FAQs
- Resources
How We Rate the Best Colorado Poker Sites
These are some of the factors we consider when picking the best places to play online poker in Colorado.
- Player pools and traffic: Having a steady flow of players, day and night, really makes a difference. A nice balance of experienced and casual players always adds to the fun, and softer games can give you a better chance at winning.
- Special bonuses: Bonuses add a decent chunk of cash to your bankroll, and the top sites in Colorado offer everything from huge welcome bonuses to up to 65% in rakeback. The other bonus condition we assess is the playthrough requirements, i.e., the amount of rake you must pay out to release a bonus and how much time you have to unlock the full amount.
- Payment options: Cryptocurrencies are among the safest and most efficient options available. But you also have options if you prefer traditional banking methods, such as credit and debit cards.
- Desktop and mobile software: You can occasionally play via mobile websites, but most require you to download native apps for iOS and Android. We tested the mobile poker apps and desktop software, which can provide different experiences. Mobile is great for cash games and short sessions, while desktop is better for MTTs that can last hours.
Comparing the Best Colorado Poker Sites
Let’s see how the sites for online poker in the Centennial State compare against each other.
| Colorado Poker Site | Welcome Bonus | Promo Code | Poker Network | Poker Games |
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | CPLAYER | Independent | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, PLO5, PLO6, Short Deck |
| ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | CP1000 | Winning Poker Network | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5-Card Omaha, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo |
| Stake.US | 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins | N/A | Independent | Texas Hold’em, Omaha |
| BCPoker | 10% up to $200 | N/A | Independent | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Short Deck |
| Ignition | 150% up to $1,500 | IGWPCB150 | PaiWangLuo | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo |
Available Bonuses at Colorado Poker Sites
Online poker sites in Colorado feature plenty of bonuses for both new and existing players. Learn more about the different types of poker bonuses below so that you can take advantage of the offers as you play.
Welcome Bonus
There’s always some kind of sign-up offer, as online poker is as competitive in Colorado as anywhere else. It usually takes the form of a deposit match, but some sites offer packages that also include other goodies.
The welcome bonus will apply to your first deposit on the site, and you must pay rake to release the amount. In most cases, bonuses are unlocked in 10% increments.
CoinPoker has one of the best welcome bonuses around, with its 150% deposit match up to $2,000. You will have to generate 3x the bonus amount in rake, and the funds unlock as soon as you leave a cash game table.
No Deposit Bonus
A chance to pick up something for nothing, no deposit bonuses are just what they sound like. Open an account to receive an automatic bonus, allowing you to play without funding your account.
It’s rare to find no deposit bonuses at online poker sites in Colorado, but you can benefit from free tournament tickets, giveaways, and even loyalty perks without having to add funds to your account every time.
BCPoker offers a $5 no-deposit bonus, available when you sign up on mobile. You can’t withdraw it, but you can use it instantly for cash games and tournaments.
Reload Bonus
A type of loyalty reward, reload bonuses are only for existing players. They’re usually deposit matches, just with smaller percentages than welcome bonuses.
Add funds to your account and receive a percentage bonus, typically around 50%. Some reload offers may require certain bonus codes for Colorado online poker, so make sure to check the site before you deposit.
Rakeback
Perhaps the most important bonus for online poker players in Colorado is rakeback, a type of loyalty reward.
The site refunds a percentage of the rake you paid during the specified promotional period, which is usually a week or a month.
ACR, Black Chip Poker, and Ya Poker offer a flat 27% rakeback on cash-game rake and tournament fees. But if you’re a grinder, climbing the ranks of their Elite Benefits program can bump that up to 65%.
Tournament Tickets
Some sites give players free entries into tournaments that offer real-money prizes. We’re not talking about poker freerolls, either, since these are tournaments that others would have to pay to enter.
BetOnline’s welcome offer includes up to 21 free tickets to step satellites to a $109 buy-in event.
VIP Rewards
It’s rare to find an online poker site in the Centennial State that doesn’t offer a structured loyalty program these days.
The more you play, the more points you’ll accumulate. These help you climb the ladder, securing increasingly beneficial VIP perks and bonuses along the way.
Most Popular Online Poker Games in CO
Wondering about the most popular ways to play online poker for real money in Colorado? The following section of our guide answers that very question.
Texas Hold’em
The world’s most popular poker game, it makes sense that every site in Colorado offers Texas Hold’em. You’ll receive two private hole cards and as many as five shared “community” cards available. This creates plenty of opportunities to represent hands and trick opponents.
It’s possible to play Hold’em with a Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, or No Limit betting structure.
Omaha
In this form of poker, players receive a four-card starting hand. Aside from that, Omaha Hold’em, simply referred to as “Omaha” these days, plays out pretty much exactly the same way as its Texan cousin.
Just like Hold’em, there are two forced bets pre-flop, with five community cards and four rounds of betting. The major difference is that players have to use exactly two of their four hole cards, which is why the best Omaha poker sites often provide strategy tips for beginners.
With so many extra cards in play compared to Hold’em, it’s a solid strategy to be a little more conservative in your starting hand selection. It’s also more important to stay in control of pots, as even monster hands are frequently outdrawn.
Seven-Card Stud
Unfortunately, it’s fair to say that Seven-Card Stud isn’t as popular as it used to be. This fascinating game used to be the most common way to play poker, until Hold’em blew up in the 1990s and 2000s.
There are no shared cards here, just like all forms of stud. Instead, you’ll receive up to seven cards unique to your own hand, three of which are turned face-down, with the other four revealed. Five betting rounds offer plenty of chances to build a pot and to represent hands.
Not many sites offering online poker in Colorado feature Seven-Card Stud games any more, but those that do usually have Fixed Limit tables.
Short Deck Poker (6+)
The high-stakes game of choice nowadays, especially in SE Asia, including on poker sites in Malaysia, Short Deck is so-called since it uses just 36 cards. All cards ranked 2, 3, 4, and 5 are removed, leaving the deck “short” by 16 cards.
This unusual rule variation has a huge impact on how the game plays out. With so many cards missing, it’s much harder to make a flush, for example. As such, that particular hand leapfrogs a full house in the game’s poker hand rankings.
Short Deck Poker – sometimes called Short Deck Hold’em or Six Plus (6+) – was popularized by high stakes legends like Tom Dwan, Dan Cates, and Phil Ivey.
Supported Payment Methods at Colorado Online Poker Sites
When you’re playing at poker sites, you’re going to need to deposit money. Here are the most common methods for moving cash in and out of your accounts.
Debit and Credit Cards
It’s always reassuring to see the likes of Visa, Mastercard, and American Express in the cashier. These reputable payment processors are reliable, secure, and convenient. Deposits are instant, though withdrawals may take up to a week to complete, if the site supports payouts to cards. In most cases, you will have to use another banking option with cash out.
Cryptocurrencies
The best online poker sites in Colorado are actually based offshore. As such, they can legally accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Tether, and Ethereum. These are the best option for banking, as withdrawals are usually completed far more quickly than other payment methods. Plus, you have complete anonymity. Players looking at nearby markets, such as online poker in Arizona, will find a similar reliance on crypto for secure and speedy banking.
Online Bank Transfer
Traditional bank wires are often slow and expensive, with high minimum withdrawal requirements. But recent technological developments mean that some poker sites can now wrap up online bank transfers in less than 48 hours.
eWallets
Digital wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal have been around the scene for over 20 years. They’re super convenient for storing your bankroll, while deposits are instant and secure. Be careful, though, as some sites charge for eWallet transactions. Moreover, most Colorado poker sites have moved away from eWallets and use cryptos instead.
Prepaid Cards
Many sites now accept prepaid cards. These are ideal for gambling responsibly, as you can only spend up to the pre-loaded limit. Most are provided by reputable card processing firms, like Mastercard and Visa. But voucher services like Neosurf and Paysafe also offer prepaid cards.
Pros and Cons of Colorado Poker Sites
There are many upsides to playing online poker in Colorado. But, in the interests of balance, we should highlight the potential downsides, too. Here are the headlines.
Pros
- Accept Colorado players
- Licensed by trusted regulators
- Offer bigger bonuses and perks
- Tournaments with big guarantees
- Variety of variants and tables
- Crypto payouts in under a day
Cons
- Not regulated locally by an authority
- Often can’t withdraw back to a card
- VPN usage is not always allowed
Colorado Online Poker Laws and Regulations
Colorado has not yet legalized online poker, and there are no state-regulated platforms available. While there are no laws explicitly banning it, the state has yet to introduce a regulatory framework.
The Colorado Criminal Code covers gambling in Article 10 and states that gambling is prohibited in order to prevent organized crime operations. This makes the authorities focus more on operators than on the players taking part in the action. As a result, offshore sites are not illegal in the state, but they cannot be based within the borders of Colorado without proper licensing.
While there is a fine of $500 for participants, as stated in the Colorado gambling laws, it’s worth mentioning that no one has ever been charged for playing poker online in the state.
A similar situation exists for online poker platforms in California regarding their laws and accessibility. In contrast, Nevada poker sites operate under a fully legal and regulated system, providing a state-backed option for players within its borders. That said, many players in Colorado still turn to offshore poker sites, which legally accept US players.
Our Verdict
Our detailed guide to online poker in Colorado might feel like information overload, so here’s a brief recap of the key points.
- Poker in Colorado is technically legal – There is no existing Colorado online poker legislation in place. With no regulation, there are no state-licensed sites.
- Offshore sites are still accessible – That said, it’s still possible to play at plenty of poker sites based overseas. Many residents use them without an issue.
- There’s no sign of legislation just yet – lawmakers have previously attempted to draft a legal framework for real-money online poker in Colorado. However, we’re yet to see any real progress. That said, online sports betting laws were passed in 2019, and the live poker scene has improved in recent years, so there’s hope.
Online Poker in Colorado FAQs
Is it legal to play poker online in Colorado?
Can you gamble online in Colorado?
Can you play poker online for real money in Colorado?
Is Bovada poker legal in Colorado?
Is ACR Poker legal in Colorado?
Can I use Colorado poker apps?
How many poker rooms are in Colorado?
Resources
- Colorado Criminal Code (Govt. of Colorado)
