From the gold rush days of the 1800s, people have visited Colorado to make it rich. Today people can try their luck at thirty-three commercial and two Indiana casinos in the state. Moreover, players can play different games at these casinos, including baccarat, blackjack, slots, craps, poker, and roulette. Many Colorado casinos are open for business 24/7 a day, providing dining, entertainment, and lodging options.
Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City are the only cities allowed to operate in Colorado. Also, it permits gambling on the Indian reservations in the southwest area, where players can find two casinos.
The state’s three gaming towns are easy to find. The distance between Black Hawk and Central City is just 34 miles. Cripple Creek, on the other hand, is 48 miles west of Colorado Springs.
Over the years, the Colorado gambling industry has continuously evolved, and changes have been made to the state laws. On this page, we will provide players with everything they need to know about a Colorado casino and the state’s gambling market at large.
Are there casinos in Colorado?
Yes, there are casinos in the state of Colorado. In Colorado, you’ll find nearly forty casinos. However, the state allows casinos in three towns, Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. In addition, Colorado also allows gambling on Indian reservations in the southwest area of the state, and you can find two casinos down there.
Full list of Colorado casinos
Below is the complete list of bricks and mortar casinos and their locations in Colorado.
- Ameristar Black Hawk: 111 Richman St, Black Hawk
- Bally’s black hawk east casino: 261 Main St, Black Hawk
- Bronco Billy’s : 233 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Bull Durham: 110 Main St, Black Hawk
- Bronco Billy’s Casino: 233 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Century Casino Central City: 102 Main St, Central City
- Christmas Casino Cripple Creek 279 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Colorado Grande Casino: 300 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Century Casino Cripple Creek 200 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Dostal Alley Casino: 116 Main St, Central City
- Double Eagle Hotel and Casino 442 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Easy Street Casino: 120 Main St, Central City
- Famous Bonanza Casino 107 Main St, Central City
- Golden Gulch Casino 321 Main St, Black Hawk
- Golden Gates Casino 261 Main St, Black Hawk
- Grand Z Casino Hotel 321 Gregory St, Central City
- Isle Casino Hotel – Black Hawk 401 Main St, Black Hawk
- Johnny Nolon’s Casino 301 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Johnny Z Casino Central City 132 Lawrence St, Central City
- Lady Luck Casino – Black Hawk 340 Main St, Black Hawk
- Mardi Gras Casino 300 Main St, Black Hawk
- Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino 256 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Monarch Casino 488 Main St, Black Hawk
- McGills Hotel and Casino 232 Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Red Dolly Casino 530 Gregory St, Black Hawk
- Saratoga Casino – Black Hawk 101 Main St, Black Hawk
- Sasquatch Casino 125 Gregory St, Black Hawk
- Sky Ute Casino Resort 14324 CO-172, Ignacio
- The Gilpin Casino 111 Main St, Black Hawk
- The Lodge Casino 240 Main St, Black Hawk
- The Brass Ass Casino 264 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek
- Ute Mountain Casino Hotel 3 Weeminuche Dr, Towaoc
- Wildwood Casino 119 N Fifth St, Cripple Creek
- Wild Card Saloon 120 Main St, Black Hawk
- Z Casino – Black Hawk 101 Gregory St, Black Hawk
Biggest casinos in Colorado
In terms of the biggest casino, the big three are Century Casino Central City, Wildwood Casino, and Ameristar Black Hawk. Below is a brief description of the three casinos.
Century Casino Central City
A commercial casino that stands out among other gambling resorts in the state is the new-age Century casino. Set in over 60,000 square feet (0.56ha) of gambling floor, players will find over 500 modern and classic slots, four live dear poker tables, and eight table games. The casino also provides a 24 hours gambling service. In addition, there are twenty-two luxurious hotel rooms for players who may want to stay in the city for a while.
Wildwood Casino
Founded in 2008, Wildwood Casino provides players with 58,000 square feet of single-floor gambling space to gamble at. Wildwood Casino is a commercial gambling resort that provides some exciting Vegas-style gaming in the state. At the casino, bettors will discover over 500 slot machines and, of course, table games. Also, slots lovers can play and enjoy progressive jackpots and classic slots titles like Emperor Penguin and Dragon Lines.
Ameristar Black Hawk
At the heart of Colorado’s historical gaming town is the commercial gambling resort Ameristar. It was launched on 20 December 2001, and casino players have a choice of 1,250 slots and video machines, 22 poker tables, and 40 table games to entertain them. Ameristar’s gaming room is exquisite, and the casino provides a high-quality gambling experience.
Indian casinos in Colorado
When it comes to Indiana casinos, Colorado has some of the finest. Indian casinos are gambling resorts owned and operated by local American Indian tribes. Although the Indian casinos are similar to the government-operated conventional casinos, a few things, such as location, management, regulation, and branding, set the two apart. Colorado has two Indian casinos that the Ute Tribe owns and operates.
Gambling in Colorado
The thirty-five casinos in Colorado provide various game selections, breathtaking sights, unique culture, and great dining. Indeed, the state’s gaming experience is lively and diverse. Below is a quick fact about gambling in Colorado.
- Available casinos: 33
- Casino gambling age: 21+
- Types of available casinos: Indian and commercial
- Winning taxation: Yes
Taxation of gambling winnings
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers all gaming winnings taxable income. This includes casinos, bingo, game shows, racetrack, and sports betting. The gambling tax rate is based on a graduated scale ranging from 0.25% to 20% of adjusted gross proceeds. The casinos cut off the tax amount from players’ winnings and pay to the IRS on their behalf. However, bettors are to give their ID proof, social security number, and W2-G to the casino. This information will help the casino report the players’ winnings to the federal revenue department.
Gambling laws in Colorado
The gaming laws permit a wide range of gambling activities. Unlike many US states, the Colorado betting laws are easy to understand and are well detailed. Since the 2009 gaming laws amendment, the state increased its maximum bet limit from $5 to $100. In addition, more games, including roulette and craps, were added. Under the state gaming laws, casinos release the payback percentages of their gambling machines to the public. Casinos, horse racing, charitable gaming, and social gaming are all legal in the state.
Is online gambling legal?
Yes, online sports betting, pari-mutuel wagering, and daily fantasy sports are legal in Colorado. In 2016, state lawmakers authorized daily fantasy sports and passed a gambling bill in 2019. The bill permits both online and retail sports betting in Colorado.
Future of gambling in Colorado
The future of gambling in Colorado is very bright. Colorado had a wide array of legal gambling options before the nullification of the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) by the United States Supreme Court in 2018. However, with the introduction of online betting two years after the Supreme Court verdict, it is clear that the state is fully ready to provide bettors with competitive and safe gambling products.
Summary of casinos in Colorado
In conclusion, Colorado offers its gambling population a wide range of gaming activities to enjoy within the state’s borders. This means that the residents won’t have to move out of the state to gamble. All the popular forms of gambling are legal in the state, from casinos to sports betting and, of course, horse racing and social gaming.