Best Sites for Online Poker in Colorado October 2024

So, you want to play online poker in Colorado, but you’re not sure if it’s possible or legal? I’ve got the answers. After delving into the state’s gambling laws and sifting through the options, I’ve picked out seven poker sites you can use in Colorado.

Best Colorado Online Poker Sites by Category

Each of the Colorado poker sites have something they truly excel at. I have picked out the best features in each one and chosen which site fits each category the best.

1. Best Overall Online Poker Site in Colorado – CoinPoker

Poker Network	License	Payout Speed
Independent	Curaçao eGaming	Within 24 hours

• Poker Games Variety 7.5/10 – CoinPoker has plenty of Hold’em and Omaha tables, but the absence of other variants brings down its score. That being said, you can play cash games up to ₮1,000/₮2,000, something you can’t do at other CO poker sites.
• Poker Tournaments 9/10 – The combination of freerolls with ₮2,500 prizepools and Sunday majors guaranteeing ₮600,000 means I have to give CoinPoker 9/10.
• Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – CoinPoker is an independent poker site that’s fully decentralized. This means its payment options and games are powered by provably fair blockchain technology.
• Software Quality 10/10 – If you want to play online poker in Colorado anonymously and make instant withdrawals, CoinPoker is your only option.
• Betting Limits and Payments 10/10 – CoinPoker has plenty of low and mid-stakes games. There aren’t many cash game tables above ₮2/₮4 outside of peak times, but CoinPoker still gets 10/10 because it’s completely decentralized and offers crypto payments via BTC, USDT, and other tokens.
• Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – A QR code is all you need to download the CoinPoker mobile app. I initially had a few issues with the iOS app, but they were resolved with little effort. I’ve not heard about any problems with the Android app.

CoinPoker is my favorite place to play Omaha, but I can’t pretend 33% rakeback isn’t appealing. What’s novel about the rakeback at CoinPoker, aside from the fact the rebates are the biggest in Colorado, is that you need CHP to get it.

CHP is CoinPoker’s native crypto token, and holding it essentially means you own a piece of the site. This entitles you to rakeback, but it also creates a strong community of players who have a vested interest in making CoinPoker a success.

2. Best CO Online Poker Site for Cash Games – Ignition

Poker Network	License	Payout Speed
PaiWangLuo Poker	Curaçao eGaming	Within 48 hours

 

• Poker Games Variety 7.5/10 – I’ve run into a few issues finding cash games above $1/$2 outside of peak times, but overall, Ignition has plenty of low and mid-stakes options.
• Poker Tournaments 9/10 – If you want online poker tournaments in Colorado that cost less than $100 to enter, Ignition is a great choice. That fact it has $2 million in weekly guarantees is also a positive.
• Traffic and Player Base 10/10 – Ignition attracts a similar number of players to CoinPoker, which means you might struggle to find a game in the early hours of the morning. That being said, the constant influx of players from Ignition’s casino means you’ll never be short of weak opponents.
• Software Quality 9/10 – Ignition’s software is reliable, and the interface is easy to navigate, even if it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing poker site in Colorado.
• Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – The steady stream of fishy players I just mentioned keeps games under $200 interesting. Another nice aspect of Ignition Poker is the fact that you can make USD and crypto (BTC, ETH, and USDT) payments.
• Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – I can’t add Ignition to my list of preferred mobile poker apps because it only offers an optimized website. Fortunately, it’s an easy mobile site to use.

Ignition’s software isn’t particularly revolutionary, but it does have anonymous tables. The tables have become my go-to for cash games because they’re a great way to fly under the radar while simultaneously taking advantage of Ignition’s wealth of weak players.

3. Top Colorado Online Poker Site for Tournaments – ACR Poker

Poker Network	License	Payout Speed
Winning Poker Network (WPN)	Curaçao eGaming	Within 48 hours

• Poker Games Variety 9/10 – ACR is probably the best online poker site for Colorado players who value variety because it offers Stud alongside Hold’em and Omaha.
• Poker Tournaments 10/10 – I can’t give ACR anything less than 10/10 here because it has $10 million in weekly guarantees and record-breaking events such as the $20 million Venom series.
• Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Being part of the Winning Poker Network means ACR is in the top 10 busiest poker sites in the world.
• Software Quality 5/10 – ACR has some great features, but it’s sometimes let down by server outages.
• Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – With more low-stakes games added in 2024 and the ability to make fiat or crypto (BTC, etc.) deposits, ACR gets a solid score in this category.
• Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – Android users can download the ACR mobile app, which is great. I loved to see the same option available to iOS users who have to use the mobile site.

ACR upped its selection of MTTs costing less than $50 by 37% in 2024 while simultaneously increasing its total weekly guarantee to $10.7 million. This makes it the best place to play poker tournaments in Colorado.

However, I’d urge you not to sleep on ACR’s cash games because features such as bomb pots and run it twice are fantastic.

4. Leading CO Poker Site for Loyalty Rewards – Black Chip Poker

Poker Network	License	Payout Speed
Winning Poker Network (WPN)	Curaçao eGaming	Within 48 hours

• Poker Games Variety 9/10 – Hold’em and Omaha, including 5-Card, are popular at Venom, but I’ve given this CO poker site 9/10 because of its Stud Hi/Lo games.
• Poker Tournaments 10/10 – You can play MTTs for free or for prizes worth more than $1 million at Black Chip, which is why I’ve given it 10/10.
• Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Like ACR, Black Chip is part of Winning Poker Network, which means you can compete against players from around the world.
• Software Quality 7.5/10 – Black Chip is safe and, on the whole, reliable. However, game lobbies can be slow to load at peak times.
• Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – If you’re not ready to fully embrace crypto poker, Black Chip is a great intermediary because it accepts USD as well as 50 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, and USDT.
• Mobile Friendliness 8/10 –Black Chip, like ACR, offers a mobile app for Android users, which is why I’ve given it the same score.

Black Chip Poker is, in many ways, identical to ACR. It offers the same selection of cash games and tournaments, including the Venom series. Black Chip also offers deal-making in tournaments and innovative cash game features such as Bomb Pots.

However, for me, the reason it’s one of the top online poker sites in Colorado is its loyalty program. Elite VIP gives you a reliable way to earn bonus cash, exclusive prizes, and access to big-money MTTs.

• Pros

  • Great selection of MTTs and satellites
  • Accepts to cryptocurrencies
  • Excellent VIP rewards program
  • Hold’em, Omaha and Stud games

  Cons

  • Design could be better
  • Software can be slow at times

5. The Most Entertaining CO Poker Room – BetOnline

Poker Network	License	Payout Speed
Chico Poker	Panama Gaming Commission	Within 48 hours

• Poker Games Variety 9/10 – BetOnline offers Hold’em and Omaha but not Stud or Draw. However, I’ve still given it 9/10 because it offers novel Hold’em spinoffs called 6+ Hold’em and Pineapple.
• Poker Tournaments 10/10 – There are plenty of tournaments available at all levels. However, the real reason I’ve given BetOnline 10/10 is that you get free MTT tickets as a welcome bonus.
• Traffic and Player Base 8/10 – Like Ignition, BetOnline also has a casino and sportsbook, both of which provide a steady stream of players with below-average poker skills.
• Software Quality 10/10 – I’ll give you more details in a moment, but let’s just say BetOnline has some fantastic features on top of being safe and reliable.
• Betting Limits and Payments 9/10 – I use BetOnline Peer2Peer for USD deposits, but this operator was one of the first hybrid crypto poker sites. Therefore, if you want to play online poker in Colorado, I recommend using its Bitcoin deposit option.
• Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Of all the online poker operators in Colorado, BetOnline provides the best software for mobile users. Android and iOS users can download the app by scanning a QR code.

BetOnline has a great welcome bonus for tournament players due to the fact you get free tickets. It’s also a great CO online poker site for loyalty rewards. However, for me, novel features, such as Pineapple (a version of Hold’em), bad beat jackpots, and straddles in cash games, make it the most entertaining poker site in Colorado.

How To Pick the Best Online Poker Sites in Colorado

Here’s my checklist so you can cast a critical eye over my top picks and, in turn, any other CO online poker rooms you come across:

• Trust: I only recommend online poker sites I trust. I establish trust by first ensuring the operator is licensed by a regulator such as Curaçao eGaming. I then make sure it has encrypted software and safe payment options. Finally, I check that its RNG software is certified so I know the games are fair.
• Added Value: I’ll talk more about bonuses in a moment, but let’s just say that I want to see plenty of promotions with fair terms and conditions.
• Variety: I see Hold’em and Omaha games as the minimum standard. For a platform to get my recommendation, I want something different. CoinPoker, for example, offers 5-Card Omaha, while ACR has Stud Hi/Lo, and BetOnline has 6+ Hold’em. Variety, for me, creates a thriving poker site.
• Service: The biggest disappointment for me is when an operator ruins a great product with poor customer service. I like having live support agents on hand 24/7, alongside a comprehensive FAQ.

Favorite Online Poker Games in Colorado

Poker isn’t one homogenous game. So, for the sake of clarity and ensuring you find the right type of poker, here are the variants you can play in Colorado.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is available at every online poker site in Colorado because it’s the most popular variant. Everyone starts with two hole cards (cards only you can see), and the aim is to make a five-card hand using at least three community cards (cards everyone can see) or win pots uncontested.

I recommend starting your poker journey in the Hold’em streets. Not only will you find an abundance of games with weak players, but you’ll also get a feel for concepts such as hand reading, value betting, and bluffing.

Omaha

I describe Omaha as an extreme version of Hold’em because you start with four hole cards instead of two. Additionally, you must use two of your hole cards, a rule that doesn’t apply to Hold’em.

These rules generate more action and, in my opinion, more excitement. Omaha tournaments are less common than Hold’em MTTs, but there are plenty of cash games at CoinPoker and ACR.

Other Poker Variants

Hold’em and Omaha dominate when it comes to online poker CO games. However, if you want to branch out and try something different, ACR, Black Chip, and Ya Poker have a small number of cash games for the following variants:

• 7-Card Stud
• 5-Card Omaha
• 6-Card Omaha

You can also play 6+ Hold’em (a short-deck version of Texas Hold’em) at BetOnline Poker. However, I suggest mastering traditional Hold’em before you try this spinoff.

Ways to Play: Cash Games and Colorado Poker Tournaments

You’ll have two ways to play online poker in Colorado: cash games and tournaments.

Cash Games

Cash games don’t have a start or end point. They run indefinitely, and the chips in play have a cash value. That’s important because chips in tournaments are only used to keep you in the game for as long as possible or until you’re the only player left.

Cash games at Colorado’s top-rated online poker sites start at $0.01/$0.02 and cover all variants. For those with more experience, I suggest trying the four-hand tables at CoinPoker because they offer a ton of action.

Tournaments

Online poker tournaments in Colorado can be split into two categories:

Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)

These tournaments have set start times and, as the name suggests, feature players on multiple tables. Just like the best online poker sites overall, the ones in Colorado also offer a variety of MTTs that span a wide range of formats and buy-ins.

Freerolls are ideal for newbies, while low-stakes MTTs are ideal stepping stones for aspiring pros. You can also play big-money MTTs at Colorado’s leading online poker sites, including the $12 million Venom at ACR.

You can also use CO poker sites to enter satellites where you can win seats in live tournaments such as the WSOP Main Event.

Sit & Go Tournaments (SNGs)

These are on-demand tournaments that start when the required number of players have registered. They often take place on a single table with two, four, six, or nine players. Some SNGs have fixed payouts, while others, such as ACR’s Blitz SNGs, have random jackpots.

How to Play Online Poker in Colorado

1. Use our links to join a top-rated CO poker site such as CoinPoker.
2. Register and download the app.
3. Tap the wallet icon.
4. Choose a cryptocurrency to generate a wallet address.
5. Copy the wallet address and send tokens to your CoinPoker account.
6. Open the cash games or tournament lobby.
7. Filter the list by adjusting these variables: “Games,” “Buy-In,” and “Seats.”
8. Open a table and tap the gear icon to adjust various settings, including visuals and automatic top-ups.

Bonuses for CO Online Poker Players

Anyone who’s been around the poker world for a few orbits knows that variance swings in both directions. When it’s not swinging in your favor, it’s nice to have a guaranteed source of income when you play real money online poker in Colorado. The only guaranteed sources of income are these poker bonuses: 

Welcome Bonuses

All of the best online poker sites in Colorado welcome new customers with a bonus or two. These rewards typically arrive in the form of bonus cash that’s released incrementally as you hit specific rake targets. The best welcome bonuses for Colorado poker players offer a combination of cash credits and tournament tickets.

Freerolls

Freerolls are poker tournaments that don’t have an entry fee. Most online poker rooms in Colorado run multiple freerolls per day. What’s great about freeroll prizes (sometimes up to $100) is that they’re paid in cash. This makes them a risk-free way to boost your bankroll.

Rakeback

I love rakeback because payments directly correlate with the amount you play. For context, you pay rake (a small fee) each time you enter a tournament or a cash game pot goes to the flop.

The top online poker sites in Colorado give you back a percentage of this fee. For example, if you paid $500 in rake over the course of a week and your chosen CO poker site offered 33% rakeback, you’d get a $165 cash rebate.

VIP Rewards

Colorado online poker sites that don’t offer rakeback often give you VIP rewards. Like rakeback, VIP rewards are based on the amount you play, hence why they’re also referred to as loyalty rewards. VIP rewards include free tournament tickets, entry to special events, and cash bonuses.

Bonus Beware: Don’t Ignore Wagering Requirements!

All Colorado online poker bonuses have terms and conditions, aka wagering requirements. For example, welcome bonuses that give you cash credits require you to generate rake by playing real money games.

Failure to generate enough rake means the credits remain locked in your bonus balance, i.e., they don’t get converted to cash. I’ve seen too many people miss out on bonuses because they didn’t pay attention to the wagering conditions, so read an offer’s terms carefully before you start playing.

Real Money Poker Apps in Colorado

When it comes to online poker, Colorado players like you have two options: use a computer or a mobile. Most operators, including BetOnline, CoinPoker, and ACR, offer mobile poker apps. They’re my preferred method of playing poker on the go, but there are times when mobile sites are better.

In some instances, you won’t have a choice. However, what I want you to understand is that mobile poker is available in Colorado. What’s more, even if you can’t download an app, mobile sites are just as slick and offer a full selection of games and promotions, so don’t worry about it.

What is the Best Payment Method for Online Poker in Colorado?

You need secure ways to make deposits and withdrawals if you’re going to play real money poker in Colorado. Given the current legal status of online poker in Colorado, some payment methods are better than others.

Credit and debit card payments, along with bank transfers, are possible, but I don’t recommend them for reasons I’ll explain in the CO online poker laws section. If you’re going to play online poker for real money in Colorado, I suggest making crypto deposits and withdrawals.

Bitcoin et al. are decentralized blockchains. This means transactions aren’t governed by a central authority. As such, they’re a universal payment solution that’s fast and not tied to a single country. That makes cryptocurrencies ideal for offshore poker transactions.

Social Poker in Colorado

I could give you my expert take on whether or not social poker is legal in Colorado, but it’s easier to quite directly from the Department of Revenue’s website. As per the official guidelines, “Colorado law allows a social gambling exception.”

Social gambling, including poker, is defined as any activity in which the operator doesn’t make a profit (i.e., they’re free-play games). If you prefer to play for cash prizes, you can use Colorado online poker sites based outside of the US.

Colorado Poker Laws

If I’ve done my job properly and conveyed just how exciting CO online poker sites are, you’re probably eager to ante up. Before you do that, you might be wondering if online poker sites are legal in Colorado.

You might think you know the answer based on a quick Google search, but the reality is that legal online poker in Colorado is a nuanced issue. Is poker legal in Colorado? Yes, it is. Is online poker legal in Colorado? Yes, but not in the way you might expect.

Let me explain….

Is Online Poker Legal in Colorado?

Online poker isn’t regulated in Colorado like it is in states such as New Jersey and Michigan. As per the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state’s online gambling laws are based on the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

UIGEA was signed in 2006 and made it illegal for US residents to make deposits or withdrawals at unregulated gambling sites. Most people assume this means online gambling, specifically online poker, is illegal. That’s not the case.

Playing online poker at offshore sites such as CoinPoker isn’t illegal. UIGEA only prohibits the act of making payments via credit cards, checks, and electronic bank transfers. Therefore, if you can make deposits and withdrawals without these methods, you’re not breaching the terms of UIGEA.

Can You Play Online Poker in Colorado for Real Money?

Yes, based on what I’ve already said, you can play online poker for real money in Colorado. Let me rephrase the question slightly so I can be absolutely clear about what’s available and why.

Is that possible to make cash deposits and play online poker for real money in Colorado without breaching the terms of UIGEA? Yes, by making decentralized cryptocurrency payments.

Are Poker Winnings Taxable in Colorado?

You will be subject to 4.4% state tax and 24% federal tax when you play live poker in Colorado. However, online poker isn’t specifically referenced by the tax authority.  What’s more, because Colorado online poker rooms are based outside of the US, they aren’t legally required to report their financial dealings to the IRS.

Top Land-Based Poker Rooms in Colorado

The red tape and legalese that surrounds Colorado poker sites vanish when you head into the live arena. When it comes to in-person wagers, Colorado is a gambling-friendly state, and some of the best live poker rooms in Colorado are…

Ameristar Casino Black Hawk

Ameristar Casino Black Hawk brands itself as the “greatest poker room in the West.” There are bigger poker rooms in Colorado, but this one is certainly among the most popular. Much of its popularity comes from the fact has tournaments and cash games running 24/7. As well as Hold’em, you can play novel variants such as Big-O, all while earning Penn Cash comps.

Bally’s Black Hawk Casino

Bally’s is one of the biggest brands in gambling and its casino in Black Hawk has 22 poker tables. That’s more than other Colorado poker rooms, and it’s the reason why you’ll find tournaments every day of the week, as well as low and mid-stakes cash games. The real appeal of this poker room is that it hosts the Colorado Poker Championship, which has a $100,000 guaranteed main event.

Horseshoe Black Hawk

Horseshoe Black Hawk has nine tables, which may not sound particularly impressive. However, what I’ve not mentioned is the fact that this casino is owned by Caesars. This means you can earn Caesars Rewards. This Colorado poker room is also an official WSOP-themed venue, so you’ll get to play on high-quality tables and enter part in WSOP satellites.

Midnight Rose Poker Room

Cripple Creek’s online poker room, Midnight Rose, has six tables and plenty of amenities. It’s not a 24-hour venue, but you will be able to play Hold’em and Omaha cash games (with Kill Pots, i.e., enhanced pots) until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays. My favorite thing about this Colorado poker room is the self-serve soda machines.

Monarch Black Hawk

Monarch Black Hawk poker room offers a full range of services, including tournaments, cash games, table-side dining, massages, and comps. Hold’em and Omaha are the main games, and there’s a bad beat jackpot that often exceeds $10,000. What’s also great about this CO poker room is the fact it runs a $400 high-hand promotion every two hours.

Famous Colorado Poker Players

Which Colorado poker players should you aspire to be like? Some of the state’s most successful exports also happen to be among the best poker players in the world. So, if you’re looking for inspiration, here are three CO poker pros to follow.

Steve O’Dwyer

You’ve not been paying attention if you play poker tournaments in Colorado and don’t know who Steve O’Dwyer is. The Colorado Springs native is among the best live tournament players in the world. As well as amassing a fortune of more than $44 million in prize money, O’Dwyer has WPT, EPT, Triton, and Irish Poker Open titles to his name.

Chance Kornuth

Chance Kornuth is another tournament beast from the Centennial State. He picked up his first major cash in 2009, and since then, he’s gone on to win four WSOP bracelets (as of 2024) and over $18 million. If traumatizing the top tournament players wasn’t enough, Kornuth is also a cash game wizard willing to test his skills against the best in events such as the Galfond Challenge.

Will Givens

Will Givens got his start playing Colorado poker tournaments. A six-figure payout for winning the 2009 Heartland Poker Tour Colorado catapulted him into the big leagues. WSOP bracelets and WPT titles followed. As of 2024, Givens has raked in more than $3 million from live poker tournaments.

Poker in Other States

The US is a multi-textured tapestry of online poker laws and regulations. Michigan, for example, has its own localized online poker laws. This means operators can apply to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

In contrast, Ohio is similar to Colorado in that it doesn’t have its own online poker laws. However, licensed offshore poker sites, such as CoinPoker and ACR, are available to local players.

Colorado Online Poker – Key Takeaways

The Colorado online poker scene is thriving, despite there being some confusion surrounding local gambling laws. All of the CO poker sites I’ve picked out provide safe, entertaining, and legal services to US residents.

They also offer payment methods that ensure you aren’t breaching the terms of UIGEA. So, if you want to play online poker in Colorado, there are plenty of great places to do it. With that, I’ll give you three things to consider before you join your first Colorado online poker room:

• Make sure you claim welcome bonuses and ongoing offers such as rakeback.
• I recommend using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals.
• Take advantage of the variety of games at Colorado’s top poker sites, and never play above your limits.

FAQs – Colorado Online Poker