Convenience Will Be Key When Legal Colorado Sports Betting Starts

Sports fans will soon get a chance to strike it rich in the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado mining towns that once overflowed with gold-obsessed prospectors will give rise to a new era of gambling on May 1, when regulated sports betting begins in the state following the passage of Proposition DD last November.

Coloradans won’t have to travel far to place bets on their favorite teams, whether it’s the Denver Broncos or Colorado Rockies. Master licenses have already been approved for seven casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Several more casinos should join the fold shortly — the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission is expected to issue up to 33 licenses to brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks right out of the gate. Keep an eye on this page for the status of casino licenses.

Whether you live in Denver, Fort Collins or Pueblo, stepping foot inside a retail sportsbook should require no more than one to two hours in normal traffic conditions. If you want a more carefree experience, shuttles are available to each casino town. Some even make stops at Union Station in downtown Denver, just a stone’s throw from Coors Field, Pepsi Center and Empower Field at Mile High.

With just a few weeks to go before the launch of sports betting in the state, now is the time to start planning where you’ll place your wagers. Here’s an early breakdown of some of the most conveniently-located, licensed sportsbook options for Front Range bettors. No gold pan or pickaxe required.

Most convenient casinos to place your bets

Just 40 miles west of Denver, Black Hawk and Central City are bound to be a lively hub for Colorado sports betting. Even more so now that FanDuel and DraftKings, two giants of legal online sports betting in the U.S., have partnered with Mardi Gras, Golden Gates and Golden Gulch to pursue master licenses. A word of caution to those unfamiliar with either mountain town: Pay close attention to the 30 mph speed limit on Central City Parkway off of Interstate 70. The four-lane highway is a notorious speed trap.

Black Hawk and Central City casinos

Saratoga Casino

This smaller venue that shares its name with the racetrack in New York has a single restaurant and two bars. The casino has partnered with betting giant BetFred to bring both retail and online sports betting.

Address: 101 Main St., Black Hawk
Telephone: 1-800-538-LUCK or 303-582-6100
Sports Betting Partner: BetFred

Dostal Alley Casino and Brewery

Dostal Alley Casino and Brewery is a family-run casino. It’s won multiple awards for its handcrafted beers, such as Gilpin Gold and Smoked 1874.

Address: 116 Main St., Central City
Telephone: 303-582-1610

Monarch Casino

This venue was known as the Riviera Casino until 2013. This is one of the larger casinos in the Black Hawk and Central City historical district.

Address: 488 Main St., Black Hawk
Telephone: 303-582-1000

Cripple Creek casinos

If you’re looking for a more unrefined setting with fewer crowds and cars, Cripple Creek is a perfect destination. The former gold mining camp is 44 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, near the base of Pikes Peak. Sports bettors in the Denver metro should plan for a two-hour trip, with an ascent to an elevation of 9,494 feet. The drive to the old mining town is even more memorable in the autumn during football season, when the aspen trees put on a magnificent color show.

Double Eagle Hotel and Casino

The largest casino in Cripple Creek has been likened to a Las Vegas-style site. The casino has partnered with the global operator PointsBet for its sports betting operation.

Address: 442 E. Bennett Ave.
Telephone: 719-689-5000
Sports Betting Partner: PointsBet

Brass Ass Casino

Brass Ass Casino gets its name from the painted wooden brass donkey in its table games room. It is one of the original brass donkeys that launched boats with a well-placed kick at the 1893 World Exposition in Chicago.

Address: 264 Bennett Ave.
Telephone: 719-689-2104

Midnight Rose and Casino

Here you’ll find a range of games, including video poker, classic reels, new penny slots and progressives. Midnight Rose has also laid claim to having “the loosest slots in town.”

Address: 256 Bennett Ave.
Telephone: 719-689-0303