Best Casinos in Colorado

Colorado is one of the most frequently visited states in the U.S. With its foodie-towns, jaw-dropping scenery, hiking, mountains, outdoor events and friendly atmosphere, it is no surprise that people choose to frequent the Mountain State. The state’s nightlife is also worth mentioning, and for those looking for entertainment and the top spots to gamble, Colorado has a lot to offer in that regard as well. There exist a range of exciting land-based casinos featuring everything from slots, table games and live poker. Let’s take this opportunity to look at the best gaming spots in the state!

Map of Casinos In Colorado

Feel free to browse our interactive map below to find the best land-based casinos in your area for Colorado. These have been listed based on customer, employee and peer reviews. These casinos offer a plethora of options for avid gamers guaranteed to fix those gambling jones and have players winning large. Our summary of listed casinos are based on aggregate reviews from entertainment offerings to games, in-casino amenities, and accommodation and dining. These are the premier spots for gambling in Colorado.

Top 3 Casinos In Colorado

Our team at USA Online Casino has analyzed the top land-based gambling venues in Colorado, and the based on our research we have listed the Ameristar Casino Black Hawk, Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk, and the Century Casino Hotel as the top three casinos. These establishments offer everything from a variety of exciting casino games, award-winning accommodation and amenity services, in-house bonuses and player rewards, live events, dining, and a range of entertainment.

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk


The Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk, located just east of Denver, is one of the top-rated casinos in the State of Colorado. This award-winning venue features a lodge-style establishment adjacent to one of the best national parks in the U.S., Rocky Mountain National Park. The casino offers a 57,000 square foot gaming space complete with 1,280 exciting slot and video machines, 40 tables games and 22 live poker tables. Its superb entertainment offerings include a 536-room hotel and spa, nightclubs, a state-of-the-art convention center, and mountaintop views with access to the national park via gondola lift. Gaming and Leisure Properties owns this casino, and in addition to the jackpot and table offerings the in-house player rewards program is top of its class.

Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk


Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk, situated in the mountain-town of Black Hawk, lies 40 minutes east of the state’s capital, Denver. This fabulous casino offers over 1,000 slot and video poker machines in varying denominations. Players can also enjoy over 30 styles of popular table game, guaranteed draw the most esteemed players. The casino’s poker room has been ranked ‘best in town’. Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk also credits players with the “El Dorado” member card, rewarding gamblers for their play anytime. As much as 50,000 credits can be redeemed on in-house games and amenities, such as car giveaways, ‘Foodie Friday’, and spectacular cash prizes. The hotel offers award-winning suites for long-term stays, Farradday’s Steakhouse, and much more.

Century Casino Hotel


The Century Casino Hotel is a large-scale complex located in the heart of Central City, Colorado that literally changed the face of the once small town. This award-winning venue features nearly 500 state-of-the-art slot machines and the hottest tables including blackjack, poker, roulette and craps. The casino property also features a modern three-star hotel, complete with stunning rooms with the latest amenities. Dining options also include a 24-hour casino buffet for hungry games, and in-house casino rewards include the Player’s Club for additional player points, as well as weekly in-casino promotions that offers prizes from bingo to blackjack, including the popular Tournament of Champions.

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Gambling In Colorado

The State of Colorado, deep in the Rocky Mountains, welcomes visitors not only to enjoy is scenic views and outdoor activities as well as some of the best entertainment and gambling options within the U.S. Colorado has one of the oldest gambling histories in the country. Considering the state’s timeline, it was not until recently that Colorado legalized land-based casino gambling. The state offers both commercial and federally recognized tribal casinos. Players can enjoy everything from slot offerings to popular card and table games such as roulette and blackjack, as well as pari-mutuel betting.

History of Gambling in Colorado

The California Gold Rush was a heyday for gambling in the U.S. before the introduction of modern gambling laws. The Browns Saloon, located in Colorado, was formed in 1822 – which offered gambling to the fur trappers – and was one of the first legitimate casinos within the country. It wasn’t until nearly 170 years later that Colorado opened its first legal casinos.

Legal land-based gambling was only permitted in three cities within the state. The towns of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City were the first three locations that allowed for casino gambling, and throughout the decade, tribal casinos emerged on Native American lands in the south. By 1995, they were in operation. In 2005, the State Attorney General considers online gambling as covered by existing laws, in other words gambling not specifically licensed.

In 2008, Colorado’s casinos received a huge boost when a new law passed allowing for additional cities host gambling venues and casinos. Curfews and restrictive hour of operation were also abolished, and now casinos are allowed to remain open for 24 hours. Additional table games such as roulette and Craps were also added. The state’s official gaming authority, the Colorado Gaming Association, recently introduced a bill to call for the legalization of online poker, however, official legalization remains open. Colorado’s attitude toward casino gambling is largely pragmatic – with large chunks of gross gaming revenue going to taxes and funding of education. Horse and greyhound racing is also popular, and Coloradans can enjoy lottery a bingo in addition to raffle-type games.

Gambling Laws in Colorado

There are currently more than 40 land-based casinos in the State of Colorado ever since gambling became legal in 1991. Most forms of land-based gambling is legal in Colorado, including immensely popular card games such as poker and blackjack to table games such as roulette and craps; all can be found in Colorado’s commercial and tribal casinos. In 1983, Colorado established a state lottery as well as introduced scratch cards. In 2001, the Inter-State ‘Powerball’ as well as the countrywide Mega Millions lottery were added.

The minimum gambling age in Colorado is 21 for land-based casinos, with the exception of the lottery and horse or dog racing, which is 18. Slots, Poker and Blackjack are without question the most popular casino games, and pari-mutuel betting for horseracing is also favored. Colorado does not regulate, prohibit, or ban online gambling. However online gambling is not openly legal.
Ever since gambling legislation was expanded after the 1990s, the two main Native American Tribes, the Ute Mountain Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, opened its own casino venues. Each casino within the state of Colorado follows strict guidelines for maximum betting – with Keno being the only notable exception.

Colorado Gambling Facts

Since its legalization in 1991, Colorado’s visitors and residents have enjoyed gambling in its various forms throughout the many land based casinos in the state. Card games and pari-mutuel betting are very popular, and the many establishments that offer such endeavors are among some of the best in the country. Below are some interesting facts about gambling in the State of Colorado.

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First Casino in the U.S.

Colorado’s Brown Saloon has widely been considered by historians as the first legal casino opened in the United States. The Gold Rush brought in waves of visitors that passed through the Rocky Mountains in order to enjoy various poker-style card games such as Faro. However, it would take over a century and a half before modern gambling laws would be introduced to Colorado.
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Charity Raffles and Bingo

The Bingo-Raffle Advisory Board set up the allowance for charity based bingo games and raffles in 1999, which include events for non-profit organizations used to raise funds for education and various charitable causes. Players can enjoy bingo at various land-based casinos and charity events throughout the state or at the tribal casinos of Colorado.
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Three Cities and Casino Expansion

When gambling first became legal in the State of Colorado in last decade of the 20th century, the operation of casinos was limited to only three cities: Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City. Eventually, the tribal casinos of Colorado abolished such restrictions, and now many cities in addition to the aforementioned, earn incomes from gross gaming revenues year round.


All Casinos In Colorado

There are currently more than 40 land-based casinos in the State of Colorado with exciting options for every type of player. Popular card games include live poker and blackjack, and roulette and craps are some of the most favored specialty table games. From Colorado’s commercial venues to tribal casinos, here is our full list of the best land-based casino venues in the Colorado area.

CASINO NAME CITY ADDRESS PHONE
Brass Ass Casino of Cripple Creek Cripple Creek 64 E Bennett Avenue Cripple Creek, CO 80813 719-689-2104
Century Casino Central City Central City 102 Main Street Central City, CO 80427 303-582-5050
Colorado Grande Casino Cripple Creek 300 East Bennett Avenue Cripple Creek, CO 80813 719-689-3517
The Gilpin Casino Black Hawk 111 Main Street Black Hawk, CO 80422 303-582-1133
Ameristar Casino Black Hawk Black Hawk 111 Richman StreetBlack Hawk, CO 80422 720-946-4000