Colorado poker rooms offer a healthy blend of cash games and daily tournaments if you’re traveling to Black Hawk or Cripple Creek. Play $1/$2 NLHE, or jump into tournaments with guaranteed prizepools as you rack up those reward points.
Here you’ll find reviews of the best places to play poker in Colorado. Make sure you’re of the minimum age for gaming before you set out.
Bally’s Casino Black Hawk is one of the largest cardrooms in Colorado. With 17 tables, the cardroom at Bally’s is as close as you will get to a player’s paradise in The Centennial State. However, the cardroom can accommodate a 5-table overflow if needed.
It’s worth noting that the Bally’s Casino doesn’t feature a hotel, so you’ll need to arrange for accommodation elsewhere if you’re venturing out for a game.
The poker room at Bally’s Black Hawk hosts a variety of games and tournaments to cater to all levels of players. Make time for special events such as the Fall Showdown Poker Tournament, as well as daily tournaments like the $80 Turbo and $100/$200 freezeouts.
The rewards system at Bally’s Casino Black Hawk is designed to give back to loyal players. As a poker player, you earn points every time you play.
This is part of the Bally Bucks program, where every hour spent at the poker tables earns you points. You can accumulate and redeem player points at your convenience.
The casino also runs a rakeback program, which is a significant draw for regular players. If you play for 40 hours or more, you’ll be awarded $100 cashback.
Ameristar Casino is currently the largest cardroom in Colorado, and the refurbished resort it operates on is worth the 33-mile drive west from Denver if you’re looking for a trip away when you play poker.
There are over 20 tables in the Ameristar cardroom. The poker room runs 24 hours a day, and you can sit down in tournaments and cash games to suit all budgets. The Ameristar cardroom is also the only one in CO that spreads Big O cash games.
In addition to Big O (a variant of Omaha), there is a wide range of NLHE cash action. You can play No Limit games from $1/$2 up to $5/$10. Pot Limit Hold’em is also available, with top buy-ins at the $100 level.
Ameristar Black Hawk is owned and operated by Penn Entertainment Inc., one of the largest casino operators in the US. That means you’re entitled to opt into the group’s rewards program and earn PENN Cash every time you play poker.
You earn $0.50 in PENN Cash per hour of live poker play. You can redeem PENN Cash at any of the on-site restaurants. More play gets you access to cheap hotel stays at the resort.
The Midnight Rose Poker Room, situated in the heart of the Midnight Rose Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado, is a must-visit for poker players in the state. It’s also the only operating cardroom in Cripple Creek right now.
With a compact size of six tables, the poker room ensures an intimate setting that allows for a more personalized gaming experience. The smaller size doesn’t compromise the quality of the games, with each table offering a competitive atmosphere for players of varying skill levels.The poker room opens at 10 a.m., providing ample opportunity for daytime play. However, for those who prefer the thrill of night-time gaming, the room extends its hours until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. This flexibility in operating hours allows you to enjoy your poker games at your convenience, whether you’re an early bird or a night owl.
A notable feature of the Midnight Rose Poker Room is the Triple Rewards program. This rewards system is designed to appreciate and give back to loyal players.
As a poker player, you can earn points every time you engage in a game. These points can then be redeemed for various perks and benefits within the casino, enhancing your overall gaming experience.
The casino, which is owned and operated by Monarch Casino & Resort Inc., opened its doors in 2012. The poker room, specifically, has been an integral part of the casino’s offerings since its inception.
The poker room at Monarch Black Hawk Casino is equipped with seven tables, providing ample space for players. The tables host a variety of cash games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. The stakes vary, catering to both high rollers and casual players.
Tournaments are a regular feature at the Monarch Black Hawk Casino poker room. The schedule includes daily tournaments, along with special events throughout the year. These tournaments attract a diverse range of players, from locals to tourists, and contribute to the dynamic atmosphere of the poker room.
The Monarch Black Hawk Casino also offers a range of promotions. These promotions, which are updated regularly, provide players with the opportunity to win extra cash and prizes. They add an element of excitement to the poker room, without detracting from the primary focus on the game itself.
Furthermore, the casino has a loyalty program, known as the Monarch Rewards. This program allows players to earn points for their play, which can then be redeemed for a variety of benefits, including dining discounts and free play.
The Horseshoe, formerly known as the Isle Casino-Hotel, is a noteworthy destination for poker enthusiasts in the state. The refurbished Isle Poker Room launched in 2022 and hosted its first tournament in three years.
Since its rebranding, the casino, now operated by Caesars Entertainment, has continued to uphold its reputation for providing a great poker experience.
One of the highlights of the Horseshoe is the WSOP Poker Room. Opening its doors at 9 a.m., the dedicated poker room offers an array of games to suit different tastes and skill levels. From seasoned professionals to casual players, the WSOP Poker Room provides a welcoming environment for all.
Tournaments are another aspect of the Horseshoe’s appeal. The $80 Turbo, held at 10 a.m. twice a week, attracts a wide range of participants. It provides a competitive atmosphere for players looking for a challenge, as well as a chance to win substantial prizes.
Promotions are an integral part of the poker room’s offerings. These include Texas Hold’em High Hand jackpots and bad beat jackpots, both of which provide opportunities for players to increase their winnings. Additionally, cash giveaways are also part of the promotional line-up, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gaming experience.
As a Horseshoe poker player, you can earn points through the Caesars Rewards program. This program allows you to accumulate points based on your play, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards. This not only enhances your gaming experience but also provides additional value for your time spent at the poker tables.
Most of the live poker in Colorado is concentrated around Black Hawk and Cripple Creek. Cardrooms aren’t enormous but they do offer a mix of tournaments and cash games.
| Cardroom Name | Address | City | Phone Number |
| Ameristar Casino Black Hawk | 111 Richman St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 | Black Hawk | 1-720-946-4000 |
| Bally’s Black Hawk Casino | 300 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 | Black Hawk | 1-303-582-2600 |
| Horseshoe Black Hawk Casino-Hotel | 401 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 | Black Hawk | 1-800-843-4753 |
| Midnight Rose Poker Room | 256 E. Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 | Cripple Creek | 1-719-689-0303 |
| Monarch Black Hawk Casino | 488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422 | Black Hawk | 1-303-582-1000 |
Colorado poker rooms are modest in comparison to the ones you might find in Nevada or New Jersey. Bally’s currently wins out as the largest cardroom in The Centennial State. All cardrooms are based within existing CO casinos.
| Cardroom Name | Games Offered | Number of Tables | Major Events |
| Bally’s Black Hawk Casino | Cash games, tournaments ($100–$200 NLHE), rakeback program | 17+ | Fall Showdown, Bally’s Poker Open, MSPT, $1,000 Super Stack, Colorado Poker Championship |
| Monarch Black Hawk Casino | Cash games, Monarch rewards program, Omaha Hi-Lo, Hold’em, progressive bad beat jackpot, | 14+ | n/a |
| Ameristar Casino Black Hawk | Cash games, tournaments | 20+ | n/a |
| Horseshoe Black Hawk Casino-Hotel | Cash games, $80 Turbo tournaments, | 7+ | WSOP Circuit |
| Midnight Rose Poker Room | $2/$2 NLHE cash, $5/$10 Omaha w. Full Kill, comp play | 6+ | n/a |
Some Colorado live poker rooms operate on casino resorts that have hotels attached. Black Hawk casinos like Ameristar have the largest number of rooms.
| Casino Name | Number of Rooms |
| Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino | 59+ |
| Ameristar Black Hawk | 536+ |
| Horseshoe Black Hawk | 400+ |
| Sky Ute Casino Resort | 140+ |
Live poker is perfectly legal under the current CO gambling laws. That means you can access a full suite of cash games, tournaments, and rewards at the best cardrooms in Black Hawk or Cripple Creek.
Alternative poker variants like Stud and Razz aren’t common in Colorado. However, look out for mixed games running irregularly during major events such as the Colorado State Poker Championship.
Hold’em cash games and tournaments run at every Colorado poker room. It’s by far the easiest poker game to learn, and the most popular variant in the state.
Regular tournament buy-ins only go up to about $200 during a standard weekly schedule. However, you can enter special championships and events with entries worth $1,000+.
In Colorado, cash games on the Omaha tables are commonplace at the larger cardrooms. The Midnight Rose Poker Room, for example, offers Omaha Hi-Lo games with the ‘Full Kill’ option. This means that the betting limits are doubled on the next hand after someone scoops the entire pot.
All live poker in Colorado is overseen by the Division of Gaming. You can play poker at the cash tables with a range of limits, or enter tournaments and major championships. Bounties and SNGs are less common, even at the largest cardroom properties in Colorado.
In a cash game, you purchase chips up to the maximum buy-in. Blinds are set in stone and never increase. All Colorado cardrooms offer NLHE (No Limit Hold’em) cash games, while some dedicated poker rooms – such as the Midnight Rose – run Omaha and Hi-Lo.
Every Colorado poker room hosts at least a few tournaments each week. In a tournament, you receive a set number of chips and “bust out” once all your chips have gone. These days, most tournaments allow for unlimited re-buys up to a certain period.
The bigger CO cardrooms run regular tournaments with buy-ins of up to $200. Only the largest events, such as the Fall Showdown and Colorado Poker Championship, have buy-ins that nudge $1,000. It’s not common to find anything larger than this in Colorado.
Satellites are qualifying tournaments that offer the chance to make it into a larger event for less money. Sats are offered during some major championships, such as the Bally’s Poker Open.
As a poker player in Colorado, you can utilize rewards programs like Caesars Rewards and PENN Cash. With Caesars Rewards, you earn points through poker play, dining, entertainment, and hotel stays. These points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, from free play to dining credits.
Similarly, with PENN cash, you accumulate points by playing your favorite games. These points can then be exchanged for cash or used for comps. It’s a straightforward process: the more you play, the more points you earn, and the more rewards you can enjoy. It’s also possible to earn cashback on some of your fees.
Home games are permitted in Colorado under certain circumstances. Social gambling laws allow games if there are no “payments, luck, or prizes.” Therefore, any games that carry no entry fee or prizepool should be covered by the state’s social gaming rules.
Looking for more information on gambling in Colorado? Have a look at our current how-to guides.
Large-scale poker tournaments are permitted under Colorado gambling law. Remember to check our directory of gaming commissions for more information on how regulatory bodies oversee poker.
First held in 2006 at Bally’s Black Hawk Casino, the Colorado State Poker Championship is one of the most prestigious events in the CO calendar. The tournament offers a substantial prize pool, attracting players nationwide. The entry fee is typically around $1,100, providing an affordable opportunity to compete at a high level.
The Bally’s Poker Open is the other major tournament to be held in Black Hawk. It launched in 2010 and is still going strong. The $1,500 entry caters to most semi-professional budgets.
Bally’s Black Hawk is also home to another mid-priced event: the Mid-Stakes Poker Tour (MSPT). The buy-in is $1,100 and the event runs for four days. The prizepool is a cool $300,000 guaranteed.
Colorado poker has established some of the most successful players of all time.
In Colorado, gambling winnings are subject to taxation. The state tax rate on these winnings is currently 4.63%, plus you may be eligible for federal tax too. If you’re fortunate enough to hit a substantial jackpot, it’s essential to know how to handle this. Of course, always gamble responsibly when you play poker in Colorado.
You’ll receive a Form W-2G from the cardroom if your winnings meet certain thresholds. This form is used to report your gambling winnings and any federal income tax withheld on those winnings.
The IRS requires you to report all of your gambling winnings, regardless of their size. It’s not the most exciting part of gambling, but it’s crucial to stay on the right side of the law.
The same rules apply to online gaming tax in Colorado. You must report all substantial wins on your annual return when it’s time to complete your submission.
Poker is legal in Colorado and is governed by the same rules as house games like roulette and blackjack. You must be 21 or over to play poker for real money in a cardroom or casino. Get the full lowdown with our guide to US betting laws.
As for online poker, the specter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has long loomed large. Only recently, Colorado relaxed its online sportsbook laws to permit betting on markets like the NFL and NHL for the first time.
However, online casinos and poker sites have not been included in Colorado’s new betting laws. In time, The Centennial State could make online poker sites legal in the same way B&M cardrooms are. For now, you can play cash and tournaments at offshore poker rooms that spread real-money games 24/7.
Absolutely. Live poker in Colorado is regulated according to the Colorado Limited Gaming Act. A Colorado poker room is allowed to offer raked cash games and tournaments provided it operates on casino property. The law was updated in 2009.
Of Colorado’s casinos, around 5–6 run their own cardrooms for tournament and cash game players. Live poker options also include special events such as the WSOP Circuit.
The first cardroom to open in Colorado was at the Ute Mountain Casino in 1992. The Sky Ute Casino & Lodge opened a year later. The newest cardroom in CO is the Isle Poker Room at the Horseshoe Casino in Black Hawk. It rebranded in 2022 and began offering tournaments for the first time in three years.
Online poker remains unregulated in the state of Colorado. However, with the interpretation of the Wire Act relaxed in recent years, and Colorado legalizing sportsbooks online, poker could soon follow.
You must be 21 or over to enter a Colorado poker room or casino to play games. You may be asked to provide a form of valid photo ID when you register for a tournament or cash game.
Most casinos in Colorado have a casual dress code. Vests may be prohibited, but shorts and sandals are fine for all visitors.
Not every Colorado poker room is open 24 hours, so always check the casino websites before you travel. You can also download the Bravo Poker app to your smartphone to track the early or late tournaments running that day.
The Caesars-owned Horseshoe Casino in Colorado has a dedicated WSOP poker room. You can play WSOP Circuit events there, but check the WSOP live poker website for an up-to-date calendar.
You may play home games in CO provided you aren’t making a profit. That includes taking a rake on cash games or fees on home game tournaments.
You may have to pay gambling winnings tax if your payouts are sufficiently high. The cardroom will retain a portion of your winnings and inform the IRS. You will also be issued with a Form W-2G, which you must complete to keep your tax records up to date.
Yes. The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado should be your first point of access if you want to get help with addiction. You can also find out information on a self-exclusion program that automatically prohibits you from entering any Colorado poker room.
Yes. Steve O’Dwyer and Chance Kornuth are two of the most successful poker pros from Colorado. Between them, they have won over $50m in tournament earnings and multiple WSOP bracelets.
Rake is the fee charged by a Colorado poker room for playing games. You must pay a rake on cash games (usually 10% of the pot maximum), as well as fees when entering a tournament.
It’s unusual to find free-to-enter Colorado poker tournaments at live cardrooms. However, you can easily play freerolls online when you check out our reviews of the best poker sites.
Of course. You can earn points whenever you play live poker in Colorado and pay fees. The bigger your action, the more loyalty points you’ll earn. You may then redeem points for cash or free hotel stays.
The Horseshoe Casino in Black Hawk was the last new gaming establishment to open its doors. Cripple Creek got a new casino in 2023 when the Chamonix Casino-Hotel opened.
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