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Nobody plans on searching for gambling help in Colorado. If you're here, you've already started the hard part. What follows is how Colorado lets you ban yourself from betting and where to find free help close to home.
Colorado at a glance
| Online sports betting | Yes, through licensed apps |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Regulator | Colorado Division of Gaming |
| Statewide self-exclusion | Colorado Self-Exclusion List |
| How to sign up | Online, by email or mail, or in person |
Is sports betting legal in Colorado?
Colorado allows sports betting online through mobile apps and in person at casino sportsbooks. It started in May 2020. You have to be at least 21 to bet on sports in Colorado. Betting is overseen by the Colorado Division of Gaming.
How to self-exclude from sports betting in Colorado
Self-exclusion is the strongest tool most states have. You sign up once, and licensed sportsbooks have to block you for as long as you chose.
In Colorado, the main option is the Colorado Self-Exclusion List.
- It's run by the Colorado Division of Gaming and covers casino gambling and both in-person and online sportsbooks.
- You choose 1 year (the minimum), 3 years or 5 years.
- You can apply through an online form, by email or mail, or in person at the Division of Gaming office.
- You aren't removed automatically when your time ends. You have to ask, and the Director has to approve it. Ending early is only possible by petition.
State lists can take a few days to reach every operator. Cover that window by excluding inside every app you've used, starting with the one you used most.
Not sure which list covers which app? This chart sorts it out, and the self-exclusion guide walks through signing up.
When your team plays
If you used to bet on the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Buffaloes, those games won't feel the same for a while. That's normal. Watch with someone who knows you're quitting, or skip the close ones until the urge has less pull.
More on this in watching sports after you quit.
Close the other doors
Self-exclusion works best with a few more walls around it:
- Install a gambling blocker on every device and lock your phone settings so you can't reinstall apps on impulse. See how to block sports betting apps.
- Remove saved cards from betting sites, and ask your bank about blocking gambling transactions.
- If debt is piling up, a nonprofit credit counselor at NFCC.org can help.
Free help in Colorado
Most of this is free, and you can start some of it tonight.
- Low-cost or free treatment: start with the National Council on Problem Gambling's resources for Colorado. It lists who to call in Colorado.
- Talk to someone now: the National Problem Gambling Helpline is free and confidential, 24/7. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
- Free meetings: Gamblers Anonymous meets in person and on Zoom on every day of the week. What your first meeting is like.
- A gambling counselor: general therapy helps, but a specialist knows the patterns. Start on Find Help with your state picked.
- In crisis: call or text 988, or call 911 if you're in immediate danger.
If you love someone who bets in Colorado
You can't self-exclude someone else, and you can't make them quit. You can protect your money, get support for yourself, and have a calm conversation that keeps the door open. Start with how to help someone with a gambling problem. Gam-Anon has free meetings for families, including online.
FAQ
What's the legal sports betting age in Colorado?
You have to be at least 21 to bet on sports in Colorado.
How do I self-exclude from sports betting in Colorado?
You can apply through an online form, by email or mail, or in person at the Division of Gaming office.
Does self-excluding from one app cover every sportsbook in Colorado?
No. Excluding inside one app only blocks that app. The Colorado Self-Exclusion List is what covers licensed operators across Colorado, so use both, and add a blocker for offshore sites that ignore state programs.
Where can I get gambling treatment in Colorado?
Gambling-specific programs are rare in Colorado, so most people here start with online therapy or a counselor through the state's resources. If you need more than that, some residential programs in other states accept out-of-state patients. See your options on Find Help.
Sources: Colorado Division of Gaming: Bet Smart self-exclusion; Fox Sports: where sports betting is legal (May 2026); National Council on Problem Gambling: help by state; NCPG: 1-800-MY-RESET. Checked October 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm current details on the official page before you rely on them. Unbettable isn't affiliated with any sportsbook, casino or state agency.
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