Although it may have taken its time, sports betting is legal now in Colorado, but only in certain circumstances. As long as it is offered and conducted within the rules and regulations of the state, it’s perfectly legal. Players under the age of 21 aren’t allowed to place sports bets.
Sports betting isn’t the only gaming that’s permitted in Colorado, however. Today, Colorado not only offers legal online betting but also poker. Below is a look at some of the best poker tournaments in which to play in Colorado if you fancy your chances at the tables, plus a look at Horseshoe Black Hawk Casino, which boasts the best poker room in the state.
Colorado Poker Championship Spring Series
One of the most well known of the poker tournaments in Colorado is the Colorado Poker Championship Spring Series, which, in the case of this year, took place from February 8th to March 4th. The series featured a host of No Limits Hold’em poker and Pot Limit Omaha events. Buy-ins started as low as $140, depending on the event, and reached as high as $2,500, this latter sum applying to the high roller event.
Mid States Poker Tour
The Mid States Poker Tour is coming to Colorado, from July 5 to 16 and at least $1.2 million is up for grabs in the event prize pool, and there’s a guaranteed $450,000. The Showdown Series will be held at the Bally’s Black Hawk Casino, and there will be 13 trophy events.
The Mid States Poker Tour holds more than 30 events across the country. Originally, the tour started life as the Minnesota State Poker Tour when it launched in 2009. A year and a half later, it crossed the border into the state of Iowa and soon rebranded as the “Mid States Poker Tour.” Most of the stops on the tour honor its midwestern roots.
The MSTP is designed directly for poker players. Low buy-ins on the tour allow players to play for big prize money, and the blind structures makes it possible for players to play patiently and also for skill to play the dominant part in games. Although the tour is mainly for recreational poker players, it has welcomed plenty of professionals to its tables, who have walked away with significant amounts of prize money.
Third Rail Poker Tournament
The poker tournament at Third Rail is an enjoyable but slightly less serious affair that takes place on the second Sunday each month. Best of all for players, the tournament is free to play, yet players still have the chance to walk with sizable prize money.
At this friendly little tournament, the hosts welcome all players. Anyone who is new to the game has the chance to learn before they play, and the venue welcomes more experienced players to come again and again.
The tournament works by awarding each player $5,000 in chips. Every qualifying purchase they make at the bar rewards them with $15,000 in chips. The last player standing at the tournament wins the prize money.
Heartland Poker Tour (HPT)
Although no longer running due to world events that caused it to struggle, The Heartland Poker deserves an honorable mention and was a popular televised tour, created to give poker fans a chance to see the game live. The HPT changed the face of televised poker, which until that point had featured hardly anything but large-scale poker events with big buy-ins, and made the poker experience more approachable. The buy-in was, typically, a little more than around $1,600, and the tour gained popularity with viewers who felt they could relate to it more.
The HPT experienced some notable moments, including the fifth win by poker player Greg Raymer. Many poker fans out there long for the tour and the show to return. No one knows whether it will or not, but it’s thought someone out there is trying to make it happen.
The best poker room in Colorado
Of course, you might not necessarily want to play in a tournament, but still want to play a little poker. One of the best poker rooms in the state is at the Horseshoe Black Hawk Casino.
The Horseshow Black Hawk Casino provides players with a variety of poker games. You can go for the more straightforward three card poker or opt for variations of the more strategic and complicated Texas Hold’em. That includes a high hand game in which every hour it’s possible to win $400 for the highest hand.
If you’re a fan of cash games and tournament poker, Colorado is one of the most interesting states to be in as it welcomes poker players there. From relaxed, enjoyable tournaments to poker for high rollers, any poker player will have a ball when they visit Colorado for a game.
