Colorado legal term
Gambling in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Gambling” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Gambling” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Gambling" means risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device, or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control, but does not include: (a) Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength, or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entries; (b) Bona fide business transactions which are valid under the law of contracts; (c) Other acts or transactions now or hereafter expressly authorized by law (C.R.S. § 18-10-102)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.