Colorado Senate Advances Bill to Ban Betting Ads and Impose Deposit Limits
The push to tighten sports betting rules in Colorado advanced this week as the Senate approved Senate Bill 26‑131 by a 20‑14 vote.
The measure, which now heads to the House, introduces new responsible gaming standards and procedures aimed at online wagering. Lawmakers described the bill as a bipartisan effort to add safeguards for players while changing how betting platforms operate in the state.
Sen. Matt Ball, speaking during the debate, warned about the dangers of unchecked advertising and technology in the industry. “Pernicious algorithms and advertisements are increasingly preying on vulnerable online sports bettors,” he said, pointing to the rapid changes since legalization in 2019.
“Since Colorado’s legalization of online sports betting in 2019, technology has rapidly transformed the industry, catching more and more people in the cycle of devastating gambling addiction,” Ball added.
He stressed that the bill’s purpose is not only to limit deposits and ban ads but also to protect young people and preserve fairness in sports. “As online sports betting continues its rise in popularity, we must ensure there are reasonable protections in place to help prevent addiction, protect underage Coloradans, and uphold the integrity of the game and its athletes,” Ball said.
Prop betting ban removed from bill
Senate Bill 26‑131 moved forward after its third reading, following a narrow 4‑3 vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Lawmakers advanced the measure only after making changes to an earlier proposal that targeted prop wagers.
The amendment removed language that would have prohibited bets tied to individual player performance, officiating calls, penalties, injuries, or any outcome outside the final score.
Committee members removed the proposed ban due to a fiscal report warning about its effect on revenues. Without the ban, the state expects to lose about $800,000 in sports betting tax revenue next year. If lawmakers had moved forward with the prop betting ban, estimates warned that revenue would have declined by $2.4 million.
The case is similar to a proposal in Louisiana that also sought to ban prop bets. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Katrina Jackson‑Andrews, withdrew the bill after a fiscal note projected that such a ban would cost the state nearly $21 million in annual revenue.
Credit card ban, daily deposit limits, and more on SB 131
SB 131 features several amendments that would reshape advertising, deposits, and operator practices in the state.
One of the most significant of them all is the ban on credit card deposits, which is expected to drive most of the projected revenue decline. The bill also sets a daily cap of six deposits per account holder, slightly higher than the five‑deposit limit proposed in earlier drafts.
Advertising restrictions are also key to the bill, which would prohibit sports betting ads on broadcast channels between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. during live sporting events, and would ban marketing directed at anyone under 21 across broadcast, cable, radio, print, and digital platforms.
Sportsbooks would be barred from sending push notifications or text messages to encourage betting, and they cannot use promotional phrases such as “bonus bet” or “no sweat” in their marketing.
The proposal further requires licensed operators to submit public reports every three years beginning in 2029, detailing revenue and betting activity. With the Senate’s approval, SB 26‑131 now heads to the House, where the Appropriations Committee has until May 11 to act.
Read more Misiones Lottery Authority Deploys AI to Combat Problem Gambling and Illegal Activity
Source: SBC America
Comments