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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 26-0299.01 Sarah Lozano x3858 SENATE BILL 26-131
Senate Committees House Committees
Finance
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING PROTECTIONS AGAINST ABUSIVE PRACTICES IN SPORTS101
BETTING.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill creates certain requirements and prohibitions related to
sports betting.
Section 2 of the bill adds definitions to the statutes regulating
sports betting.
Section 3 prohibits a person licensed by the Colorado limited
gaming control commission (commission) to operate an internet sports
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Ball and Pelton B.,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Woodrow and Woog,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
betting operation (internet sports betting operator) from:
! Accepting more than 5 separate deposits from an individual
in a 24-hour period;
! Limiting the size and frequency of deposits or bets because
an individual obtains a financial benefit as a result of
placing the bet or due to the individual's betting activities,
unless the betting activities constitute a suspicious betting
activity or are indicative of a gambling disorder; or
! Initiating or sending mobile device push notifications or
text messages to account holders in the state soliciting bets
or deposits.
Section 4 prohibits a person from:
! Including enhanced payout promotions or information on
how to place a sports bet in an advertisement or promotion
for a sports betting operation; or
! Broadcasting an advertisement or promotion for a sports
betting operation from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or during a live
broadcast of an athletic competition.
Section 4 also requires:
! A sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator
to comply with certain requirements in contracting with and
compensating a third party for marketing and advertising
services; and
! An internet sports betting operator to provide to the
division of gaming in the department of revenue data and
metrics related to the operator's sports betting operation for
the preceding calendar year. The division must comply with
certain confidentiality requirements and compile the data
into a public report every 3 years starting on January 1,
2029.
Section 5 prohibits an internet sports betting operator from
offering or accepting a proposition bet or directly or indirectly accepting
deposits using a credit card in connection with the acceptance of a sports
bet (prohibitions). A violation of a prohibition constitutes a class 2
misdemeanor.
Section 6 allows the commission to assess a maximum penalty of
$25,000 against a violator of a prohibition.
Section 7 requires that the amount of money annually transferred
from the sports betting fund to the water plan implementation cash fund
is no less than the amount transferred to the water plan implementation
cash fund in the previous state fiscal year, to the extent the unexpended
and unencumbered money in the sports betting fund permits.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
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SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly1
finds that:2
(a) Participation in online sports betting has grown rapidly in3
Colorado since its legalization in 2019. Over $6.3 billion in online sports4
bets were wagered in Colorado in 2025, which is an increase of over5
130% from 2020.6
(b) The growth has been especially pronounced among young7
people, particularly men. More than half of 18- to 22-year-olds have8
engaged in some form of sports betting, and surveys of high school9
students report that between 60% and 80% have gambled for money10
within the previous 12 months.11
(c) Many people are capable of betting on sports responsibly, but12
many are not. In Colorado, calls and texts to the problem-gambling13
helpline increased by about 45% in the year after legalization of online14
sports betting.15
(d) Nationally, over 6 million adults struggle with a gaming16
addiction, and the prevalence among high school students is roughly17
double that of adults;18
(e) Sports betting is associated with reduced household savings19
and credit scores and more than a 25% increased risk of bankruptcies,20
overdrafts, and loan delinquencies; and21
(f) Women with a partner who has a gambling problem are 1022
times more likely to have experienced intimate partner violence.23
(2) The general assembly further finds that:24
(a) Children and adolescents are frequently exposed to sports25
betting advertising and are influenced by its messages;26
(b) Advertising has a significant impact on children. "Risk-free"27
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and similar low- or no-risk claims are strongly associated with problem1
gaming, and exposed youth often believe such claims, view sports betting2
as normal behavior, and can accurately describe how to place sports bets.3
(c) Children are more likely to watch television during daytime4
hours, and sporting events draw a large mixed-age audience. Advertising5
during daytime and live sporting events is therefore difficult to avoid for6
sports fans, including minors and adults at an elevated risk.7
(3) The general assembly further finds that sufficient funding for8
the water plan implementation cash fund is a legislative priority and that9
House Bill 25-1311, enacted in 2025, significantly increased the revenue10
available for that purpose in 2025.11
(4) The general assembly therefore determines that:12
(a) Colorado has a substantial interest in regulating sports betting13
to minimize harm to at-risk adults, children, and the broader community;14
and15
(b) Prohibiting deceptive low- or no-risk claims and setting16
reasonable limits on when and where sports betting ads may appear are17
necessary and targeted measures to protect children and reduce18
gambling-related harm.19
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-30-1501, add20
(3.5), (8.3), (8.7), (14), and (15) as follows:21
44-30-1501. Definitions - rules.22
Definitions applicable to this part 15 also appear in section23
44-30-103 and article 1 of this title 44. As used in this part 15, unless the24
context otherwise requires:25
(3.5) "GAMBLING DISORDER" MEANS AN ADDICTIVE DISORDER, AS26
DEFINED BY THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE DIAGNOSTIC AND27
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STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS PUBLISHED BY THE1
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION, CHARACTERIZED BY REPEATED2
PROBLEMATIC GAMBLING BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS3
OR DISTRESS.4
(8.3) (a) "P ROPOSITION BET " MEANS A BET CONCERNING THE5
PERFORMANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE PARTICIPATING IN AN6
ATHLETIC EVENT, OR A COMBINATION OF ATHLETIC EVENTS, THE OUTCOME7
OF WHICH BET DEPENDS ON THE OCCURRENCE OR NONOCCURRENCE OF A8
SPECIFIC ACT , STATISTIC , PERFORMANCE , EVENT , OR CIRCUMSTANCE9
WITHIN THE ATHLETIC EVENT OR COMBINATION OF ATHLETIC EVENTS.10
(b) "P ROPOSITION BET " INCLUDES A BET ON AN INDIVIDUAL11
ATHLETE'S PERFORMANCE , AN OFFICIATING DECISION , A PENALTY , AN12
INJURY, THE TIMING OF AN EVENT , OR ANY OUTCOME OTHER THAN THE13
FINAL RESULT OR SCORE OF AN ATHLETIC EVENT , REGARDLESS OF14
WHETHER THE BET IS PLACED BEFORE OR DURING THE ATHLETIC EVENT.15
(8.7) "PUSH NOTIFICATION" MEANS AN AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC16
MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON AN ACCOUNT HOLDER 'S MOBILE DEVICE WHEN17
THE USER INTERFACE FOR AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATION IS18
NOT ACTIVELY OPEN OR VISIBLE ON THE MOBILE DEVICE.19
(14) "S USPICIOUS BETTING ACTIVITY " MEANS AN UNUSUAL20
BETTING ACTIVITY THAT IS INDICATIVE OF MATCH FIXING , THE21
MANIPULATION OF AN EVENT , THE MISUSE OF INSIDE INFORMATION , OR22
OTHER ACTIVITY PROHIBITED BY THIS PART 15.23
(15) "U NUSUAL BETTING ACTIVITY " MEANS AN ABNORMAL24
BETTING ACTIVITY EXHIBITED BY A PATRON AND DEEMED BY A SPORTS25
BETTING OPERATION AS A POTENTIAL INDICATOR OF SUSPICIOUS BETTING26
ACTIVITY, WHICH ABNORMAL BETTING ACTIVITY MAY INCLUDE THE SIZE27
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OF THE PATRON 'S WAGER OR INCREASED BETTING VOLUME ON A1
PARTICULAR EVENT OR WAGER TYPE.2
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-30-1506, amend3
(7) and (8) as follows:4
44-30-1506. Operations - eligibility to place bets -5
record-keeping - information sharing - internet sports betting6
operator requirements.7
(7) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (8)(b) OF THIS SECTION,8
each sports betting operator may set such bet limits as it sees fit, in its9
sole discretion, and may make those limits specific to a form or class of10
sports betting, a specific sports event, or a person AN INDIVIDUAL placing11
a bet, based on individual or aggregate data concerning bets to be placed12
or that have been placed historically by that individual or on that form or13
class of sports betting or on that sports event.14
(8) (a) (I) An internet sports betting operator shall accept bets only15
from persons INDIVIDUALS physically located within the state of16
Colorado. An internet sports bettin g operator may establish and fund17
sports wagering accounts electronically through commission-approved18
mobile applications and digital platforms.19
(II) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR SHALL NOT ACCEPT20
MORE THAN FIVE SEPARATE DEPOSITS FROM AN INDIVIDUAL DURING A21
TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR PERIOD.22
(b) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR SHALL NOT LIMIT THE23
SIZE AND FREQUENCY OF DEPOSITS OR BETS FROM AN INDIVIDUAL USING24
THE INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR 'S INTERNET SPORTS BETTING25
OPERATION:26
(I) BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL OBTAINS A FINANCIAL BENEFIT AS A27
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RESULT OF PLACING A BET ON THE INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATION;1
OR2
(II) DUE TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S BETTING ACTIVITIES, UNLESS THE3
INDIVIDUAL'S BETTING ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTE A SUSPICIOUS BETTING4
ACTIVITY OR INDICATE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A GAMBLING DISORDER.5
(c) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR SHALL NOT INITIATE6
OR SEND MOBILE DEVICE PUSH NOTIFICATIONS OR TEXT MESSAGE7
NOTIFICATIONS, INCLUDING ALERTS, TO ACCOUNT HOLDERS IN THE STATE8
RELATING TO THE SOLICITATION OF BETS OR DEPOSITS FROM THE INTERNET9
SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR'S INTERNET SPORTS BETTING PLATFORM.10
(d) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION (8) REQUIRES THE COMMISSION11
TO CREATE, SUBMIT, OR MODIFY A REPORT, DATA SUBMISSION, OR OTHER12
REPORTING REQUIREMENT.13
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 44-30-1506.514
and 44-30-1507.5 as follows:15
44-30-1506.5. Advertisement requirements and prohibitions.16
(1) IN AN ADVERTISEMENT OR PROMOTION FOR A SPORTS BETTING17
OPERATION, A PERSON SHALL NOT:18
(a) I NCLUDE AN ENHANCED PAYOUT PROMOTION OR SIMILAR19
OFFER, INCLUDING A STATEMENT THAT CONTAINS THE WORDS "BONUS",20
"NO SWEAT", "BONUS BET", OR OTHER SIMILAR WORD OR PHRASE; OR21
(b) INCLUDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A SPORTS BET.22
(2) A PERSON SHALL NOT BROADCAST AN ADVERTISEMENT OR23
PROMOTION FOR A SPORTS BETTING OPERATION FROM 8 A.M. TO 10 P.M. OR24
DURING A LIVE BROADCAST OF AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION.25
(3) (a) A SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR OR INTERNET SPORTS26
BETTING OPERATOR SHALL NOT ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A THIRD27
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PARTY FOR THE THIRD PARTY TO CONDUCT ADVERTISING OR MARKETING1
ON BEHALF OF, OR TO THE BENEFIT OF, THE SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR OR2
INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR IF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT3
COMPENSATION IS DEPENDENT ON , OR RELATED TO , THE NUMBER OF4
INDIVIDUALS WHO BECOME PATRONS, THE VOLUME OR AMOUNT OF BETS5
PLACED, OR THE OUTCOME OF BETS.6
(b) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR MAY COMPENSATE7
A THIRD PARTY FOR ADVERTISING SERVICES BASED ON A LINK TO THE8
INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR 'S INTERNET SPORTS BETTING9
OPERATION IF THE COMPENSATION IS NOT BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL10
CREATING AN ACCOUNT OR PLACING A BET WITH THE INTERNET SPORTS11
BETTING OPERATION.12
44-30-1507.5. Internet sports betting operations - data13
submission requirement - report by the division.14
(1) NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1, 2028, AND NO LATER THAN EACH15
FEBRUARY 1 THEREAFTER , AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR16
SHALL PROVIDE TO THE DIVISION ALL TRANSACTIONAL DATA AND METRICS17
RELATED TO THE INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR 'S INTERNET18
SPORTS BETTING OPERATION FOR THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR.19
(2) THE DATA AND METRICS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION20
(1) OF THIS SECTION:21
(a) SHALL BE REDACTED TO EXCLUDE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE22
INFORMATION; AND23
(b) A RE EXEMPT FROM THE "COLORADO OPEN RECORDS ACT",24
PART 2 OF ARTICLE 72 OF TITLE 24.25
(3) N O LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2029, AND NO LATER THAN26
JANUARY 1 EVERY THREE YEARS THEREAFTER , THE DIVISION SHALL27
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COMPILE THE DATA PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS1
SECTION INTO A REPORT ON INTERNET SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE AND2
PUBLISH THE REPORT ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE.3
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 44-30-15114
as follows:5
44-30-1511. Unlawful acts.6
(1) In addition to the prohibitions in section 44-30-801, it is7
unlawful for: any person:8
(a) A PERSON to charge, in connection with the placement or9
acceptance of a bet, a commission or fee greater than or less than that10
fixed by the commission;11
(b) A PERSON to accept a bet by any person under twenty-one12
years of age; or OLD;13
(c) A PERSON to accept a bet at any place or in any manner other14
than a place or manner authorized and specified in a sports betting15
license;16
(d) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR TO OFFER OR ACCEPT17
A PROPOSITION BET; OR18
(e) AN INTERNET SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR TO ACCEPT DEPOSITS19
USING A CREDIT CARD , EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY , INCLUDING20
THROUGH AN ACCOUNT FUNDED BY A CREDIT CARD, IN CONNECTION WITH21
THE ACCEPTANCE OF A SPORTS BET.22
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-30-524, amend23
(1)(b) introductory portion and (1)(b)(III) as follows:24
44-30-524. Suspension or revocation of license - grounds -25
penalties.26
(1) (b) The commission may suspend or revoke a license granted27
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pursuant to this article 30 for a violation by the licensee or an officer,1
director, agent, member, or employee of the licensee, after notice to the2
licensee, the opportunity for a hearing, and upon proof by a3
preponderance of the evidence as determined by the commission.4
Violations that may warrant license suspension or revocation include5
violations of this article 30, any rule promulgated ADOPTED by the6
commission, any provision of article 33 of this title 44, or any rule7
promulgated ADOPTED by the executive director pursuant to section8
44-33-108 (3) or conviction of a crime. In addition to revocation or9
suspension, or in lieu of revocation or suspension, the commission may10
impose a reprimand or a monetary penalty not to exceed the following11
amounts:12
(III) If the licensee is an operator OR AN INTERNET SPORTS13
BETTING OPERATOR THAT VIOLATES SECTION 44-30-1511 (1)(d) OR (1)(e),14
the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars;15
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-30-1509, amend16
(2)(e) as follows:17
44-30-1509. Sports betting fund - wagering revenue recipients18
hold-harmless fund - creation - rules - definitions - repeal.19
(2) For fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2024, from the20
money in the sports betting fund, to the extent the unexpended and21
unencumbered balance in the fund so permits, the state treasurer shall22
distribute an amount equal to all revenue of the division annually derived23
from the regulation of sports betting and fantasy contests, including24
license fees, fines, and penalties, and the first twenty-nine million dollars25
annually collected for payment of the sports betting tax as follows:26
(e) Third, transfer all remaining unexpended and unencumbered27
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money in the fund that is subject to distribution pursuant to this1
subsection (2) to the water plan implementation cash fund created in2
section 37-60-123.3, WHICH AMOUNT MUST BE NO LESS THAN THE3
AMOUNT TRANSFERRED TO THE WATER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION CASH FUND4
IN THE PREVIOUS STATE FISCAL YEAR, TO THE EXTENT THE UNEXPENDED5
AND UNENCUMBERED MONEY IN THE FUND PERMITS.6
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date -7
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following8
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the9
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,10
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 111
(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section,12
or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part13
will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election14
to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the15
date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.16
(2) This act applies to conduct occurring and agreements entered17
into on or after the applicable effective date of this act.18
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