Colorado Lawmakers Pass Problem Gambling Bill for Sportsbook Apps
DENVER – Colorado lawmakers have passed a sports betting bill that would limit how often users can deposit money into sportsbook apps.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The measure now heads to Gov. Jared Polis and could make Colorado the first US state to restrict daily deposits on betting platforms.
Senate Bill 131 would limit bettors to six deposits per day, although it would not cap the amount of money placed in each deposit. The bill would also ban credit card deposits on sportsbook apps and prohibit push notifications that encourage users to place bets or add funds.
The measure cleared its final legislative step Wednesday after the Senate agreed to House amendments on the final day of the session. Polis’s office said the governor will review the final version of the bill before deciding whether to sign it.
Related: FanDuel to End Credit Card Funding on March 2 as Part of Safer-Play Push
Daily Deposit Limits Target Loss-Chasing
Sen. Matt Ball, a Denver Democrat and one of the bill’s bipartisan sponsors, said repeated deposits are a warning sign for problem gambling and can indicate higher-risk betting behaviour.
“As a result, deposit limits are widely recognized as an effective harm-reduction tool designed to introduce friction, slow loss-chasing behavior and reduce extreme outcomes, particularly among high-intensity users”, Ball said.
The daily deposit limit is the most prominent remaining provision in the bill after lawmakers removed a proposed ban on proposition bets. That earlier proposal would have restricted wagers tied to individual athlete performance, a popular product category for sportsbooks because of its appeal in same-game parlays and higher-margin betting markets.
Industry groups opposed the bill, arguing that deposit limits, advertising restrictions, and prop bet limits would harm sportsbook operations. Colorado currently has 13 online sportsbooks, and five already prohibit credit card deposits.
More Responsible Gambling
Push Notifications and Credit Cards Also Targeted
The bill’s proposed ban on push notifications would block sportsbook apps from sending messages that solicit bets or deposits. Supporters argue that those alerts can act as triggers for users who are already chasing losses or struggling to control their betting.
The credit card ban is designed to prevent users from funding gambling accounts with borrowed money. Similar restrictions have become a growing focus in responsible gambling policy discussions as regulators and lawmakers look for tools that reduce financial harm without banning sports betting outright.
Brianne Doura-Schawohl, director of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, described the bill as creating “revolutionary consumer protections” and urged Polis to sign it.
The final decision now sits with the governor. If signed, Colorado would become a key test case for whether deposit-frequency limits and marketing controls can become part of broader sportsbook regulation in the US.
RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling
Latest News
Regulation
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Colorado Lawmakers Pass Problem Gambling Bill for Sportsbook Apps