Long considered one of the most operator-friendly and open sports betting marketplaces, Colorado is now facing proposed big changes to its wagering law. Sen. Matt Ball Wednesday introduced a bill that would ban prop bets, certain push notifications, and funding of gambling accounts via credit cards, set deposit frequency and size limits, and prohibit sports betting advertisements during live sports broadcasts between 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
SB 131 was immediately referred to the Finance Committee, though no hearing date has been set. The bill was introduced after the Feb. 6 introduction deadline, and would be considered a “delayed bill,” on which action would only be taken if the Committee on Delayed Bills approves it with a two-thirds majority.
The changes would drastically alter the current sports betting landscape, and should it succeed, would make Colorado the first legal U.S. gambling jurisdiction with an ad ban during live broadcasts.
While promulgating rules, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission considered such an ad ban, but dismissed the idea because it may not be possible to be implemented. Commissioners in that state struggled with how to limit or ban such ads during national broadcasts in the state.
The idea to ban prop bets is part of a growing trend across the U.S. since the NCAA has begun lobbying for a prohibition on college prop bans. But Colorado’s bill would a step further, banning any kind of prop bet. Those in the industry have argued previously that such a ban would only force consumers to look elsewhere — like prediction markets of offshore platforms — to find the bet.
“Frankly, the more I looked into it, the more I became really, really alarmed by everything that has happened as a consequence of legalized sports betting and, in my view, placing very few restrictions on it,” Ball told the Denver Post. “We just didn’t know what we didn’t know. It’s just exploded and it’s happened very fast. I think we can see the harm that’s happened very clearly.”
Colorado voters legalized online and in-person sports betting via initiative in November 2019, and required launch in May 2020.
In other news …
Here’s a look at the status of other active bills around the U.S.:
Connecticut: HB 5229, the bill that would ban gambling advertising on university campuses and on any digital accounts associated with a university or college, is set for a hearing before the Joint General Law Committee Wednesday. Advertisements that include “trademarks, symbols, or logos” or reveal a relationship between the university and the gambling entity are excepted from the proposal. Some University of Connecticut teams play games at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
Georgia: A new bill that would require age verification before a consumer views any platform that has gambling content was filed Tuesday. SB 571 would set the age at 18 and would require that any website on which one-third (33.33%) or more of the content is related to gambling require a “digitized identification card” to be submitted before a consumer could enter a qualified site. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Children and Families, but no hearing date has been set. Online sports betting and gambling are not legal in Georgia.
Mississippi: The House Wednesday passed an online sports betting bill, 100-11 with 11 abstentions. HB 4074, filed by longtime wagering champion Casey Eure, would tax online sportsbooks at 22% and cut the tax rate for in-person casinos to 6%. The bill passed the House 13 days after the crossover deadline and has not been sent to the Senate. Bills from this session do not carry over to 2027, and the state legislature is set to adjourn April 5. Per the Clarion-Ledger, Eure included the tax cut as a way to mitigate any cannibalization of retail casinos from online wagering.
So far, the Mississippi legislature has considered at least seven bills to add online sports betting — the state has had in-person betting since August 2018. Of those bills, four are dead, and three are still being considered.
Utah: The Utah bill that explicitly defines prop betting as gambling, which is illegal in the state, passed second reading, 19-0 with 10 abstentions, in the Senate Thursday. HB 243 has been moving quickly since it was filed Jan. 13. The bill advanced to third reading, and Utah’s state legislature is set to adjourn Tuesday. Should it pass third reading, HB 243 would be sent to Gov. Spencer Cox for signature. It passed the House Feb. 10.
Washington: The Senate bill that would allow for college prop bets on in-state teams, but not college player prop bets on in-state players, got a makeover Tuesday when the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee moved an amended version. The new text of SB 6137 specifies that props are not allowed on players, in-game decisions made by coaches, or decisions by officials. The amended version also adds a section about harassment, making it a gross misdemeanor criminal offense. The bill is now in the House Rules Committee.
