Colorado Proposes Bill to Curb Online Sports Betting Addiction

Bipartisan legislation aims to limit credit cards, deposits, and prop bets to address growing gambling crisis

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers has introduced a bill to add new restrictions to the state's booming online sports betting industry. The proposed legislation would ban the use of credit cards, limit daily deposits, and eliminate popular proposition bets, which supporters say are fueling addiction and threatening the integrity of sports.

Why it matters

Colorado has seen a rapid growth in online sports betting since legalizing it in 2020, with over $6 billion in wagers placed in 2025 alone. However, this rise has also led to concerns about increasing gambling addiction, particularly among young people. The new bill aims to implement safeguards to protect consumers while preserving legal access to sports betting.

The details

Senate Bill 131 would impose several new restrictions, including limiting customers to five deposits within a 24-hour period, prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund betting accounts, and banning proposition bets that allow wagers on specific in-game milestones. The bill would also restrict push notifications and require stronger responsible-gaming language in advertisements. Supporters argue these changes are necessary to interrupt addictive behavior and prevent underage gambling.

  • Colorado legalized online sports betting in 2020.
  • In 2025, Coloradans wagered more than $6 billion online, a 130% increase from 2020.
  • In December 2025, bettors placed more than $618 million in wagers, up from $648 million the previous December.

The players

Senate Bill 131

A bipartisan bill introduced in the Colorado legislature that aims to add new restrictions to the state's online sports betting industry.

Sen. Matt Ball

A Democratic state senator from Denver and one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 131.

Zack Price

A Denver-based sports betting analyst who argues that eliminating prop bets could significantly shrink the industry.

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What they’re saying

“There's really three goals behind Senate Bill 131. The first is to prevent people from getting addicted to online sports betting. The second is to make sure that kids, particularly young boys, aren't betting illegally underage. And the third is to protect the integrity of sports.”

— Sen. Matt Ball, Democratic state senator

“If prop bets were taken off the board in Colorado, I think that a lot of people would have their favorite bets taken off the board personally. The people love their props, the sports books love their props. Without them, they'll be doing a lot less betting, which is really not good for the state, it's not good for the sports book and it's not good for the consumer.”

— Zack Price, Sports betting analyst

What’s next

The proposed bill is the start of a conversation, and Sen. Ball said it could change as it moves through the legislative process.

The takeaway

Colorado's rapid growth in online sports betting has raised concerns about increasing gambling addiction and threats to the integrity of sports. The new bipartisan bill aims to implement safeguards, but faces pushback from industry analysts who argue it could significantly shrink the market.