Colorado law limits sports betting deposits, alerts, and youth ads

Internet sports betting operators may take no more than six deposits per person in a gaming day, must not send betting or deposit alerts, and must not accept credit card deposits. These rules apply to internet sports betting operators and their account holders in Colorado. The six-deposit limit applies during a continuous 24-hour gaming day set by the operator for tax or regulatory records. The credit card ban includes deposits made indirectly, such as through an account funded by a credit card. The act applies to conduct on or after its effective date: August 12, 2026, unless a timely referendum petition is filed. If voters approve it, it takes effect when the governor declares the vote.

Sports betting operations and their marketing affiliates must not target people under 21 or advertise on media expected to have a majority under-21 audience. The rules cover sports betting operations and their marketing affiliates. The ban on youth-directed content applies when its message or graphics clearly aim at people under 21. The audience rule does not apply at public venues where attendee demographics cannot be determined. A marketing affiliate is a person paid to promote a betting operation; broadcasters are excluded from that definition. The act applies to conduct on or after its effective date: August 12, 2026, unless a timely referendum petition is filed. If voters approve it, it takes effect when the governor declares the vote.

Internet sports betting operators must send yearly transaction data and measures to the state division, which must publish a report every three years. The data covers each operator's internet sports betting operation and the previous calendar year's activity. Operators must remove personally identifying information from the data. The data is exempt from the Colorado Open Records Act. The first operator submission is due by February 1, 2028, and each February 1 after that. The first state report is due by January 1, 2029, and every three years after that.

The commission may suspend or revoke an operator's license or impose a fine of up to $25,000 for accepting credit card deposits. This applies to an internet sports betting operator that accepts a deposit using a credit card, directly or indirectly. The commission must give notice and an opportunity for a hearing, and find that a violation is more likely than not. The act applies to conduct on or after its effective date: August 12, 2026, unless a timely referendum petition is filed. If voters approve it, it takes effect when the governor declares the vote.

The law sets aside $124,623 for the Department of Law to provide legal services to the Department of Revenue. The appropriation is for the Department of Law's legal services for the Department of Revenue. The money comes from the legal services cash fund, using revenue received from the Department of Revenue. The appropriation assumes the Department of Law will need an additional half-time employee. The appropriation is for the 2026–27 state fiscal year.