TLDR Colorado’s legislature passed SB 26-131, making it the first state to ban sportsbook push notifications and text messages to bettors. The bill also bans credit card deposits, limits daily deposits, restricts youth-adjacent advertising, and requires anonymized data sharing with regulators. The Sports Betting Alliance, representing FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and others, argues the restrictions could push bettors toward unregulated offshore sportsbooks. Responsible gambling advocates largely support the bill but some suggest an opt-in model for notifications would have been a more balanced approach than a total ban. The bill now awaits Governor Jared Polis’s signature; earlier versions that banned prop bets and limited broadcast ads were stripped through amendments.
Colorado’s state legislature passed a sweeping responsible gambling bill on May 13 that would make it the first state in the country to ban sportsbook operators from sending push notifications and text messages to players.
The bipartisan bill, SB 26-131, passed the Senate in a 20-15 vote after the chamber approved House-added amendments. It now sits on Governor Jared Polis’s desk.
If signed into law, the legislation would ban all operator-initiated push notifications and texts that solicit bets or deposits. It would also cap the number of daily deposits a player can make.
The bill goes further than notifications. It bans credit card deposits for sports betting accounts, restricts advertising near youth audiences, and requires operators to share anonymized player data with state regulators.
What the Industry Is Saying
The Sports Betting Alliance, a group that includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, and bet365, has pushed back against the bill. The alliance argues the new rules will make regulated sportsbooks less competitive compared to offshore and black-market operators.
The group warned that players could migrate to unregulated platforms that lack consumer protections, age verification, and responsible gaming safeguards. It