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(AsiaGameHub) –   Since 2019, Colorado has permitted online sports wagering, enabling residents to place bets from their homes or on the move. Furthermore, the Colorado Lottery recently transitioned to a digital platform to compete with the rising popularity of lottery courier services. However, state legislators are now moving to regulate the rapidly expanding gaming sector due to various responsible gambling concerns.

Colorado Considers Prohibiting Player Prop Wagers

The Colorado Senate recently approved two pieces of legislation that, if enacted, would place new restrictions on the state’s lottery and gambling sectors. One bill aims to cap sports betting advertisements and outlaw controversial prop bets, while the other seeks to dismantle the state’s digital lottery system.

The first measure, Senate Bill 131, intends to regulate the sports wagering market by limiting television commercials, banning prop betting, and establishing mandatory deposit caps.

Prop bets have faced significant criticism due to their connection to the harassment of athletes by bettors. The NCAA has long advocated for a ban on prop bets involving student-athletes, maintaining that such wagers cause undue stress for young players.

Additionally, the proposed deposit limits are designed to prevent addiction by stopping players from chasing their losses. Senator Matt Ball pointed out that gambling is a unique addiction where those struggling often believe that continuing the behavior is the remedy. While he noted that many people gamble responsibly, he argued that safeguards are necessary to protect the most at-risk players.

The bill was criticized by the major betting operator DraftKings, which warned that over-regulation could frustrate players and drive them toward the unregulated and more hazardous offshore market.

Nevertheless, SB 131 managed to pass the Senate Finance Committee with a slim majority.

SB 117 Aims to End Colorado’s Digital Lottery

Shortly before SB 131 advanced, the Senate Finance Committee approved a separate bill that would terminate Colorado’s online lottery if signed into law. Supporters of the measure raised concerns that lottery games are becoming too similar to traditional gambling and expressed disapproval of players being allowed to fund their accounts with credit cards.

SB 117 was introduced by Senator Jeff Bridges, who characterized the expansion of online lottery gaming as alarming and compared its impact to that of fentanyl. He noted that the most frequent players are often from lower-income demographics, which makes these digital gaming products particularly dangerous.