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 also cautioned that states could lose millions in annual tax revenue as a result.
“These new restrictions would make the experience worse for adults who play by the rules,” the alliance stated on its website.
Sen. Matt Ball, a primary sponsor of the bill, rejected the industry’s claims. He said he has not heard concerns about the push notification ban from responsible gambling advocates, only from operators.
“There’s no evidence to suggest that people are going to flee the legal market because they’re no longer getting push notifications,” Ball said.
Ball described the bill as an effort to address the public health impacts of online sports betting’s rapid growth. He said sportsbooks operate in an environment of constant, personalized digital engagement that makes it hard for problem gamblers to stop.
Responsible Gambling Groups Weigh In
The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado backed the legislation. Executive director Jamie Glick said the group supports regulations that reduce exposure to gambling marketing that may contribute to harm.
Glick acknowledged that some consumers may seek out unregulated operators in response to the restrictions. But he said strong consumer protections are essential to maintaining a trustworthy regulated market.
“The goal of regulation should not be to maximize participation,” Glick said.
He did note that the PGCC would have preferred an opt-in model for notifications rather than a complete ban. An opt-in approach, he said, would preserve consumer choice while requiring affirmative consent.
Josh Ercole, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Council on Compulsive Gambling, offered a more cautious view. He said responsible gambling issues are rarely black and white.
“The more restrictive you make things, the higher the likelihood is that somebody is just going to turn to an unregulated market,” Ercole said.
He added that even with the best intentions, outcomes don’t always match the goals.
The bill that passed is a slimmed-down version of what was originally introduced. Earlier drafts included bans on prop bets, limits on broadcast advertising windows, and restrictions on sportsbooks’ ability to limit winning bettors. Those provisions were removed through amendments.
The legislation has drawn support from advocacy groups including the Campaign for Fairer Gambling and Healthier Colorado.
Rep. Steven Woodrow, another cosponsor, said lawmakers are not trying to be hostile toward the industry. He noted that Colorado voters approved sports betting and the bill aims to balance that with consumer protection.
A similar push notification ban is currently working through New York’s legislature. A comparable bill in Minnesota failed to gain traction in 2025.
