Colorado Sports Betting Deposit Limit Bill Heads to Governor After Passing Senate 20-15

Colorado lawmakers sent Senate Bill 131 to Governor Jared Polis on the final day of the 2026 legislative session after the Senate approved House amendments on a 20-15 vote. The bill would limit sports bettors to six deposits per day in sportsbook apps, ban credit card deposits entirely, and prohibit operators from sending push notifications or text messages that encourage bets or deposits. Polis has 30 days to sign or veto the measure, and a spokesperson said he would review the final version.

If signed into law, SB 131 would make Colorado the first state in the country to impose a statutory daily deposit cap on sports betting platforms. The credit card ban and the prohibition on solicitation push notifications are also believed to be the first of their kind in the US. Five of Colorado’s 13 licensed sportsbooks already voluntarily ban credit card deposits, but SB 131 would extend that requirement to all operators in the state and add the deposit frequency and marketing communication restrictions across the board.

Key Provisions of Senate Bill 131

The daily deposit limit under SB 131 caps the number of transactions at six per gaming day but does not place a dollar cap on the value of each transaction, giving bettors continued flexibility in the amount they deposit while adding friction to the frequency. The credit card ban is intended to prevent bettors from wagering with borrowed funds, a harm-reduction measure that consumer advocates have pushed for in multiple states. The push notification ban would apply to any message sent through a gambling app or by text message that prompts a bet or a deposit, aiming to reduce the behavioral nudges that critics argue exploit compulsive behavior.

SB 131 also bars operators and their affiliates from targeting anyone under 21 and restricts marketing language, prohibiting terms like bonus bet and no sweat in promotional materials. The bipartisan measure passed after several rounds of amendments that adjusted the final deposit frequency number from an earlier version of the bill. If enacted, the law would take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, potentially making it enforceable as early as August 12, 2026.

Broader Regulatory Implications

Colorado’s move is being watched closely by other states that have been weighing responsible gambling legislation. A number of jurisdictions, including states where problem gambling rates have risen since sports betting legalization, have been examining deposit limit frameworks as a structural tool rather than relying solely on voluntary opt-in self-exclusion programs. SB 131 represents the most comprehensive package of behavioral restrictions applied to a legal sports betting market to date if it passes.

For bettors using Colorado sports betting apps, the practical changes would require switching to debit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets if they currently use credit cards to fund accounts, and would limit same-day deposit transactions to six regardless of timing. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM are among the major operators active in Colorado that would be subject to the new rules. The bill’s passage in the final days of the session ensures the issue will remain in focus during the summer as Polis weighs his decision.