Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Gaming Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate narrows lottery bill and bars credit‑card purchases after debate on online gaming
Summary
After amendment L006 narrowed its scope, the Colorado Senate passed Senate Bill 117 on April 22, 2026, specifying a prohibition on using credit cards to buy Colorado Lottery tickets; debate focused on fiscal impacts and whether online sales could amount to slot machines on phones under the state constitution.
The Colorado Senate on April 22 adopted Senate Bill 117 as amended, a measure that — after an adopted amendment — focuses on banning the use of credit cards to purchase Colorado Lottery products.
Senator Bridges, sponsor of the bill, told the committee and floor that the Department of Revenue’s prior rulemaking expanding online lottery sales raised constitutional and fiscal concerns. Bridges said the original expansion done by rule could have cost the state tens of millions in fiscal years 2026–27 and 2027–28: "the people of Colorado were going to lose $28 million in 26‑27 and $40 million in 27‑28 from this single largest expansion of online gaming in the state's history," he said. With changes made in committee the sponsor said the fiscal impact estimate fell to about $12 million (26‑27) and $24.5 million (27‑28).
Bridges and other sponsors urged an amendment (L006) that removed language from an appropriations committee report and narrowed the bill to address credit‑card purchases rather than banning all online sales. Bridges told colleagues that, after legal review, the proposed broader approach risked running afoul of the Colorado Constitution because "article 18 says that slot machines can only be played in casinos in Blackhawk, Central City and Cripple Creek" and that the Division’s approach effectively would "put a slot machine in everyone's pocket." He said the constitution therefore constrained placing slot‑machine‑style devices outside limited gaming areas.
Opponents pressed the social costs of expanding online access. Senator Mab said she feared easy access to gambling via phones and stored payment methods would "destroy their lives by gambling" and that fiscal notes do not capture those social harms.
In response, Senator Bridges emphasized that the amended bill was narrower: "the bill as it stands right now just says no lottery gambling on credit cards. That's all the bill says right now." The sponsor asked for an affirmative vote; the amendment was adopted and the bill passed on the floor.
The measure, as amended, prohibits using credit cards to purchase Colorado Lottery products. The bill’s sponsors and opponents debated both the limits of agency rulemaking and the social consequences of expanded online gaming during floor consideration. The Senate adopted the amendment and then passed SB117.
Next steps: the bill, as passed by the Senate, will proceed per the legislative calendar for transmission or further consideration consistent with chamber rules.
