Colorado Proposes Barring Bettors Who Threaten Athletes
Colorado is the latest state to look at barring abusive bettors, as pressure grows after a series of betting harassment complaints from the NBA and WNBA.
The Colorado Division of Gaming held a rulemaking workshop on November 12, 2026, on changes to Rule 29 that would let the state exclude people who threaten athletes and others connected to sport.
The draft rule text circulated by the Division amends section 30-2907, which governs how individuals are placed on the state's Involuntary Exclusion List. The Division maintains that list and shares it with retail gaming licensees and sports betting operators.
According to InGame, no operator representatives spoke at the workshop. A public comment period remains open, and the Division plans to take the proposal to the Limited Gaming Control Commission for approval.
What The Proposed Rule Would Cover
Under the existing rule, the Commission can weigh a list of factors when deciding whether to add someone to the exclusion list, including whether the person poses a threat to the interests of the state or to licensed gaming. The draft adds specific examples of such threats.
The first is whether the individual has threatened physical harm to an athlete or an athlete's immediate family member. The same applies to a sports governing body or its employees, team staff, coaching staff and their immediate family. Staff or patrons of a licensed gaming or sports betting establishment, and Division staff, are also covered.
The second is whether the person has been convicted of a crime in which any of those people were the victims. The third is whether the individual has bet on sport in breach of Colorado's insider betting restrictions, which are set out in section 44-30-1502 of the state statutes.
A separate change would strengthen the reputation factor. The Commission could already consider whether a person's reputation would harm public confidence that gaming is free from criminal or corrupt influence. The draft adds that this includes anyone who has manipulated or compromised the integrity of gaming or sports betting.
A Reporting Tool For Athletes
The Division also told the workshop about a new online harassment reporting form, which sits under the sports betting tab of its website. Chris Krieger, an investigator at the Division, said the aim is to get more athletes to report abuse, because leagues have told regulators that under-reporting is the biggest obstacle.
As Deadspin reported, the form lets users submit names, roles, sports, leagues and descriptions of incidents, and attach supporting documents. The Division says it can investigate complaints and coordinate with local law enforcement where appropriate.
Limits On What Sportsbooks Must Do
The rule would give the regulator a route to exclude individuals, but it would not force operators to act. The Division cannot currently require sportsbooks to ban everyone on the exclusion list from their own platforms. Krieger said the agency strongly recommends that operators follow the list voluntarily.
That distinction matters in a state with 12 online sportsbook platforms and retail sportsbooks in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. A person excluded by the Commission could be removed from licensed casinos, but whether an app closes the account would still depend on the operator.
Next Steps In The Rulemaking Process
The proposal is still at an early stage. Deadspin reported that a public hearing cannot take place until at least 30 days after the Division files its formal notice, and that any approved changes would take effect roughly 45 to 60 days after a Commission vote.
Colorado would join Louisiana, Ohio and West Virginia, which already have measures in place. Massachusetts has gone down a similar path with its Bet On Respect programme. The NCAA joined the Bad Actor programme last month, which is designed to identify and fight online abuse aimed at college athletes and others involved in games.
In September, a coalition of professional sports leagues and players' associations also wrote to state regulators asking for stricter standards for people who harass or threaten participants.
