Colorado Regulators Move to Ban Bettors Threatening Athletes Following League Calls

Colorado is poised to become the latest state to crack down on abusive bettors, with gaming regulators proposing new authority to ban anyone found to have threatened sports personnel, their families, or gaming establishment staff. This decisive move follows a unified appeal from major sports leagues across the U.S. in September, urging regulators to take stronger, more unified action against the growing problem of athlete harassment.

What Happened

The Colorado Division of Gaming has proposed significant changes to Limited Gaming Rule 29, which would grant the Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) the power to place individuals found to have issued threats on the state’s involuntary exclusion list. These proposed amendments were introduced at a stakeholder workshop on Thursday, November 12th, and are now subject to a public comment period before a formal vote. Division of Gaming Supervisory Investigator Chris Krieger highlighted during the workshop that Colorado regulators have received numerous reports from sports leagues concerning athlete harassment and match-fixing, emphasizing the state’s desire to “make sure we are having a meaningful impact.”

Key Details

• If ratified, the rule change would permit the LGCC to consider forced exclusion for anyone threatening physical harm to: an athlete or their immediate family, a sports governing body or its employees, a sports team staff member or coach or their immediate family, any staff member or patron of a licensed gaming or sports betting establishment, or any Division of Gaming staff member.
• The updated regulation would also allow for the banning of individuals violating the state’s “conflict of interest” gaming law, which prohibits athletes, coaches, or those with access to nonpublic information from betting on events overseen by their respective sports governing body.
• Furthermore, the LGCC could ban anyone found to have “manipulated or compromised the integrity of gaming activities or sports betting activities.”
• The Division of Gaming has established a Google Form for athletes and other sports participants to report and provide evidence of harassment, abuse, or threats, aiming to increase reporting from affected individuals.

Why It Matters

This initiative from Colorado regulators represents a significant step towards protecting the integrity of sports and the well-being of athletes and associated personnel. The increasing prevalence of online sports betting has unfortunately been accompanied by a rise in abusive behavior directed at athletes, coaches, and their families, often fueled by betting outcomes. By granting regulators the power to ban these individuals, Colorado is creating a tangible deterrent and demonstrating a commitment to supporting sports leagues in their efforts to combat harassment and potential match-fixing. The establishment of a dedicated reporting mechanism further empowers victims and underscores the seriousness with which Colorado is addressing these critical issues, potentially setting a precedent for other states grappling with similar challenges.