Colorado targets abusive sports bettors

GamblingNews reported that Colorado in the United States will add sports bettors who harass athletes or sports staff to the state’s involuntary exclusion list, with the measure confirmed by the Colorado Division of Gaming on 12 November.

What happened

Colorado’s regulator is moving to curtail abusive behaviour linked to sports betting by expanding who can be placed on the state’s involuntary exclusion list. According to GamblingNews, the Division of Gaming will target bettors who direct abuse or threats at athletes and sports personnel. The move aims to "strengthen responsibility" and protect sporting participants from harassment connected to failed wagers, including abuse on social media.

The Division has set out when someone could be considered for exclusion, covering:

• Threats of physical harm directed at an athlete, their immediate family, a sports governing body or its employees, sports team staff or coaching staff and their immediate family, any staff member or patron of a licensed gaming or sports betting establishment, or any Division staff member
• Convictions for crimes where any of the above individuals were victims
• Sports betting conducted in contravention of section 44-30-1502, C.R.S.

GamblingNews also noted that the Colorado Division of Gaming Enforcement is developing a dedicated harassment reporting tool to help flag incidents quickly and direct them to the relevant authorities, including the regulator.

The report places Colorado within a broader U.S. push against abusive messages and threats aimed at athletes and staff over failed wagers. It also mentions that the NCAA has recently joined a programme intended to identify abusive individuals, indicating wider coordination around this issue.

Why it matters

For the sports betting industry, the Colorado move underscores a tightening regulatory stance on bettor conduct that could influence policy thinking elsewhere. If enforced at scale, exclusion for harassing behaviour may:

1. Reinforce integrity protections by reducing hostile contact with athletes and team staff
2. Prompt operators to improve monitoring and reporting pathways for abusive messages related to bets
3. Encourage leagues and governing bodies to share data more actively with regulators

For UK-facing readers, developments in Colorado could be a useful barometer. While frameworks differ across markets, aligning betting access with conduct standards may inform how platforms, teams, and authorities in other jurisdictions think about deterrence, reporting, and sanctions. Those newer to wagering can revisit the basics in our overview of sports betting to help reduce emotion-driven decisions.

What to watch

• Reporting infrastructure: Colorado’s planned harassment reporting tool may become a central channel for capturing evidence and acting quickly. How it integrates with operators, leagues, and law enforcement will be important.
• Scope of exclusions: The policy covers threats, related convictions, and contraventions of the cited betting statute. How consistently these criteria are interpreted and applied could shape its deterrent effect.
• Coordination with sport bodies: With the NCAA engaging in a programme to identify abusive actors, further collaboration between regulators and sports stakeholders may follow, potentially improving identification and enforcement across platforms.
• Knock-on effects for operators: Licensed sportsbooks may update internal policies to align with regulator-led sanctions, potentially tightening standards for account conduct and reporting obligations.

Practical takeaways for bettors

• Keep communications with athletes, teams, officials, and operator staff professional. Abusive or threatening behaviour can lead to serious consequences, including exclusion from regulated betting.
• Treat losses as part of the game. Use tools like our [bankroll manager](/tools/bankroll-manager) to set budgets you can afford to lose and reduce the risk of impulsive reactions.
• If you witness harassment connected to betting, use official reporting routes where available. Colorado’s approach illustrates how regulators may centralise and act on such reports.
• For support and safer play tips, see our guidance on [responsible gambling](/responsible-gambling).

Further reading

• [Sports betting glossary](/guides/sports-betting-glossary)

Source

This article is based on the report "Colorado goes after sports bettors who harass athletes" published by GamblingNews on 13 November 2026.

Staying in control

Set a clear budget before you bet, and stick to it. Decide your maximum spend per week or month, use deposit limits where available, and take regular breaks. Avoid chasing losses, and only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. If you’re worried about your gambling or someone else’s, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.