Colorado § 44-30-1501 - Definitions - rules.

§ 44-30-1501. Definitions - rules.

Definitions applicable to this part 15 also appear in section 44-30-103 and article 1 of this title 44. As used in this part 15, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Casino" means a licensed gaming establishment as defined in section 44-30-103 (18).

(2) "Collegiate sports event" means a sports event offered or sponsored by or played in connection with a public or private institution that offers educational services beyond the secondary level.

(3) "Fantasy sports activity" means the conduct of, or participation in, a fantasy contest as defined in section 44-30-1603 (4).

(4) "Internet sports betting operation" means a sports betting operation in which wagers on sports events are made through a computer or mobile or interactive device and accepted by an internet sports betting operator.

(5) "Internet sports betting operator" means a person licensed by the commission to operate an internet sports betting operation.

(6) "Master license" means a sports betting license, issued by the commission pursuant to section 44-30-1505 (1)(a), that authorizes the licensee to either conduct sports betting and internet sports betting itself or contract with a sports betting operator, an internet sports betting operator, or both, to conduct sports betting.

(7) (a) "Net sports betting proceeds" means the total amount of all bets placed by players in a sports betting operation or internet sports betting operation, less all payments to players, less free bets as described in subsection (7)(c) of this section, and less all excise taxes paid pursuant to federal law. Payments to players include all payments of cash premiums, merchandise, or any other thing of value.

(b) Repealed.

(c) (I) On and after January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, when determining the free bets deduction used for calculating "net sports betting proceeds" each month, as described in subsection (7)(a) of this section, a sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator shall include only a portion of the total free bets placed by players with the sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator, as follows:

(A) On and after January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, no more than two and one-half percent of the total amount of all bets placed by players with that sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator each month;

(B) On and after July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, no more than two and one-fourth percent of the total amount of all bets placed by players with that sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator each month;

(C) On and after July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, no more than two percent of the total amount of all bets placed by players with that sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator each month; and

(D) On and after January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026, no more than one percent of the total amount of all bets placed by players with that sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator each month.

(I.5) On and after July 1, 2026, a sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator shall not deduct any free bets placed by players with the sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator.

(II) For the purposes of subsection (7)(c)(I) of this section, a sports betting operator or internet sports betting operator shall not:

(A) Carry over to the next month any free bets placed in excess of the deduction allowed for any month; or

(B) Carry forward any unused free bet credits accumulated before January 1, 2023.

(8) "Prohibited sports event" means:

(a) A high school sports event;

(b) A video game that is not sanctioned by a sports governing body as an electronic competition; and

(c) Only with respect to proposition bets, a collegiate sports event.

(8.7) "Push notification" means an automatic electronic message, including a text message, displayed on an account holder's mobile device when the user interface for an internet sports betting operation is not actively open or visible on the mobile device.

(9) "Sports betting license" means any of the licenses specified in section 44-30-1505 (1).

(10) "Sports betting operation" means a licensed wagering operation in which bets are placed on sports events through any system or method of wagering, including single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, exchange wagering, in-game wagering, in-play bets, proposition bets other than those relating to collegiate sports events, or straight bets.

(11) "Sports betting operator" means a person that is licensed to operate a sports betting operation in which customers place bets in person at a designated physical location.

(12) (a) "Sports event" means:

(I) Any individual or team sport or athletic event in which the outcome is not determined solely by chance, whether amateur or professional, including an Olympic or international sport or athletic event and any collegiate sports event;

(II) Any portion of a sport or athletic event listed in subsection (12)(a)(I) of this section, including the individual performance statistics of athletes in a sports event or combination of sports events;

(III) A sanctioned motor sport, as authorized by the commission by rule; and

(IV) Any other sports event or combination of sports events as authorized by the commission by rule.

(b) "Sports event" does not include a prohibited sports event or a fantasy sports activity.

(13) "Sports governing body" means an organization that performs a regulatory or sanctioning function over the conduct of a sports event.

Source: L. 2019: Entire part added, (HB 19-1327), ch. 347, p. 3216, § 12, effective May 1, 2020. L. 2020: (3) amended, (HB 20-1286), ch. 269, p. 1311, § 3, effective July 10. L. 2022: (7) amended, (HB 22-1402), ch. 402, p. 2867, § 6, effective August 10. L. 2024: (7)(a) amended, (HB 24-1450), ch. 490, p. 3430, § 96, effective August 7. L. 2025: IP(7)(c)(I), (7)(c)(I)(C), and (7)(c)(I)(D) amended and (7)(c)(I.5) added, (HB 25-1311), ch. 195, p. 868, § 1, effective August 6. L. 2026: (8.7) added, (SB 26-131), ch. 262, p. 1451, § 1, effective August 12.

Editor's note: (1) Section 16(2) of chapter 347 (HB 19-1327), Session Laws of Colorado 2019, provides that this section takes effect May 1, 2020, only if, at the November 2019 statewide election, a majority of voters approve the ballot question submitted pursuant to § 44-30-1514. That ballot question, referred to the registered electors as proposition DD, was approved on November 5, 2019, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 20, 2019. The vote count for the measure was as follows:

FOR: 800,745

AGAINST: 756,712

(2) Subsection (7)(b)(II) provided for the repeal of subsection (7)(b), effective July 1, 2023. (See L. 2022, p. 2867.)

(3) Section 9(2) of chapter 262 (SB 26-131), Session Laws of Colorado 2026, provides that the act changing this section applies to conduct occurring and agreements entered into on or after August 12, 2026.