SBC Americas

Colorado becomes first state to ban push notifications for sportsbooks

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has signed an expansive sports betting bill that implements new responsible gaming standards and procedures for operators and bettors in the state.

Polis signed Senate Bill 26-131 on Monday, a measure making sweeping changes to Colorado’s sports betting market by adding new requirements aimed at protecting bettors in the state. The bill includes a landmark provision for regulated gaming in the U.S. related to how sportsbooks communicate with bettors.

What changes are being made to Colorado sportsbooks?

The Colorado sportsbook measure implements several sports betting-related changes in the Centennial State:

The bill makes Colorado the first state to prohibit the delivery of push notifications or texts to solicit bets

Bettors are no longer allowed to use credit cards to fund player accounts

Operators are barred from using “bonus bet” or “no sweat” language in marketing

Bettors are limited to six separate deposits for a sportsbook in a 24-hour period

Mar..

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New York betting statement bill reaches last stop before governor

The legislative effort to require sportsbooks in New York to provide players with monthly betting account statements has reached its last step before a potential governor’s signature.

New York Assembly Bill 10329 was unanimously advanced on Tuesday by the state Senate with amendments, sending the measure back to the Assembly for a final vote before heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk.

How would New York betting statement bill work?

Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay’s consumer protection bill aims to amend New York gaming law to require licensed operators to send sportsbook account holders monthly account activity statements via push notifications. Kassay’s legislation also requires operators to make the statements “continuously accessible through the bettor’s account.”

Under the NY sports betting bill, operators must deliver the activity statements to each account holder within 15 days of each calendar month ending, mirroring financial institutions.

The New York gaming bill also requi..

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Ex-Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy to speak on gambling harm at SBC Summit Americas

Patrick J. Kennedy, the former Congressman behind one of the most significant mental health reform laws in American history, will take part in a major player protection discussion at SBC Summit Americas.

The betting and gaming industry event, taking place at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale June 9-11, will bring together stakeholders from across North and Latin America for three days of networking, product discovery, and high-level education.

Building a public health response to gaming harm

Kennedy’s panel, “Building a Public Health Response to Gaming Harm,” will take place on June 10 at 11:30 a.m. on the Leaders Stage. The session forms part of SBC’s recent partnership with the Better Gambling Forum (BGF), a global initiative focused on advancing evidence-based approaches to reducing gambling-related harm, with both organizations working together to promote a more practical and scalable approach to player protection across North America and beyond.

Kennedy ..

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New York to consider bill to ban sports betting on college campuses

New York lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban college students from placing online sports wagers while on school property.

Senate Bill 10470 was introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes last week and referred to the chamber’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee as a bill that prohibits sports betting operators from accepting wagers from people located on a college campus.

The bill proposes several requirements for online sportsbooks in New York:

Operators are required to use geolocation technology to prevent wagering

The ban applies to both online sports betting operators and platform providers

If enacted, operators must deploy geolocation technology before August 2027

Under the bill, colleges and universities also have a new role. The state institutions are required to provide the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) with the “necessary geographic data and campus boundary information to effectuate compliance.”

All New York colleges and universities that would h..

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Senate hearing on sports betting turns contentious over prediction markets

A U.S. Senate subcommittee held a highly anticipated hearing Wednesday to discuss the impact of legal sports betting, though much of the discussion turned to the rise of prediction markets in the space.

The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy held the hearing to address the impact of sports wagering on America’s amateur and professional sports landscape. The hearing lasted more than two hours, with regulated gaming interests and prediction market proponents facing off via interaction with senators.

The subcommittee discussed the impact of sports betting and prediction markets on the integrity of competition as several major sports leagues and organizations deal with gambling-related issues.

“When Americans watch their favorite sports team, they don’t want to worry about the game being rigged,” said Subcommittee Chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn during the hearing. “They don’t want to worry that their favorite player missed a free throw to make..

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Alberta Minister: If you like Ontario, you are going to love Alberta

It doesn’t get any better than Alberta, was the message of Hon. Dale Nally, the man tasked with leading the charge towards Canada’s second regulated gaming province.

Speaking at SBC Summit Canada, Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, promised that the province will be the ‘right fit for operators’ ahead of the market launch on 13 July.

He told attendees: “We have reduced red tape, we’ve got a business-friendly environment, and we’ve got low corporate taxes. It doesn’t get any better than that. So if you like your experience in Ontario, you are going to love your experience in Alberta.”

A new chapter for Alberta

Many operators preparing for launch will already be familiar with aspects of the market, as Alberta has borrowed much of its structure from what has been successful in Ontario – a jurisdiction that pulled in revenue of over CA$4bn (£2.1bn) last year.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will act as the market’s regulator, mirroring Ontario’s regu..

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Louisiana regulator Christopher Herbert on linking legal, regulatory and treatment communities

As chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Christopher Hebert deals with the constantly evolving challenges in reaching and helping problem gamblers every day.

Hebert played a key role in creating Louisiana’s Problem Gambling Resource Services (PGRS) program that pairs Louisiana’s gaming regulation division with the state’s Office of Behavioral Health. He also led the state’s effort to develop sports betting regulations.

SBC Americas spoke with Hebert in advance of his appearance at the upcoming SBC Summit Americas about his state’s efforts to lead in responsible gaming:

What can other states learn from your work in helping to develop the Problem Gambling Resource Services (PGRS) program in Louisiana?

Christopher Hebert: Other states can learn that responsible gaming programs are strongest when they are built through collaboration. In Louisiana, the Problem Gambling Resource Services program was developed through a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Justice Gam..

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OLG CEO: recognising risk not the same for every player in Ontario

TORONTO — Providing opening remarks at SBC Summit Canada, Duncan Hannay, President & CEO, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), underpinned that as the Ontario gaming sector continues to evolve, safer gambling must be at the forefront of its focus.

He said that it remains “crucial to our industry’s future sustainability,” specifically at a time when the gaming market is growing and changing faster than ever before.

According to Hannay, the way in which safer gambling is promoted is evolving, with the role of gaming providers being increasingly important to a sustainable sector.

How Ontario is shifting on responsible gaming

For OLG, this has led to a shift in the firm’s approach beyond what would be previously classified as a one-size-fits-all program to focus on more tailored, proactive solutions to reach players at key moments during their iGaming journey.

To bolster this strategy, the group has formed a newly created dedicated Safer Gambling team, which boosts data polic..

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Kalshi emerges as first prediction market to secure NCPG membership

Kalshi and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) have agreed to a landmark deal, making Kalshi the first prediction market to join the non-profit organization.

On Monday, Kalshi announced plans to invest $2m in the NCPG to support traders’ health and safety across markets in America. The two-year investment is an indication that prediction markets expose consumers to the same risks associated with gambling.

“At Kalshi, we believe in the power of prediction markets, and we are sensitive to the fact that they, like any financial trading products, come with risks,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. “As prediction markets continue to evolve, we are deeply committed to setting a new standard for responsible trading by investing in the tools, education, and protections needed to promote healthy participation and customer safety and hope that over time all trading platforms with significant retail participation follow suit.”

The partnership between Kalshi and the NCPG bridges the ga..

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Sweeping Colorado sports betting bill approved on deadline day

The Colorado sports betting market could undergo a major overhaul if a bill passed Wednesday by the state legislature receives approval from Gov. Jared Polis.

The state Senate agreed to minor amendments approved earlier this week by the House, then narrowly backed the measure, 20-15, to clear it on the final scheduled day of the 2026 legislative session. Polis now has 30 days to decide whether to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.

If enacted, SB 131 would put in place sweeping player protection measures. Those include a ban on credit card deposits and daily limits on how frequently a bettor can fund their online wagering account.

While creating stronger safeguards for most players, the CO sports betting bill also would score a major victory for professional bettors by preventing sportsbooks from limiting an account, with the exceptions of suspicious activity and responsible gambling concerns.

Legislators initially attempted to outlaw player prop..

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