Skip to main content
HB19-1327

Authorize And Tax Sports Betting Refer Under Taxpayers' Bill Of Rights

Type Bill
Session 2019 Regular Session
Subjects
Business & Economic Development Gaming, Lottery, & Racing State Revenue & Budget

Concerning sports betting, and, in connection therewith, submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado a ballot measure authorizing the collection of a tax on the net proceeds of sports betting through licensed casinos, directing the revenues generated through collection of the sports betting tax to specified public purposes, including the state water plan through creation of the water plan implementation cash fund, and making an appropriation.

Bill Summary:

Gambling - betting on sports events - legalization - creation of division of sports betting - rule-making authority - taxation - submission of ballot issue under Taxpayers' Bill of Rights - allocation of tax revenues - appropriation. In 2018, the United States supreme court held in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association , 138 S. Ct. 1461, that a federal law prohibiting states from authorizing sports betting violated the tenth amendment of the United States constitution. States may now authorize sports betting.

The act decriminalizes sports betting in Colorado, effective May 1, 2020, under the following conditions:

  • The collection of a tax on the net proceeds of sports betting must be approved by the registered electors of Colorado at the November 2019 general election;
  • Sports betting will be regulated by the department of revenue, subject to supervision by the existing limited gaming control commission;
  • A limited number of licenses will be issued. Persons or entities currently licensed to conduct limited gaming (i.e., the owners of casinos in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek) are the only persons or entities eligible to hold a "master license" to conduct sports betting upon paying a license fee and submitting to background checks. A master license entitles the licensee to contract with a licensed "sports betting operator" or a licensed "internet sports betting operator", or both, for the operation of sports betting.
  • The conduct of sports betting in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek is further conditioned on approval by the voters of the respective city in a local election to be held concurrently with the statewide election in November 2019; and
  • The state will collect a tax of 10% on the net proceeds of sports betting activity to fund implementation of the state water plan and other public purposes. Of the total amount of tax collected, after first repaying the general fund appropriation for startup and initial operating costs, 6% is set aside annually to compensate the beneficiaries of revenues generated by limited gaming and other wagering activities for any losses attributable to competition from sports betting.
$1,739,015 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of revenue for startup and initial operating costs in the 2019-20 state fiscal year.


(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status

Became Law

Introduced

Passed

Became Law

Related Documents & Information

Date Version Documents
05/29/2019 Signed Act PDF
05/22/2019 Final Act PDF
05/03/2019 Rerevised PDF
05/02/2019 Revised PDF
04/24/2019 Reengrossed PDF
04/23/2019 Engrossed PDF
04/18/2019 Introduced PDF
Date Version Documents
04/29/2019 PA2 PDF
04/23/2019 PA1 PDF
Date Version Documents
08/05/2019 FN3 PDF
04/26/2019 FN2 PDF
04/22/2019 FN1 PDF
Date Version Documents
09/01/2025 SA2 PDF
09/01/2025 SA1 PDF
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment J.002 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Refer House Bill 19-1327, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-2. Vote summary
Activity Vote Documents
Refer House Bill 19-1327 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. Vote summary
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment J.001 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Refer House Bill 19-1327, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1. Vote summary
Activity Vote Documents
Refer House Bill 19-1327 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-1. Vote summary
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
05/03/2019 Third Reading BILL
27
AYE
8
NO
0
OTHER
Vote record
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
04/24/2019 Third Reading BILL
58
AYE
6
NO
1
OTHER
Vote record
04/24/2019 Third Reading AMD (L.014)
63
AYE
1
NO
1
OTHER
Vote record
04/24/2019 Third Reading PERM
60
AYE
4
NO
1
OTHER
Vote record
Date Amendment Number Committee/ Floor Hearing Status Documents
05/02/2019 L.040 Second Reading Lost [**] PDF
04/27/2019 J.002 SEN Appropriations Passed [*] PDF
04/23/2019 L.013 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
04/23/2019 L.012 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
04/23/2019 L.008 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
04/23/2019 L.007 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
04/23/2019 J.001 HOU Appropriations Passed [*] PDF
L.014 Third Reading Passed PDF
Date Location Action
05/29/2019 Governor Governor Signed
05/22/2019 Senate Signed by the President of the Senate
05/22/2019 Governor Sent to the Governor
05/21/2019 House Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/03/2019 Senate Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/02/2019 Senate Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/01/2019 Senate Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
04/27/2019 Senate Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/26/2019 Senate Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
04/24/2019 Senate Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance
04/24/2019 House House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
04/23/2019 House House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
04/23/2019 House House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/22/2019 House House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
04/18/2019 House Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance
Effective Date Chapter # Title Documents
08/02/2019 347 Authorize & Tax Sports Betting Refer Under TABOR PDF