Lottery couriers nearly caught in the crossfire
By Kate Northrop
Colorado legislators have introduced a bill that would roll back credit card purchases for lottery tickets and ban direct online ticket sales.
Some lawmakers in Colorado are not happy with the Colorado Lottery's unilateral decision to approve credit card purchases and direct online ticket sales, which the Colorado Lottery Commission approved in a meeting in November 2025.
At the time the Lottery voted in favor of the rule changes that would allow players to buy lottery tickets online and use a credit card to make purchases, Commissioner Bill Clayton supposed that digital sales might not happen until at least the end of next year. However, Senate Bill 117 might put a stop to it before planning the framework for the launch even takes place.
The bill narrowly advanced from the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 5-4 following an hours-long debate over gambling addiction and online lottery sales.
Senator Judy Amabile, one of the bill's sponsors, observed the impacts of gambling on young men, who she believes are most vulnerable to falling prey to gaming apps and may struggle the most. She noted the addicting nature of cell phones later in the hearing.
"I don't want us to set up a whole generation of Coloradans who are in desperate financial straits because of this," Amabile said.
Senator Jeff Bridges, another co-sponsor, expressed interest in regulating credit card purchases when the Lottery commission voted to approve them, referring to the premise of gambling-related credit purchases being treated as cash advances that may rack up higher costs for players than one might expect.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that, after legalizing the use of credit cards, debt increased significantly, Lottery Commissioner Christian Reece voiced during the commission meeting in November.
"You shouldn't be losing money you don't have," Bridges attested in his argument against credit card purchases. "This is addicting, this is dangerous, this is run by the same folks that use algorithms to get folks addicted to sports betting."
If passed, the bill would prohibit the use of credit cards to buy lottery tickets and would require that all tickets be purchased with cash, including checks, money orders, and debit cards, according to the bill's recent fiscal note.
By additionally banning the sale of tickets directly to players online, the bill is expected to reduce net lottery proceeds by $12.1 million in Fiscal Years 2026-2027, $24.5 million in Fiscal Years 2027-2028, and increasing amounts in future years.
Conversely, launching online sales would boost lottery revenue by 7% annually, while credit card access would add another 5%, analysts estimated.
Although they were never explicitly mentioned, courier services were also swept up in the blanket ban on online sales in the bill's original iteration. When the bill was initially introduced on Feb. 19, it cited a prohibition on the online sale of any tickets either directly through the Lottery or a licensed retailer.
Banning couriers would have hit the Lottery's revenue the hardest within the first two fiscal years. According to the Department of Revenue, couriers have increased lottery proceeds by an average of $16 million per year.
On March 4, legislators published another draft of the bill that carves out an explicit exception for third-party couriers. If passed, the bill would still allow couriers, "in exchange for a fee," to continue to "transmit lottery tickets" despite the ban on direct online sales through the Lottery.
As vehemently opposed to increasing digital options in an ever-evolving lottery and gaming industry these bill supporters are, it is unlikely to pass if it ever reaches Governor Jared Polis' desk. Polis has voiced his support for changes in favor of lottery modernization and increasing consumer convenience in the recent past.
"Essentially, this is about consumer choice and how they decide to make consumer goods purchases," Lottery Sales Director Thomas Campbell said in November.
To combat gambling addiction, the Lottery said it is prepared to curate protections for players who may be at risk or present symptoms of unhealthy play, including the possibility of analyzing player data and behaviors to "minimize harm," Campbell added.
"You have my personal assurance that we will not go on sale for any digital lottery without creating the framework and safeguards and the guardrails that go with the responsibility of selling digitally to our public," Lottery Director Tom Seaver affirmed to Reece before the rule change was approved.
The bill is moving on to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which, if cleared there, will advance to the Senate for a full floor vote. It will have to pass in both the Senate and House for it to make it to the governor, who is expected to veto it.
In the meantime, Colorado does allow online sales via lottery courier services. The Related Links section of this story has links to a courier service approved by the state for purchases by Colorado residents.
banning credit card sales is good, nobody should be gambling with money they don't have.
but what's their issue with online sales? as long as a player has enough money in their checking account to make a debit card purchase, it's up to the player how they spend their own money.
Citizenz cain't do whut the Government duzz, spend money it duzzn't have, ..you gotta do az they SAY ....
This is a good bill. Credit cards should not be used to make lottery purchases. And if you can't make it to a store to buy lottery tickets in person, too bad. You won't die if you miss out because you're unable to leave home or, in most cases, just too lazy. Too bad our Governor said he will veto it.
I only deal in cash transactions..
You do realize there are people in the world who use wheelchair and crutches right? And people who are severely disabled that they can't even use those?
Providing options is rarely a bad thing. And in this economy, unless you're crazy rich, everyone could use a chance at extra money.
I believe they should continue online sales, but bank ach or debit card,not credit cards. That way, disabled or home bound can purchase if they want. I don't get the statement about about lottery losing money. There always trying to create new games to get ppl to play/buy (aka get addicted imo). If they lost money, what would they lose out on? Schools supposed to get part of it but I was told if examples a school budget is $30000 for the year and lottery spending give them $20000, that 20g is not in addition to their 30g, so school budget remains $30g bc 20 is deducted off their budget, so no wonder the schools never seem to get ahead. What happens to the original 20g that was budgeted in? Anyway, lottery is made to get you addicted...they just say "dont get addicted" "it's just for fun" and "heres a hotline number". No one I know plays for "fun" bc the goal is to WIN. And credit card companies already make billions off interest paid by consumers, they shouldn't be allowed to make money on lottery sales. Besides if someone claims bankruptcy and goes to court... what's the "collateral" that the credit company gonna want? I mean if you buy a tv on credit and default the cc company will want the tv... so what you gonna give them if huge debt on lottery? A bunch of loosing tickets?
The only reason a state would ban online lottery sales is to protect convenience stores. Those huge chain stores have equally large political lobbying efforts, and now you know why online sales get banned. All the reasons the politicians state are the best fiction they can come up with. The real reason is money and power.
(This is also why the carve-out for courier services is OK with them. It doesn't harm their political supporters, because the couriers buy from physical stores.)
They can have someone else buy lottery tickets for them if they're that interested. If not, well, what's the harm in not playing the lottery? Not losing money is not such a bad thing.
Most people who buy lottery tickets online are not severely disabled. They're lazy.
Not everyone has someone at their beck and call to get them lottery.
The harm in not playing the lottery is the same as anyone not playing the lottery -- no chance of winning.
People playing lottery online has many benefits even if they're lazy.
1. Less pollution since they don't need to drive
2. Save money on gas that they could use for other expenses
3. Saves time that they could spend doing chores or a second job
You can't presume to know everyone as individual circumstances are almost always nothing alike. And definitely don't label someone as lazy unless you know for sure. Most people still get their tickets in stores while running errands so if someone's going the online way, they have their reasons.