Colorado Lottery’s New Credit & Online Rules Ignite Debate

The Colorado Lottery Commission just pushed through two big changes: credit card purchases for lottery tickets and full online lottery sales. These rules kick in immediately, even though lawmakers can’t officially review them until early 2027.

What set people off is how fast it all happened. Several legislators said they only heard about the vote a week ago and felt completely ignored. Sen. Jeff Bridges didn’t hold back, saying the move “isn’t within the bounds of the laws already passed” and could seriously hurt Coloradans who are already struggling with rising costs.

Why the pushback?
Lawmakers worry this is a major policy shift that should go through them—not an agency making unilateral decisions. Their concerns include:

• Younger adults and vulnerable players overspending

• Credit cards making it too easy to chase losses

• The possibility of people gambling up to their credit limit

Retailers aren’t thrilled, either. Convenience stores and gas stations—places that rely on lottery sales—say the state is now competing directly with them. As one industry rep put it, “It’s weird that the government wants to compete with their own customers.” They also fear families could get into debt chasing jackpots online.

On the other side, Gov. Jared Polis supports the update, calling it a simple step toward “consumer convenience” and a more modern lottery system. And the Colorado Lottery Commission stands by its decision, saying it followed months of research and points out that 26 other states already allow credit card lottery purchases. They’re also rolling out responsible-gaming tools like spending limits, cool-off options, and financial literacy features.

What comes next?
The rules stay in place for now. Lawmakers could try to reverse them, but with the governor’s support behind the changes, that fight won’t be easy. Still, Sen. Bridges says he’s ready to take that fight on.