Colorado is bringing back a once-dead bill that would allow casinos to offer lines of credit to visiting patrons.
SB23-259 passed a House vote 33-32 and has progressed to the Senate for further hearings and another vote. One of the “yes” voters was a Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf, who one hour before the vote heavily criticized its intent. His sudden flip in opinion led Democrat Rep. Bob Marshall to say “this is why people lose trust in the government.”
meant to facilitate visits from high rollers who do not want to lug around a suitcase full of money
Despite passing the House, the bill has drawn harsh reactions from several members of the state congress. It is meant to facilitate visits from high rollers who do not want to lug around a suitcase full of money or make massive withdrawals from ATMs at Colorado casinos.
The downside, which is why many are opposed to the bill, is that it will also afford less affluent customers the same luxury of withdrawing money they don’t have and potentially lead to an increase in problem gambling.
Rep. Javier Mabrey shared his contempt for the bill via Twitter.
“Legislation designed to help working families and the poor is getting killed left and right but a bill designed to make it easier for casinos to make money gets a second chance to pass after it died fairly,” tweeted Mabrey. “This is so ridiculous.”
The bill will need to be signed into law by Governor Jared Polis if it passes the Senate.
