Family Law Blog

Colorado Casinos Play Important Role in Collection of Delinquent Child Support Payments

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on October 10, 2011

According to the Standard-Examiner, some states, including Colorado, have been targeting deadbeat parents with outstanding child support payments at casinos. Although casinos in Colorado fought the legislation for years, it was finally implemented.

The Gambling Payment Intercept Act has been in effect since July 1, 2008. The measure requires that casinos check an online database of people who have outstanding Colorado child support payments before awarding cash winnings that require an IRS form. If the winner is included in the database, the casino must withhold the outstanding balance of the child support payment and turn it over to the state’s Department of Human Services, which will then apply the amount toward the delinquency. Any amount over the delinquent amount may be awarded to the winner.

Although many states have not been able to pass similar legislation due to strong casino lobbies and/or skeptical child support collection agencies, it has been proven an effective means of collecting child support from parents delinquent in their payments in Colorado. Since the law took effect, Colorado has intercepted winnings 810 times, totaling $1.25 million. The first collection was made on the law’s first day, and more than $500,000 were collected in the first year. One Colorado man, in fact, has had his casino jackpots intercepted on 11 different occasions, resulting in over $15,000 being sent to his children.

Going through a divorce is difficult, especially when there are children involved, but each parent has a responsibility to provide support for the care of their children. If you and your former spouse are seeking resolution to a child support dispute or just have concerns about Colorado child support in general, contact the experienced child support attorneys in Denver at Kaplan Law, LLC, today at (303) 458-5500 for a consultation.