A new bill introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut aims to address concerns about the fast-paced expansion of legal sports betting across the United States. The legislation, announced on Thursday, would prohibit in-game advertising, betting on college athletes, and the use of credit cards for online gambling accounts, as part of efforts to curb gambling addiction.
Since the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, the practice has become legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia, with Tonko and Blumenthal expressing concerns about its negative effects.
Tonko pointed to a troubling rise in problem gambling, stating: “That’s resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has, in turn, enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives.”
Blumenthal emphasized that the proposed bill is focused on public health, stressing the need to protect vulnerable individuals from the dangers of addiction. “It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation,” he said.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), the industry’s trade association, criticized the bill, stating: “Six years into legal sports betting, introducing heavy-handed federal prohibitions is a slap in the face to state legislatures and gaming regulators who have dedicated countless time and resources to developing thoughtful frameworks unique to their jurisdictions.”
While the industry has implemented some advertising restrictions, critics claim that the measures fall short.
Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at Northeastern University’s Public Health Advocacy Institute, likened gambling to other addictive substances such as alcohol and drugs. “With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product. With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring,” he said.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has also raised concerns, warning that as sports gambling continues to grow, so do the risks of gambling addiction. The proposed bill includes provisions to limit deposits to five per customer within a 24-hour period and would require operators to assess whether a customer can afford to deposit more than $1,000 in a single day or $10,000 over a month.
The legislation further seeks to ban “prop” bets, wagers on specific performances by college or amateur athletes, such as how many yards a quarterback will throw in a game. It would also outlaw the use of artificial intelligence in tracking a gambler’s habits and creating “micro-bets,” which allow wagering on specific moments, like the speed of a baseball pitch.
