Congress Proposes Bill to Regulate Sports Betting Advertising and College Athlete Bets

A bill in Congress would crack down on sports gambling amid public health concerns

The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill Thursday. It's designed to address what they say are the harmful effects of the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S. since 2018. The measure also would forbid the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. The Democratic legislators say sports betting, now legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, has increased gambling addiction and other problems. Every moment of every game is a chance to gamble, Tonko said. "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," Tonko said. Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health. "It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. The legislation already faces strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has said for years that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid the federal government imposing standards on it. The American Gaming Association, the gambling industry's national trade association, said sports books already operate under government supervision, contribute billions of dollars in state taxes, and offer consumers protections that don't exist with illegal gambling operations. "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," it said in a statement. The industry has adopted sports betting practices that include some limits on advertising, but critics say they don't go far enough. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, compared gambling to drugs and alcohol in terms of potential addictiveness. "With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product," he said. "With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring." The National Council on Problem Gambling says "gambling problems may increase as sports gambling grows explosively" across America. The bill would prohibit operators from accepting more than five deposits from a customer over a 24-hour period, and check on a customer's ability to afford depositing more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in a month. The bill also would ban "prop" bets on the performance of college or amateur athletes, such as how many passing yards a quarterback will rack up during a game. And it would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track a customer's gambling habits or to create gambling products including highly specific "micro-bets," which are based on scenarios as narrow as the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game.

Bill would ban sports betting ads during games and forbid bets on college athletes

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill Thursday. It's designed to address what they say are the harmful effects of the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S. since 2018. The measure also would forbid the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. The Democratic legislators say sports betting, now legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, has increased gambling addiction and other problems. Every moment of every game is a chance to gamble, Tonko said. "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," Tonko said. Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health. "It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. The legislation already faces strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has said for years that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid the federal government imposing standards on it. The American Gaming Association, the gambling industry's national trade association, said sports books already operate under government supervision, contribute billions of dollars in state taxes, and offer consumers protections that don't exist with illegal gambling operations. "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," it said in a statement. The industry has adopted sports betting practices that include some limits on advertising, but critics say they don't go far enough. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, compared gambling to drugs and alcohol in terms of potential addictiveness. "With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product," he said. "With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring." The National Council on Problem Gambling says "gambling problems may increase as sports gambling grows explosively" across America. The bill would prohibit operators from accepting more than five deposits from a customer over a 24-hour period, and check on a customer's ability to afford depositing more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in a month. The bill also would ban "prop" bets on the performance of college or amateur athletes, such as how many passing yards a quarterback will rack up during a game. And it would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track a customer's gambling habits or to create gambling products including highly specific "micro-bets," which are based on scenarios as narrow as the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Bill would ban sports betting ads during games and forbid bets on college athletes

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill Thursday. It's designed to address what they say are the harmful effects of the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S. since 2018. The measure also would forbid the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. The Democratic legislators say sports betting, now legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, has increased gambling addiction and other problems. Every moment of every game is a chance to gamble, Tonko said. "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," Tonko said. Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health. "It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. The legislation already faces strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has said for years that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid the federal government imposing standards on it. The American Gaming Association, the gambling industry's national trade association, said sports books already operate under government supervision, contribute billions of dollars in state taxes, and offer consumers protections that don't exist with illegal gambling operations. "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," it said in a statement. The industry has adopted sports betting practices that include some limits on advertising, but critics say they don't go far enough. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, compared gambling to drugs and alcohol in terms of potential addictiveness. "With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product," he said. "With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring." The National Council on Problem Gambling says "gambling problems may increase as sports gambling grows explosively" across America. The bill would prohibit operators from accepting more than five deposits from a customer over a 24-hour period, and check on a customer's ability to afford depositing more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in a month. The bill also would ban "prop" bets on the performance of college or amateur athletes, such as how many passing yards a quarterback will rack up during a game. And it would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track a customer's gambling habits or to create gambling products including highly specific "micro-bets," which are based on scenarios as narrow as the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Bill would ban sports betting ads during games and forbid bets on college athletes

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill Thursday. It's designed to address what they say are the harmful effects of the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S. since 2018. The measure also would forbid the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. The Democratic legislators say sports betting, now legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, has increased gambling addiction and other problems. Every moment of every game is a chance to gamble, Tonko said. "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," Tonko said. Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health. "It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. The legislation already faces strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has said for years that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid the federal government imposing standards on it. The American Gaming Association, the gambling industry's national trade association, said sports books already operate under government supervision, contribute billions of dollars in state taxes, and offer consumers protections that don't exist with illegal gambling operations. "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," it said in a statement. The industry has adopted sports betting practices that include some limits on advertising, but critics say they don't go far enough. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, compared gambling to drugs and alcohol in terms of potential addictiveness. "With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product," he said. "With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring." The National Council on Problem Gambling says "gambling problems may increase as sports gambling grows explosively" across America. The bill would prohibit operators from accepting more than five deposits from a customer over a 24-hour period, and check on a customer's ability to afford depositing more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in a month. The bill also would ban "prop" bets on the performance of college or amateur athletes, such as how many passing yards a quarterback will rack up during a game. And it would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track a customer's gambling habits or to create gambling products including highly specific "micro-bets," which are based on scenarios as narrow as the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Bill Would Ban Sports Betting Ads During Games and Forbid Bets on College Athletes

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill Thursday. It's designed to address what they say are the harmful effects of the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S. since 2018. The measure also would forbid the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. The Democratic legislators say sports betting, now legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, has increased gambling addiction and other problems. Every moment of every game is a chance to gamble, Tonko said. "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," Tonko said. Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health. "It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. The legislation already faces strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has said for years that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid the federal government imposing standards on it. The American Gaming Association, the gambling industry's national trade association, said sports books already operate under government supervision, contribute billions of dollars in state taxes, and offer consumers protections that don't exist with illegal gambling operations. "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," it said in a statement. The industry has adopted sports betting practices that include some limits on advertising, but critics say they don't go far enough. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, compared gambling to drugs and alcohol in terms of potential addictiveness. "With every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates the advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption of the product," he said. "With gambling, sadly, the exact opposite is occurring." The National Council on Problem Gambling says "gambling problems may increase as sports gambling grows explosively" across America. The bill would prohibit operators from accepting more than five deposits from a customer over a 24-hour period, and check on a customer's ability to afford depositing more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in a month. The bill also would ban "prop" bets on the performance of college or amateur athletes, such as how many passing yards a quarterback will rack up during a game. And it would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track a customer's gambling habits or to create gambling products including highly specific "micro-bets," which are based on scenarios as narrow as the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Democrats unveil bill banning in-game sports betting ads, bets on college athletes

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) have introduced a bill banning bets during live sporting events and proposition bets on college athletes aimed at protecting consumers by requiring states that offer sports betting to comply with certain federal standards. The legislation, dubbed the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act, intends to address what the lawmakers said was a public health concern surrounding the legalization of sports betting, like addiction, by setting standards in advertising, affordability and artificial intelligence. The bill aims to prohibiting ads that promote the use of gambling products, show viewers how to gamble or explain how wagers work. It would also prohibit the use of credit cards for gambling accounts and prevent artificial intelligence from tracking consumers' gambling habits. "This bill is a matter of public health. It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives, and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation," Blumenthal said. Tonko also said that the bill would allow federal data collection on sports betting. "This bill is an effort designed to prevent harm before it occurs," Tonko said. The legislation has faced sharp criticism from the American Gaming Association (AGA), calling the bill a "slap in the face." "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, and have continued to iterate as their marketplaces evolve," it said in a statement. Sports betting is currently legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C., according to the AGA, and 30 of those states allow wagering online.

Federal Bill Targets AI and Credit Cards in Sports Betting | PYMNTS.com

A newly proposed bill would require states that allow sports betting to meet minimum federal standards covering advertising, affordability and artificial intelligence. The SAFE Bet Act was introduced Thursday (Sept. 12) by Congressman Paul D. Tonko, D-.Y., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., according to a press release issued Friday (Sept. 13) by Tonko's office. The bill aims to address the public health impact of sports betting and create a "safer, less addictive product," the release said. The SAFE Bet Act would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to offer individualized promotions based on a player's gambling habits and to create gambling products, according to a fact sheet released Friday by Tonko's office. It would also focus on affordability by limiting the number of deposits operators can take from a customer in a 24-hour period, requiring operators to conduct "affordability checks" on customers before accepting wagers above certain thresholds, and prohibiting operators from accepting deposits via credit card, the fact sheet said. On the advertising front, the SAFE Bet Act would ban sportsbook advertising during live sporting events and certain programming designed to induce gambling, per the fact sheet. Tonko said in the press release that there has been a rise in gambling disorders because betting opportunities have become so widespread. "We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction," Tonko said. Blumenthal added in the press release: "This bill is a matter of public health. It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation." The American Gaming Association, a casino gaming industry trade group, released a statement Thursday addressing the SAFE Bet Act, saying that regulated sports wagering operators contribute billions in state taxes, protect consumers from bookies and illegal offshore websites, and work to ensure responsible and positive play. "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, and have continued to iterate as their marketplaces evolve," Chris Cylke, senior vice president of government relations at the American Gaming Association, said in the statement. It was reported Sept. 6 that in the time since a Supreme Court ruling overturned a law that prevented state-sanctioned sportsbooks in 2018, over $220 billion has been wagered in the U.S. sports gambling industry.

U.S. lawmakers introduce bill to put regulations on sports betting operators

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (L) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) hold a news conference to introduce online gambling legislation outside the U.S. Capitol on September 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. Sports gambling has exploded across the United States over the past six years and, in response, two lawmakers have introduced legislation that would implement federal regulations on the practice. Rep. Paul Tonko D-N.Y. and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Thursday introduced the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet, or the SAFE Bet Act, which seeks to ensure sports betting operators comply with minimum federal standards and tries to address the public health implications resulting from the legalization of sports betting. "This relationship between the gambling industry and sports has reached intolerably dangerous levels, and it's well past time for Congress to just to step up and make a difference," Tonko said in a press conference on Thursday. The Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018. Six years later, sports betting has exploded across the United States, as 38 states have legalized it. The industry posted a record $11 billion in 2023, marking a 44% increase over the previous year, according to the American Gaming Association. It's also brought billions in new revenue to states as they take a cut of the pie through taxes. The rapid growth has led to operators fronting big money to acquire customers through advertisements, promotions and enticements. "Now every single solitary moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity, whether you're scrolling on social media, driving down the highway past billboards, or listening to your favorite podcast or radio station, sports betting ads are there to prompt you with an endless cascade of flashy promotions," Tonko said. Gordon Douglas joined the lawmakers at the press conference and said he's seen the challenges of gambling addiction firsthand with his son, 28-year-old Andrew Douglas. Gordon Douglas says his son, an athlete and coach, signed up with a gambling company and was then inundated with promotions and ads from at least six others. "He became a different person that would say anything to get money to gamble," he said. "He reached a point of wanting to end his life because he saw no way out." The Douglas family is not alone -- an estimated 7 million people in the U.S. have a gambling problem, with one in five problem gamblers having attempted suicide, according to the National Institutes of Health and National Council on Problem Gambling. A July report found that the odds of bankruptcy filing in states with legal betting increased by as much as 25% to 30%. The lawmakers say they are not trying to ban gambling on sports -- they are just trying to make it safe for the public to enjoy as a recreational activity by pushing for a national standard. "State regulation is faint-hearted and half-baked. That's why we need a national standard -- not to ban gambling -- but simply to take back control over an industry that is out of bounds," Blumenthal said Thursday. The bill addresses three key areas tied to sports betting: advertising, affordability and artificial intelligence. "This industry is exploiting the most advanced technology to make the most money," Blumenthal said about AI. He said he wants to prohibit the use of AI to track player's gambling habits and individual promotions. The bill is also pushing for changes to advertising, which includes prohibiting sportsbooks from advertising during live sporting events that are intended to induce gambling with "no sweat," or "bonus" type bets. Finally, the legislation would limit customer deposits to five in a 24-hour period. It would mandate gambling operators ensure customers who wager more than $1,000 can afford to do so. "The gambling industry is following a playbook developed by the tobacco industry and this is a direct threat to public health," said Richard Daynard, a law professor and president of the Public Health Advocacy Group at Northwestern. The sports betting operators, meanwhile, are fighting back and saying the industry has brought benefits. Chris Cylke, the American Gaming Association's senior vice president of government relations, said the bill is "a slap in the face" to state regulators and gaming operators that have dedicated significant time and resources to developing the framework as the market evolves. "Today's regulated sports wagering operators are contributing billions in state taxes across the U.S., protecting consumers from dangerous neighborhood bookies and illegal offshore websites, and working diligently with over 5,000 state and tribal regulators and other stakeholders to ensure a commitment to responsibility and positive play," Clyke said. The bill has also received public opposition from Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who called the SAFE Bet Act "outdated" and "unwarranted." Douglas said his family has been able to get help for his son, but he wants to ensure that others don't fall down a similar path. "We as a country should not allow him and others like him to be exploited," he said. "We should do what is right to limit access to this type of gambling." If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in distress, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

What's in the sports betting bill unveiled by Democrats?

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Democratic lawmakers unveiled legislation aimed at regulating sports betting across the country on Thursday. The SAFE Bet Act would "address the public health implications" that come with the widespread legalization of sports betting. It aims to regulate gambling in a similar way to alcohol, tobacco and opioids and would focus on advertising, affordability and artificial intelligence. "We're not banning gambling. We're banning practices that exploit and abuse people who legitimately want to gamble," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) introduced a framework of the legislation earlier this year. "Gambling disorders as an addiction are akin to heroin and opioid and tobacco and alcohol and cocaine use," Tonko said. "Every state in this country has dram shop laws that prohibit the sale of alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals. We need to have that same standard for sportsbooks." First, the SAFE Bet Act would prohibit sportsbook advertising during live sporting events. Tonko said the bill would also implement several regulations to protect sports gamblers including: -Limiting account deposits to five times in 24 hours. -Prohibiting deposits placed by credit cards. -Requiring an operator to conduct affordability checks on customers before accepting wagers of more than $1,000 over a 24-hour period or $10,000 over a 30-day period. Additionally, the bill would set minimum standards for the use of artificial intelligence and big data by sportsbooks. "For me, in some ways, the most appalling and frightening of them is AI because it offers the potential for literally person by person targeting to narrow the appeal to what this industry can know is the susceptibility of that individual," Blumenthal said. The Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting in May 2018. Since then, 38 states along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legalized sports betting and 30 allow mobile betting. Tonko said he is working on reaching out to colleagues to garner support for the bill. In a statement to Nexstar, American Gaming Association spokesperson Chris Cylke said, "Today's regulated sports wagering operators are contributing billions in state taxes across the U.S., protecting consumers from dangerous neighborhood bookies and illegal offshore websites, and working diligently with over 5,000 state and tribal regulators and other stakeholders to ensure a commitment to responsibility and positive play. 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, and have continued to iterate as their marketplaces evolve."