ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey: Two northeastern lawmakers have introduced a bill to rein in the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S.
The proposed legislation would ban in-game betting ads and prohibit wagers on college athletes, addressing concerns about the harmful effects of sports betting.
Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut unveiled the bill, citing the dangers of gambling addiction, which they argue has worsened since sports betting became legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C.
Tonko emphasized the troubling rise in gambling disorders, noting that “every moment of every game is now a chance to gamble,” leading to devastating personal losses for many. Blumenthal called it a public health issue, saying the bill aims to “stop addiction, save lives, and protect young people from exploitation.”
Key provisions of the bill include banning the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts and restricting how often bettors can deposit funds. It would also cap deposits at five per 24-hour period while requiring operators to assess whether customers can afford large sums-over $1,000 in a day or $10,000 in a month.
The bill seeks to ban “prop” bets on college or amateur athletes, such as predictions on individual performance stats. It would also prohibit using artificial intelligence to track gamblers’ behavior or create hyper-specific bets like micro-bets.
The proposal faces strong resistance from the gambling industry, which argues that state regulators have already developed frameworks for responsible sports betting.
The American Gaming Association criticized the bill. “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.
Critics, however, argue that current measures are insufficient. Harry Levant, from the Public Health Advocacy Institute, compared the gambling industry’s lack of regulation to that of addictive substances.
“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.”
As sports betting continues to grow, the National Council on Problem Gambling warns that gambling problems will likely increase, adding urgency to the call for federal intervention.