A US senator and congressman are getting ready to reintroduce the SAFE Bet Act, stating that they support the federal government’s efforts to make digital gambling safer rather than opposing it.
Representative Paul Tonko and Senator Richard Blumenthal convened a press conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 11, when they discussed the Supporting Affordability & Fairness with Every Bet Act (SAFE Bet Act) with advocates for problem and responsible gambling as well as an addiction survivor.
Although the revised law has not yet been submitted, Tonko stated that the original idea has changed. States would now have to “work with the federal government to shut down the illegal market” in addition to other conditions under the proposal that were not addressed during the previous congressional session.
To date, states have taken the lead on this problem. Regulators have warned offshore sportsbooks to close by sending cease-and-desist letters from Arizona to Michigan. Additionally, legislation to outlaw unregulated sweepstakes platforms have been considered by state legislatures, notably those in Maryland and Mississippi.
The sector has requested federal assistance at every stage to close the illicit market.
Highlighting the negative effects of gambling
On “the eve of March Madness,” the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Tonko and Blumenthal stated that they aimed to revive the discussion around their idea. Selection takes place on Sunday, March 16, while the national championship takes place on April 7.
Tonko stated, “Americans will be betting on their favorite teams in precisely one week and probably losing those bets.” Our goal is not to prohibit the business from setting new revenue records or to discourage Americans from placing bets on sports if they so want.
“Every level of government has neglected to recognize or comprehend the effects of gambling-related harms, which is why we are here today.”
According to Tonko, the record $14 billion (£10.9 billion/€12.9 billion) was made by the legal sports betting sector in 2024, a 25% rise over 2023.
The industry “labels that record number as’revenue,’ a number to be celebrated… but the reality is that $14 billion in revenue is $14 billion taken out of the pockets of regular Americans,” he continued. The misery of a disproportionately small number of gamblers generates the majority of that revenue.
Legal sports betting was dubbed “the science of exploitation” by Blumenthal. He pointed out that the SAFE Bet Act would restrict the kind of markets that bettors may access. He stated that slowing down the wagering process is the main goal of the SAFE Bet Act.
In the end, that would probably include doing away with college proposition bets and in-play betting.
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These days, sports are “nonstop slot machines.”
The area of online sports betting that is expanding the fastest is in-play betting. To put it simply, in-play betting enables bets on future events without having to wait for the conclusion of a game. Predicting the speed of the next pitch in a baseball game or the following play in a football game are two examples. Both big and small digital platforms are always coming up with innovative ways to make the betting process easier and faster for bettors.
On Tuesday, politicians and their supporters were bemoaning a bygone age as the industry continues to improve its products.
Harry Levant, a problem and responsible gambling advocate, stated that “sports once belonged to the American people, to be shared by grandparents, parents, and children.” However, those times are over. The gambling sector has purchased out the sports leagues. These days, sports are like an endless slot machine with never-ending action.
The SAFE Bet Act is promoted as a solution to problem gambling and responsible gaming. It establishes rules for advertising language and when gambling advertisements can air on broadcast television, among other things. It also demands affordability checks and a national self-exclusion list.
A surgeon general’s report on the “public health challenges associated with sports betting” is requested in the fact sheet. Additionally, it would enable data collection “on the incidence and outcomes of sports betting nationwide” by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Goodbye to VIP programs?
Furthermore, the law would limit the application of artificial intelligence to target bettors. VIP programs would have to end, and operators’ ability to attract customers would be restricted. “A neighborhood drug dealer rewarding their best customers to ensure they never stop wanting or needing more action” is how Levant compared company promotions.
Northeastern University School of Law’s Public Health Advocacy Institute conducts research on “protecting consumers from products designed to generate large corporate profits largely by addicting their customers.” Legal sports gambling goods, according to executive director Mark Gottlieb, meet the requirements.
“Slowing it down is the key to making sports gambling safer,” Gottlieb stated. “Speed limits and guardrails help to make our roads safer. Without these, the frequent accidents and fatalities on our roadways would not only be a somber aspect of our culture, but they may also lead to decreased production, increased medical expenses, and destruction of families and communities.
The “national prohibition” on gambling comprised
However, the plan extends far beyond the boundaries of problem and responsible gambling. Additionally, it would return legal sports betting to federal jurisdiction.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was rejected by the US Supreme Court in 2018, allowing states the freedom to choose whether or not to legalize sports betting. In effect, the SAFE Bet Act would return that authority to the federal government. The US attorney general would need to receive applications from states that now provide sports betting or wish to start doing so.
A “national prohibition” on online sports betting is specifically called for in the proposal.
38 US states allow live wagering, while 39 states have legalized sports betting since PASPA was repealed. By the first of December, Missouri, the sole new state to legalize since 2023, will be operational.
Many people were critical of the SAFE Bet Act when it was initially announced last September. The proposal’s scope was criticized by operators, experts, and several organizations for responsible and problem gambling. Others argue that the act would violate the Constitution.
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