US congressman Paul Tonko and US senator Richard Blumenthal announced they will hold a press conference in Washington DC Tuesday (March 11) to “reintroduce” the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet Act (SAFE Bet Act). The pair initially introduced the federal framework for digital sports betting 12 September. It is one of two federal sports betting proposals circulating on Capitol Hill.
Families affected by gambling addiction and representatives from the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law will also be at the press conference, according to a Monday press release. They will “discuss this legislation and its impact addressing sports betting with a public health approach”.
The proposal calls for a nationwide self-exclusion list and a surgeon general’s report about “public health challenges associated with sports betting”. It also would allow the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to gather data “on the incidence and outcomes of sports betting nationwide”.
‘Nationwide prohibition’ on sports betting
The SAFE Bet Act goes beyond addressing potential gambling harm. It lays out a national framework of advertising and responsible gambling guidelines. It also calls for a “nationwide prohibition” of sports betting, which is a states’ rights issue since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in May 2018.
Since then, 39 US states have legalised and 38 already offer some form of live sports betting. Missouri is set to launch its market by 1 December.
An outline of the SAFE Bet Act was first circulated in March 2024. It would require states to get permission from the federal government to offer legal sports betting. States wishing to offer — or continue offering — sports betting would have to file an application with the US attorney general and prove that they meet a list of requirements. Applications would be valid for three years. No application fee appears in the outline.
Some sources last year suggested there could be questions as to the legality of the proposal, since PASPA was overturned.
No betting ads from 8am-10pm
The proposal highlights guardrails around advertising, excessive spending and artificial intelligence. With regard to advertising, the use of certain words would be banned. In addition, wagering advertising on “broadcast events” would be prohibited between 8am and 10pm daily. The proposal also calls for affordability checks in certain circumstances. In addition, it would ban the use of AI to track gamblers’ habits.
Tuesday’s press conference will mark the third time that Tonko and Blumenthal have pushed the SAFE Bet Act. A new bill has not yet been filed. A second proposal, the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act (GRIT Act), has also been discussed in Washington.
The GRIT Act would direct a percentage of the federal excise tax on wagering to problem and responsible gambling initiatives. The National Council on Problem Gambling supports the GRIT Act. Nevada representative Dina Titus has filed legislation seeking to repeal the excise tax.
