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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called for stronger sports betting and prediction market safeguards during a roundtable with high school students.
The discussion focused on risks to young people, according to his office’s Oct. 23–30 weekly recap.
The Connecticut senator highlighted legislation aimed at limiting sports betting advertising directed at minors.
GAME Act Targets Advertising Sports Betting to Minors
Blumenthal leads several bills seeking betting-industry safeguards, including the Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement Act, or GAME Act. The proposal would prohibit social media companies and other advertising websites from targeting minors with online sports betting advertising.
His office cited a National Council on Problem Gambling poll about early participation in sports betting. According to the cited poll, one in three young adults reported betting on sports before turning 21.
At the roundtable, Blumenthal accused the gambling industry of using technology to target people losing money.
“The gambling industry has made a science of sports betting—they use algorithms and artificial intelligence to track people who are losing money and target them, literally within seconds of their last bet,” he said. “Every punt, pass, play becomes a moment for gambling.”
Prediction Markets Also Draw Scrutiny
Blumenthal also criticized prediction markets, arguing that they pose risks to young people and need regulatory safeguards.
In a social media post highlighted in the recap, he thanked students for their contributions to the discussion.
“Sports betting & prediction markets have exploded—without safeguards to protect people from their addictive & exploitative tactics,” he wrote. “Thank you Conard students for your immensely valuable insights in our conversation,”
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Source: As reported by blumenthal.senate.gov.
