Senators Propose SAFE Bet Act to Regulate Sports Betting

Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Paul Tonko have introduced the SAFE Bet Act, which aims to impose stringent regulations on sports betting to mitigate addiction and protect consumers. The proposed legislation would ban in-game advertising and prohibit credit card use for online gambling while mandating states to adhere to federal standards. The act seeks to curtail the advertising of gambling products, particularly during live events, and would implement limitations on deposits and affordability checks for bettors. Both lawmakers argue that the rapid expansion of sports betting has led to a significant rise in gambling-related disorders. The bill has received strong backlash from the American Gaming Association, which claims it undermines state-level regulations developed over years. Critics within the industry emphasize the need for self-regulation instead of federal intervention, asserting that existing measures are already sufficient to protect consumers.