A pair of US legislators have brought back their proposal for nationwide sports betting guardrails and guidelines.
Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal reintroduced the Supporting Affordability & Fairness with Every Bet Act, or SAFE Bet Act, on Tuesday. The pair introduced the initial version of the bill in September 2024. The pair of lawmakers believe it puts necessary safeguards on the US sports betting industry to help mitigate public health risks.
Tonko and Blumenthal held a press conference outside the US Capitol to announce the reintroduction. They mentioned how March Madness betting will take hold of the nation next week.
“In exactly one week, Americans will be placing bets and likely losing those bets made on their favorite teams,” Tonko said. “We are not here because we want to stop the industry from breaking [revenue] records, nor are we here to prevent Americans from wagering on sports should they choose to.
“We’re here today because government, at every level, has failed to pay attention to or understand the impact of gambling-related harms.”
SAFE Bet Act sports betting guidelines
While they said they do not want to prohibit Americans from betting on sports, they do worry about the predatory nature of the industry. Tonko said there was a 25% year-over-year increase, to nearly $14 billion, in money lost by Americans legally wagering on sports in 2024.
“The reality is that $14 billion in revenue for the gambling industry is $14 billion extracted from the pockets of everyday Americans,” Tonko said.
The legislation would set a national advertising framework for language and timeframes for gambling ads on TV, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. That includes prohibiting the use of words like “bonus,” “risk-free” and “no-sweat.”
It also proposes a ban on college player prop bets and in-play betting. There is also a component to restrict the use of artificial intelligence to help target bettors.
Change in proposal
Along with components of the original proposal, Tonko said the proposal also now would require states to work with the federal government to crack down on illegal operators.
That comes as various state regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders to offshore and unlicensed gambling platforms en masse during the past year.
It also comes after a group of regulators sent a letter to the Justice Department asking for assistance in fighting the illegal market.
Industry opposition
Many in the industry are against the SAFE Bet Act, including the American Gaming Association.
“Today’s regulated sports wagering operators are contributing billions in state taxes across the U.S., protecting consumers from dangerous neighborhood bookies and illegal offshore websites, and working diligently with over 5,000 state and tribal regulators and other stakeholders to ensure a commitment to responsibility and positive play,” the American Gaming Association said in a statement after September’s introduction.
“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, and have continued to iterate as their marketplaces evolve.”
Arguments against the guidelines contend they overreach and infringe on the state lawmakers who set up the laws. They also assert that including prohibitions on things like college props and promos could send bettors back to the illegal market.
US scrutiny of sports betting
At least two state lawmakers have introduced legislation to repeal sports betting laws this year. Those bills came as headwinds against the industry strengthen, including at the federal level.
Tonko began introducing sports betting guideline bills in 2023. He announced the SAFE Bet Act in March 2024.
In December 2024, a US Senate committee held a hearing on the industry. There was indication there would be additional discussion in the future.
