A public health crisis is unfolding in the United States, with many warning that the rapid growth of sports betting is linked to increased problems of addiction and harassment. According to campaigners and clinicians, addiction levels have increased among young people, while athletes and sporting officials report a rise in harassment.
At a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, senators signaled that they may support a federal crackdown on sports betting, which is now legal in 38 states. However, the industry is pushing back, arguing that a federal role would be unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Gambling experts, including former NFL player Johnson Bademosi and gambling addiction counselor Harry Levant, testified before the Senate judiciary committee, highlighting the need for increased attention to gambling on college campuses and the importance of providing resources and support for those struggling with addiction.
The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) president Charlie Baker, a former Massachusetts governor, stressed the need to “significantly more attention” to gambling on college campuses to protect sports and students from the dangers of pervasive sports betting.
However, the gambling industry is resisting federal regulation, arguing that each state should be responsible for its own laws and regulations. The American Gaming Association (AGA) released a memo denying the need for federal intervention, claiming that problem gambling rates have remained stable at around 1-2% despite the rise of legalized gambling.
But skeptics point out that this figure is based on a report from one state, Massachusetts, and that gambling rates in other states may be higher. New Jersey, where sports betting was first legalized, has a rate of 5.6% of high-risk problem gambling, three times the national average.
Some lawmakers believe that the industry’s combined might is creating a public health crisis and that federal intervention is necessary to prevent further harm. “It’s critical that Congress looks into sports betting’s impact on America and determines how the industry should be regulated going forward,” said Senator Dick Durbin, chair of the judiciary committee. “In many cases, gambling is not being done responsibly.”