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WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) today shared a statement ahead of a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary examining legalized sports gambling in the U.S. and highlighting his trailblazing legislation that, for the first time, provides nationwide consumer protections for the mobile sports gambling industry, called the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act:

“When the Supreme Court legalized mobile sports gambling in 2018, sportsbooks spared no time and no expense cozying up to state legislatures, lobbying leagues, and pumping out advertising to grow a new audience and new generation of consumers. What they know, yet what they have continuously denied and lied to the public about is the tremendous, lasting damage that this barrage of gambling opportunities has inflicting on individuals.

“People have lost their jobs, homes, marriages, communities and, tragically, their lives to the disease of gambling addiction. But, sportsbooks have done precious little to curb this growing public health crisis, instead placing the burden of blame on the consumer, while lining their own pockets at the expense of millions who are struggling with this addiction.

“Just as Congress came together to fight Big Tobacco decades ago, we must come together now to protect people and their families from the suffering related to problem gambling. My SAFE Bet Act is the answer. Much like the historic Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act that helped open our eyes to the harms of smoking, my legislation does not place an outright ban on online gambling, but instead holds this predatory industry to a higher standard in order to protect public health.

“I hope that — as they learn more about this issue and its growing threat to our communities — my colleagues join me in advancing this legislation as soon as possible to give sports back to the American people.”

Tonko introduced the SAFE Bet Act alongside U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in September of 2024. The landmark bill addresses the public health implications resulting from the widespread legalization of sports betting in the nation by requiring states offering sports betting to meet minimum federal standards in the categories of advertising, affordability and Artificial Intelligence to create a safer, less addictive product.

A fact sheet of the SAFE Bet Act can be found HERE.

A section-by-section summary can be found HERE.