Congress Debates Gambling Crackdown Amid Addiction Concerns
A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing revealed a growing public health crisis stemming from the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting across the US. Testimony from addiction counselors, former athletes, and the NCAA president highlighted increased addiction rates, particularly among young people, and a rise in harassment. While some senators expressed support for federal intervention to regulate the industry and better fund problem gambling services, the gambling industry pushed back, arguing against federal oversight. Concerns were raised about inadequate funding for problem gambling programs relative to the revenue generated, with some states investing significantly less than 1% of gambling revenue on problem gambling services.
John Q. Hosedrinker