WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), whose district includes the Saratoga Racecourse, has introduced a bill that aims to rein in mobile sports betting. 

In a press conference held outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on September 12, Tonko and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) touted the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act. 

In an effort to create less addictive mobile sports betting apps, the legislation would require states to meet minimum federal standards in the categories of advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence.

“Every single moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity,” Tonko said. “That’s resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has in turn enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives. We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction.”

Tonko compared the effects of gambling addiction to heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse. He said he’d heard “countless stories of lives destroyed by sports gambling.” He stressed that he did not want to ban sports betting, but rather make it safer for the public.

“This is about harm reduction of a known addictive product that is on sale 24/7,” Tonko said.

In addition to prohibiting all proposition bets featuring college and amateur athletes, the SAFE Bet Act would:

Prohibit sports betting advertising from being broadcast between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Prohibit sports betting advertising during live sporting events

Prohibit sports betting advertisements designed to induce gambling with “bonus,” “no sweat,” “bonus bets,” or odds boosts, or similar promotions

Prohibit reckless or purposeful targeting of problem gamblers, individuals suffering from gambling disorder, or individuals ineligible to place a bet, including those under 21 years of age

Prohibit operators from accepting more than 5 deposits from a customer in a 24-hour period

Prohibit operators from accepting deposits via credit card

Require operators to conduct ‘affordability checks’ on customers before accepting wagers in excess of $1,000 in a 24-hour period or $10,000 in a 30-day period and verify that proposed deposits do not exceed more than 30 percent of the individual’s monthly income through the application of a reasonable lender standard

Prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track individual player’s gambling habits 

Prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to create individualized offers and promotions to customers

Prior to officially introducing the legislation, Tonko earlier this year outlined the content of the SAFE Bet Act.

He previously authored the Betting on our Future Act, which would have banned all online and electronic advertising of sports gambling.

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