SBC Americas

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is continuing his scrutiny of American sports betting by demanding that sportsbooks stop what he describes as the targeting of problem gamblers.

In a post published on his website, Blumenthal said he has written to eight major sports betting companies — DraftKings, FanDuel, MGMBet, ESPNBet, Fanatics, Caesars, BetFred, and Bet365 — to demand they stop leveraging data to target problem gamblers with promotions and ads.

Blumenthal has urged companies to make it easier for problem gamblers to remove themselves from online betting platforms.

The timing of his request is not coincidental, with the Democrat rep for Connecticut noting that March Madness is one of the busiest sports betting times of the year. Blumenthal cited the American Gaming Association figures that projected that Americans will wager $2.72 billion on NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball in the next two weeks through legal avenues, around 2.2% of the total handle wagered legally in 20..

Suspected instances of digital fraud rose in the U.S. gaming industry in 2023 and the sector continues to be the most vulnerable in the country, according to the findings of a new report from TransUnion.

The newly released TransUnion 2024 State of Omnichannel Fraud Report found that gaming had the highest rate of suspected digital fraud in the U.S. in 2023 at 10.9%, up 9% year over year.

However, while the American gaming industry’s vulnerability to suspected digital fraud increased, globally, the industry saw a fall of 30% year-over-year, according to TransUnion’s findings. The global information and insights company found that the worldwide rate of suspected digital fraud in gaming is less than half of the U.S. industry rate, at 5.3%, but still the third-highest of all industries.

The data also showed that the most common type of fraud seen in the gaming industry in 2023 was promotion abuse, wherein people pretend to be other real or fictitious people to take advantage of sign-up ..

The rise of online betting in the U.S. is accelerating the issue of problem gambling to the point where there are not enough counselors to deal with the problem.

As a result of this, Metro State University in Minnesota has created a new course that will aim to tackle the problem by instructing future counselors on how to treat problem gambling.

In the state 250,000 people report having problems with gambling yet there are only 19 licensed therapists in the state who are certified to treat the issue.

“It’s a problem that gets exponentially bigger every year, and we need to have the resources and the trained counselors to address this issue,” said course leader Craig Johnson, speaking to FOX 9. “I have almost 30 patients that I see, and I would say about a quarter of them are struggling with sports wagering.”

Johnson explained that the first-of-its-kind class will teach the psychological and physiological aspects of gambling on the body, as well as the impact on families and finance..

Operators need to be more proactive in identifying problem gambling and also use AI tools to aid the process according to industry specialist Jonathan Michaels.

As part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month the principle of Michaels Strategies joined SBC Americas Editor Jessica Welman on an episode of iGaming Daily to discuss his latest LinkedIn article, titled ‘The problem with problem gambling’.

You can listen to the episode here:

Challenges of identifying a problem gambler

Michaels spent some time discussing the difficulty that the industry has identifying problem gamblers and the need to be proactive in identifying problem behavior as it happens rather than in retrospect.

“The issue that exists is there’s no standards on what markers of harm and identification are. There’s no standard on what actually works to help ensure players wager responsibly.”

He believes that the challenge for operators and regulators going forward is to understand what tools will actually work in preven..

New Jersey is launching a new public awareness campaign on problem gambling.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced the creation of a responsible gaming public awareness campaign amid Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The campaign is released in partnership with marketing agency Marketsmith behind a $300,000 budget.

It will focus on online marketing and extends through Super Bowl LIX in 2025. It will be prominent during major sporting events, including the Olympics and NBA playoffs.

“As we learn more and more about the effects of problem gambling, especially following the legalization of sports wagering, we have an obligation to provide resources and support to the public on responsible gaming,” said Platkin. “This work starts with ensuring awareness of the many tools available to assist individuals who struggle with gambling, including comprehensive prevention strategies and treatment and recovery services.”

The campaign will inform bettors in New Jersey about responsib..

U.S. Rep Paul Tonko has introduced federal legislation that aims to regulate gambling as a public health issue in line with alcohol, tobacco and opioids.

The New York Democrat says that the SAFE Bet Act will focus on “advertising along with affordability and the AI impact on gambling” and is also supported by advisors from the Northeastern University’s Public Health Advocacy Institute.

“Sports always belonged to the American people, the American family,” said the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s Gambling Policy Adviser Harry Levant. “Sports now belongs to the gambling industry. I would like to think there are people in those leadership positions, and potentially even gambling industry companies, who will say, ‘You know what? This thing has gotten out of control. It needs to be regulated to protect the American public.’”

The SAFE Bet Act is a next-generation version of the Betting on our Future Act that Tonko introduced last year which sought to ban all online and electronic advert..

March provides excitement for sports fans across America but the month also provides a unique opportunity to advocate for responsible gambling.

In 2023, Americans wagered approximately $15.5 billion on the men’s NCAA Tournament from a record 68 million people who either placed bets or participated in bracket contests.

March Madness has been a staple in American sports culture but the emergence of regulated sports betting across the country has led to calls for responsible gambling.

“While most can place bets without it becoming an addiction, between 2-4 million Americans will experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime, likely more, considering this data is often outdated and suffers from insufficient funding from comprehensive research. Existing studies offer only a superficial understanding of the problem,” said Dr. James P. Whelan, Ph.D., Professor & Director at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research.

The willingness to address these issues comes during Problem G..

Lawmakers in New York are taking steps to improve problem gambling treatment.

A trio of measures in the Empire State are being considered in the Senate as pieces of legislation that provide additional funding for problem gaming treatment while ensuring safe and fair practices for marketing and use by qualified patrons.

Earlier this week, the three bills were approved by New York’s Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee and will now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.

The progression of the bills comes during Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Senate Bill 1550, introduced by Sen. Leroy Comrie, is being considered in the Senate as a measure that ensures safe marketing practices. The bill requires all gambling and sports betting ads to “include warnings about potential harmful and addictive effects of gambling.” SB 1550, which is also backed by Sens. Liz Krueger and Luis R. Sepúlveda, also mandates that the state’s Gaming Commission work with the commissioner of ..