If one New York congressman gets his way, the federal government will turn off the spigot of sportsbook advertising – for good.
Congressman Paul Tonko has introduced the “Betting on our Future Act,” and if passed, it would ban all online and electronic sports betting advertising.
“This Sunday, millions of families across the U.S. will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. Between the plays, the halftime show, and the excitement, tens of millions will be bombarded by ad after ad from DraftKings, FanDuel,'and others promising so called 'risk free' or 'no sweat' bets in their ruthless pursuit to get new customers hooked on their products,” Tonko said in a statement announcing the bill. “In the years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting, these unfettered advertisements have run rampant, with betting companies shelling out billions to ensure they reach every screen across America. These ads pose a particularly dangerous threat to adolescents and young adults unaware of the risks involved in gambling, and to individuals prone to addiction.”