A new bill introduced by New York Rep. Paul Tonko and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal aims to establish a federal framework for online sports betting in the United States. The bill, known as the SAFE Bet Act, stands for Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet. It focuses on three key areas: affordability, advertising, and artificial intelligence, aiming to bring about significant changes to the legal sports betting industry.
Tonko and Blumenthal criticized current practices by US sports betting operators, arguing that the state-by-state format has not been successful. The proposed legislation would impose federal requirements on these operators, including a general nationwide prohibition on sports betting. This provision may seem to contradict the Supreme Court’s decision on PASPA, but Tonko clarified that Congress retains the right to regulate sports gambling.
Under the SAFE Bet Act, states would need to apply to the U.S. Attorney General to offer sports betting, ensuring that they meet the minimum requirements set out in the federal framework. Blumenthal emphasized that the bill is not aimed at dictating what states should do but rather establishing a baseline for them to follow. States would still have the freedom to implement additional measures within the federal parameters.
The introduction of this bill signals a potential shift in the landscape of online sports betting in the country. By creating a uniform federal framework, the SAFE Bet Act aims to address issues of affordability, advertising, and the use of artificial intelligence in the sports betting industry. This move could lead to greater consistency and oversight in online sports wagering activities across different states.
Overall, the SAFE Bet Act represents an effort to bring about more transparency and fairness in the digital sports betting sector. With the support of lawmakers like Tonko and Blumenthal, this legislation has the potential to shape the future of online sports betting regulation in the United States.