According to the non-profit Watchdog, gambling companies have fanned across the US, lobbying a series of state capitals for consumer protections that experts say will help reduce addiction-related harm.
new Report A campaign for accountability shared with the Guardian lists a set of regulations for proposed regulations, ranging from advertising and promotion restrictions to deposit restrictions.
Since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, it has followed a surge in online gambling that set the stage for an expansion of legalized sports betting, currently available in 39 states and in Washington, DC. Last year, Americans placed around $150 billion in their stakes.
The Advocacy Group, the Accountability Campaign, has documented the gambling industry lobbying efforts at the state level in recent years against a number of proposed regulations aimed at protecting consumers from gambling-related harm.
Several efforts have been successful.
For example, according to the report, Draftkings in 2022 opposed the proposed rules In Arizona, promotions should be labelled or described as “free” if they are truly the case. While there is a problem Gambling experts warn Such offers could distort gamblers’ perceptions of risk, the report states DraftKings notes, Discussed It was an “industry standard that promotes free play for accompanying players to deposits,” and noted that gamblers must create deposits to receive “free” plays.
The Arizona Department of Games has decided to adopt the draft Kings proposal, according to the report. State law now states, “A promotion and/or bonus written as free of charge, expressly discloses material facts, conditions and conditions.”
Some states suggest banning types of bets that the report claims are “strongly related to gambling addiction,” such as “in-game bets.”
Last year, Minnesota was in the SBA industry group. I opposed the revision The report states legalizing sports betting laws that banned in-game betting.
Supporters who limit in-game bets Often, they are fired rapidly in naturesay this type of bet It can contribute to problematic gambling. The SBA opposes and argues the amendment; According to CBS and new reportsexplains that half of all US bets are in-game bets and that enacting the bill would significantly reduce the revenue the state has collected from sports betting, explaining that the amendment is “nothing but a gift to illegal operators.”
The report states that the Minnesota Legislature had it. The invoice was not passed As of February 2025.
In Virginia, both state the report Caesars and DraftKings In opposition to the rules proposed in 2021, they called for the platform to include “game designs that promote play breaks and promote avoidance of excessive play.”
Caesars Discussed The language “sports betting platforms should be replaced with languages that indicate that players should incorporate opportunities to choose “cool”,” DraftKings I wrote it The section is completely removed. “Betters bet on betting events with various fixed odds. They don’t play the ‘games’,” the company added, “the design and screening requirements for new games will not apply.”
According to the report, the Virginia Lottery Committee removed the proposed requirement from the final rules.
In 2023, the report stated that Wynnbet had closed its online sports betting operations. I opposed the proposed language In Maine, TV ads said they don’t promote promotions or bonuses. company Discussed “It is a common industry practice to engage with customers through promotional or bonus programs that are frequently associated with sporting events.”
National Council on Gambling in Problem support The rules that write “the use of promotional deductions often leads people recovering from gambling addiction to recurrence.”
But ultimately, according to the report, Maine decided to allow such promotions.
In a statement to the Guardian, Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, argued that the gambling industry must be carefully regulated “as it had the tobacco industry before.” The profits of companies and the addiction of products are “very closely linked,” she said.
“It’s important for lawmakers to understand that understanding consumer protections regarding online sports betting is more than just choosing winners and losers on the balance sheet,” added Kuppersmith. “The lives of their members, especially the youth, are on the verge of suicide, as gambling addictions are plagued by suicide.”
An attempt to modify or attack the proposed regulations has failed.
For example, the report points out that in 2023, several operators asked the Massachusetts Game Commission. Modify Rules that include prohibiting the use of sensitive consumer information, such as an individual’s occupation, net worth, debt, income, credit history, government benefits, and status as a recipient of medical status or terms.
Limitations, DraftKings Discussed“It will effectively hamper the ability of other industries to engage in basic analytical and marketing activities that are freely involved.”
However, the committee Did not adopt the company’s proposed changesaccording to the report.
That same year, the report states Fundael challenge The rules proposed in New York are responsible for gambling operators responsible for the misleading language used by marketing affiliates, as previously reported by the Guardian; Opposition The rules aimed at restricting advertising in the regions surrounding university campuses claim that it is “ambiguous.” According to the report, the state’s game committee support The original proposals for both.
Vermont, both Caesars And Fan Duel opposed the rules that allowed state regulators to have the ability to impose a cap on promotions, bonuses or other credits.
Caesars Discussed That cap wasn’t necessarily “usually set by the regulatory bodies in the jurisdiction we are currently operating.” Fan Duell insisted This will result in state regulators “are likely to determine a marketing strategy in their sportsbook and be less attractive than they would be found in either the adjacent state or the illegal market.”
Despite the objections, Vermont Regulatory Authority According to the report, it sets the cap.
The report states that Draftkings pointed out last year I opposed to The term “risk” in this context is argued that the term “risk” is “overly confusing” due to Maryland regulations prohibiting gambling ads from implying that certain outcomes are “risk-free.” Nevertheless, Maryland lottery and game control agency I supported the languageaccording to the report.
Similarly, in 2020, the report will add Pen Entertainment Lobbying against the rules In Virginia, ads and promotional materials “may not mean that there is an increased likelihood of winning or that sports betting costs more.”
Penn suggested changing the “implication” to “guarantee,” but Virginia’s Lottery Committee Did not adopt suggestion.
Penn and Caesar did not respond to requests for comment from the Guardian on Monday. Wynn declined to respond, saying he had not commented on Wynnbet’s past business.
A spokesman for Fanduel said in a statement: “Fanduel is grateful that state regulators and legislators have provided our representatives to participate in important testimony related to online sports betting.”
“As a licensed and regulated operator, we believe it is extremely important to support the general discourse to prioritize customer protection and create a sustainable, long-term framework that creates an equitable business environment that provides millions of dollars in state tax revenue each year, and collective efforts to create an equitable business environment that provides legitimate market features,” the spokesman added.
Draftkings provides “feedback to various stakeholders to inform you of legal frameworks that we believe will work in the best interests of our consumers.” “A well-designed, state-specific sports betting structure provides responsible gaming tools and resources, providing important tax revenues to the state while helping consumers play in an informed and responsible way.”
A spokesman for the Sports Betting Alliance told the Guardian:
“The SBA always appreciates the invitations and opportunities to share the experience and expertise of its members with elected officials and regulators,” the spokesman said. “We see first-hand the law-abiding sports betting operators at a harsh disadvantage when illegal offshore and unregulated providers are the only entities that can offer popular products such as prop bets.”
American Games Association spokesman and lobby group group member He said the legal betting industry, including most major casino companies, is “based on liability, transparency and consumer protection.”
“Nationwide, more than 5,000 state regulators and policymakers work with license operators every day to implement a strong regulatory framework, support shared commitment to responsible games, and maintain efforts to support those experiencing problematic gambling,” the spokesman said. “This includes a wide range of initiatives, from public education campaigns to national helplines and funding for research and treatment services for those seeking support.”
