by Mia Palazzo CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT – With more than $3.1 billion expected to be wagered on this year’s NCAA basketball championships, according to the American Gaming Association, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal on Friday called for urgent federal reform to combat what he described as a growing public health crisis fueled by online sports betting.
Speaking at a virtual press conference alongside advocates and addiction specialists, Blumenthal highlighted two federal bills, the SAFE Bet Act and the GRIT Act, that aim to curb problem gambling and bolster funding for treatment nationwide.
“Casinos are with us literally from morning to evening on these phones,” Blumenthal said. “They are portable casinos that come with you everywhere.”
Blumenthal, a Democrat, said the sports betting industry technology to encourage frequent bets, particularly during high-stakes sporting events like March Madness. He noted that the expected NCAA championship game betting total this year is more than double the $1.39 billion reportedly wagered on the 2025 Super Bowl.
Representatives from online betting companies Draftkings and Fanduel did not immediately return requests for comment Friday.
“This industry needs reform,” Blumenthal said. “The consequences of addiction are huge. They break families, stop careers, and lead to job losses.”
The Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act, reintroduced by Blumenthal and Rep. Paul Tonko, D-New York, would impose national consumer protections by requiring states to meet federal standards for advertising, affordability, and AI usage in sports betting.
The legislation would prohibit sportsbooks from advertising during live sporting events, ban “bonus bets” and other inducements, and restrict customers to five deposits within a 24-hour period. Operators would also be required to conduct affordability checks for high-value wagers and be prohibited from using AI to target individuals or design gambling features like microbets.
Blumenthal emphasized that the goal is not to outlaw gambling but to “provide safeguards and guardrails” for an industry that he said is increasingly addictive, especially among young people.
“We are not banning it. It is not going to be prohibited,” he said. “Let’s make clear: no prohibition, but several standards … so that the casino in your pocket doesn’t become an instrument of addiction.”
The Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act, co-sponsored with Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, would dedicate 50% of the federal sports excise tax revenue to research and treatment for gambling addiction, with 75% of those funds distributed to states. Blumenthal noted that many treatment programs currently operate with little to no federal funding.
Diana Goode, Deputy Director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, echoed the need for federal resources.
“We are not for or against gambling,” Goode said. “We just want to make sure, as gambling becomes easier and more accessible, there are safeguards in place. Those safeguards take funding.”
Connecticut currently supports five Bettor Choice gambling treatment programs across the state. Steve Gavron, a peer specialist with Wheeler Clinic’s program, shared his personal story of addiction, having gambled away his 401(k) before receiving treatment.
“Thanks to the past support from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services here in Connecticut, we cover the entire state,” Gavron said. “With legalized gambling becoming more prevalent… we have an obligation to educate people.”
Paul Tarbox, Director of Public Policy and Communications for the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, stressed that governments bear responsibility for protecting citizens when they legalize gambling.
“Connecticut is very fortunate to have a robust program and a strong problem gambling safety net,” Tarbox said. “But unfortunately, not every other state can. And the senator wanting to make sure that safety net stretches across the United States is not only something we should support, but we should call for.”
Blumenthal also warned that cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce would disproportionately affect veterans in need of counseling for gambling addiction.
“Veterans are particularly vulnerable,” he said. “They are of an age, vocation, and circumstance that make them more susceptible.”
According to the SAFE Bet Act fact sheet, Americans wagered a record $147.91 billion on sports in 2024, with more than 95% of bets placed online. Studies show that in states with legalized online betting, bankruptcy filings can rise nearly 30%.
“This is a public health crisis that needs a public health solution,” Blumenthal said. “Substance use disorder is no different than gambling addiction, and we need to know the causes and stop them.”
As March Madness enters its final stretch, Blumenthal said the urgency to act has never been greater.
“America should be aware, and so should Connecticut, of the disastrous consequences of the current sports betting business model,” Blumenthal said.