Sports betting marketing and advertising are part of a proposed piece of legislation to restrict some of the methods used by online sportsbooks licensed to operate in New York.
Rep. Paul Tonko introduced the Betting on Our Futures Act in February 2023. It was an attempt to completely eliminate all online and electronic advertising of sports betting within the state of New York.
Now, Tonko’s latest legislative proposal, titled the SAFE Bet Act, aims to refine online sportsbooks’ reach to current and prospective customers.
“We are dealing with a massive and growing public health crisis involving a known, addictive product,” Tonko said Tuesday, according to ESPN.
SAFE Bet Act details
Northeastern University and its Public Health Advocacy Institute also support Tonko’s comments about the sports betting industry operating as “a Wild West, largely unregulated environment” since PASPA was overturned in 2018.
The primary restrictions focus on banning certain language in New York sports betting advertising, when ads can be aired, as well as deposit methods and deposit limits. Specifically, the SAFE Bet Act wants to ban sportsbook advertising during live sporting events and ban language from sportsbook ads promoting “bonus” or “no sweat” bets.
It’s also attempting to prevent online sportsbook operators from accepting credit cards from customers who want to make deposits. This particular proposal is also gaining steam amongst Pennsylvania legislators.
No more credit card deposits
Pennsylvania Sen. Wayne Fontana is motivated to implement changes in the state’s online sports betting laws to keep customers as young as 18 from amassing tens of thousands in credit card debt.
Fontana’s bill will attempt to prohibit using credit cards for deposits and allow only debit cards or cash payments to prevent multiple credit cards from being maxed out across different sportsbooks, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
"This is the new opioid epidemic," said gambling addiction counselor Jody Bechtold. “The numbers are staggering, to be so young and talking about $50,000 or $75,000, it’s just hard to even imagine.”
Surge in sports betting ad restrictions
Along with New York and Pennsylvania targeting online sportsbooks and their ability to advertise at certain events with specific language, Vermont and Ontario, Canada have both been busy engaging in similar efforts.
Vermont’s legal sports betting marketplace went live in January. However, legislators in the Green Mountain State are already seeking to ban advertising for sports betting and the promotion of various gaming.
In Ontario, one of Canada’s most populous provinces, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ACGO) currently regulates online sports betting and casino gaming. The province implemented changes in February, banning prominent athletes and other influential figures from being featured in Ontario sports betting ads unless they are specifically featured to promote safe betting practices.
