US gambling addiction is ‘out of control’ as betting markets boom, policy expert warns
A policy expert warns that US gambling addiction is out of control amid booming online and prediction markets, urging stronger public-health regulation.Summary
Gambling addiction in the United States is spiraling out of control, according to Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), who argues that the rapid expansion of online gambling, sports betting, and prediction markets demands a public health response. Levant and PHAI, a non-profit led by Richard Daynard, are convening experts in Boston to advocate for tighter regulation modeled on alcohol and tobacco controls, emphasizing that the product itself is dangerous. Since the US Supreme Court lifted the federal sports betting ban in 2018, sports betting has been legalized in 39 states and Washington DC, while prediction markets have surged in popularity and now operate under federal commodities rules, allowing access to users 18 and older. Clinicians, advocates, and polling data indicate growing public concern over addiction and support for stronger federal oversight. The conference will highlight legislative efforts such as the Safe Bet Act, which would set minimum federal standards, limit marketing, and restrict AI-driven player tracking, while speakers from the US, Australia, and the UK share public health strategies. Levant frames the moment as a critical juncture and describes the event as a pro-public health symposium aimed at demonstrating the harms of unregulated, highly accessible online gambling and advancing real solutions.
(Source：The Guardian)