ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The federal government would ban in-game advertising and bets on college athletes under a sports betting regulation bill proposed by two northeastern legislators.

Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut put forward the bill on Thursday. Their aim is to address the purported negative consequences arising from the rapid proliferation of legal sports betting across the U.S. since 2018.

The legislation also prohibits the utilization of credit cards for funding online gambling accounts.

The Democratic lawmakers contend that sports betting, now legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia, has contributed to an increase in gambling addiction and related issues. Tonko highlighted that every moment of every game presents an opportunity for gambling.

“This has led to an alarming increase in gambling addiction, which has had devastating consequences for individuals, many of whom have lost their homes, jobs, marriages, and their lives,” Tonko said.

Blumenthal called the measure a matter of public health.

“This is about preventing addiction, saving lives, and ensuring that young people in particular are shielded from exploitation,” Blumenthal said.

The legislation is facing strong opposition from the gambling industry, which has long argued that it should self-regulate sports betting advertising to avoid federal intervention in setting standards.

The American Gaming Association, the national trade group representing the gambling industry, stated that sports betting operations are already subject to government oversight, generate billions of dollars in state revenue, and provide consumer protections that are absent in illegal gambling ventures.

"Imposing strict federal regulations on sports betting after six years of legal operation is disrespectful to state governments and gaming authorities who have diligently crafted tailored frameworks for their respective jurisdictions," the statement declared.

The industry has implemented some advertising restrictions in its sports betting practices, but critics argue that these measures are inadequate.

Harry Levant, the director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute within Northeastern University School of Law, drew a parallel between gambling and drugs and alcohol in terms of their potential for addiction.

“In the case of every other addictive product or substance, the government regulates its advertising, promotion, distribution, and consumption,” he stated. “Regrettably, the exact opposite is unfolding with gambling.”

The National Council on Problem Gambling emphasizes that "gambling issues might escalate as sports betting experiences rapid expansion" across the United States.

The bill mandates that operators limit customer deposits to a maximum of five transactions within a 24-hour period. It further mandates an assessment of a customer's financial capacity before allowing deposits exceeding $1,000 within 24 hours or $10,000 over a month.

The legislation also aims to prohibit "prop" bets linked to the performance of college or amateur athletes. This includes wagers on metrics like the total passing yards accumulated by a quarterback during a game.

Furthermore, it would forbid the application of artificial intelligence for monitoring customer gambling patterns or crafting gambling products encompassing highly particular "micro-bets." These micro-bets hinge on extremely narrow scenarios, such as the velocity of the next pitch in a baseball match.

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