Mastromartino tracker maps sports-betting protections across 35 states
Regulation1 min read
A new tracker developed by researcher Brandon Mastromartino maps sports-betting rules and consumer protections across 35 states with commercial online betting. It identifies seven states restricting misleading “risk-free” advertising, 15 requiring material bonus disclosures and 18 protecting college campuses; a House subcommittee this week examined betting’s growth on campuses.
A new tool from researcher Brandon Mastromartino highlights state rules and regulations. It looks at the 35 states where commercial companies offer legal online sports betting. States with exclusively tribal online gambling, including Florida, are excluded.
Cait Huble, director of communications for the National Council on Problem Gambling, previously said the term “risk-free” was deceptive because the offers were not truly risk-free. Some companies have stopped using the term across all states; FanDuel now uses “no sweat”.
A House subcommittee examined growing sports gambling on college campuses this week, with session leader Rep. Michael Baumgartner saying the surge in online betting was most pronounced there. Prediction markets were identified as a growing risk: they are generally available to users from age 18, whereas most states set 21 as the legal age for sports betting. Dr. Lindsey Mortenson testified that the industry could produce the biggest generation affected by problem gambling in U.S. history.
Lawmakers are examining the marketing practices and use of AI tools at DraftKings and FanDuel. States gained the power to legalise sports betting following the 2018 PASPA ruling.