The Legal sports betting is becoming increasingly popular in many countries worldwide, with the promise of economic growth and entertainment. However, the activity does not always make everyone happy. Despite its potential to bring financial gains to governments and an enhanced excitement for fans, some detractors argue that legalized betting brings more harm than good.
Critics have pointed out that gambling can lead to addiction and money-related issues such as debt and bankruptcy. They also fear criminals could use it to launder money or facilitate corruption in sports. Additionally, they suggest that it could put vulnerable people at risk if they lack the knowledge or resources to gamble safely and responsibly.
One of the detractors of legal betting is Congressman Paul Tonko.
“This Sunday, millions of families across the U.S. will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. Between the plays, the halftime show, and the excitement, tens of millions will be bombarded by ad after ad from DraftKings, FanDuel and others promising so called ‘risk free’ or ‘no sweat’ bets in their ruthless pursuit to get new customers hooked on their products,” Congressman Tonko said.
“In the years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting, these unfettered advertisements have run rampant, with betting companies shelling out billions to ensure they reach every screen across America.
These ads pose a particularly dangerous threat to adolescents and young adults unaware of the risks involved in gambling, and to individuals prone to addiction.”
The congressman seeks to ban advertising related to betting and for this he has introduced a proposal known as the Betting on our Future Act.
The proposal seeks to protect the population from exposure to gambling, since according to the act gambling has become a health problem, the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network fielded 270,000 calls in 2021—a 45% increase from the previous year and an estimated 7 million people in the U.S. have a gambling problem and/or gambling addiction.
The AGA responds
AGA Senior Vice President Chris Cylke issued the following statement on the proposed Betting on our Future Act:
“The American Gaming Association (AGA) and our members adamantly oppose any legislation that seeks to ban or limit casino gaming advertising, including for legal sports betting.
Any such effort only serves to reduce awareness for legal options to the benefit of illegal, offshore operators and the detriment of consumers and communities. The proposed legislation would violate well-established free speech protections and undermine the expertise of more than 5,000 state and tribal gaming regulators across the country.
Responsibility is a foundation of the legal gaming industry and that includes with advertising. In fact, there’s never been more attention paid or resources invested in responsible gaming and problem gambling resources.
This includes our proactive efforts establishing the Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, which mandates responsible gaming message inclusion and imposes restrictions on target audiences, outlets and content.
Congress should instead focus its attention on combatting the predatory and pervasive offshore illegal market that offers no responsible gaming measures, age verification or problem gambling resources.
We appreciate Representative Tonko’s interest and will continue to work to ensure a sustainable legal marketplace that puts consumer protections first.”
The implications for the Pay Per Head industry
What implications does this have for Pay Per Head bookies?
Pay Per Head (PPH) bookies provide a unique service that allows individuals to manage their own sports betting business. As such, they rely heavily on customers placing bets in order to make a profit.
If recent restrictions on gambling advertising continue to be implemented, it could have an effect on the number of people who are interested in gambling. This could result in fewer customers for PPH bookies and ultimately lead to decreased profits for them as well.
Ultimately, it is hard to predict how these new laws will affect Pay Per Head bookies and their operations going forward.
In the world of bookmaking, having an experienced and reliable Pay Per Head partner can make all the difference. A good PPH provider can keep bookies ahead of the competition by offering cutting-edge technology, innovative betting options, and a secure financial platform.
By being at the forefront of the market in terms of technology and services offered, bookies can ensure they are best positioned to face any scenario that arises in their business.
A good PPH service should provide multiple betting options for clients, such as sportsbooks, casino games, live dealer games, mobile platforms, and other features that keep customers engaged.
Additionally, it should offer a secure financial platform with various payment methods so customers can have confidence when making transactions on their site.
The right Pay Per Head partner will also be adept at providing data analysis to help bookmakers make informed decisions while managing their business efficiently.