Alabama Senator Katie Britt and Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal have introduced the Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement Act, which could ban gambling advertisements displayed on social media platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram.
The two Senators believe current initiatives operated by US states and social media platforms which already look to ban such advertisements are “ineffective” and fail to provide “adequate punishments.”
Under the Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would maintain oversight of potential violations, while penalties could reach up to $100,000 per advertisement.
Britt and Blumenthal’s legislation would not include gambling advertisements seen by a wider audience during sporting events, nor any results found by minors who were actively searching for betting content.
The Alabama Senator stated the US Congress has been “completely feckless” in protecting minors from participating in gambling activity, despite talking about the issue “nonstop.”
Some lawmakers believe that even if enforcement against targeted gambling advertisements is enacted, regulation would be difficult due to challenges faced when verifying the ages of online users, as well as determining which promotions relate to betting.
Up north, iGaming Ontario launched its BetGuard self-exclusion tool for online players on May 14, having collaborated with government partners, responsible gaming experts and licensed operators to develop the new program.
BetGuard restricts players from accessing their existing accounts, creating new accounts and receiving marketing communications from regulated sites, as well as set exclusion terms of six months, one year, five years or a custom length of time.
The self-exclusion tool applies to all licensed iGaming operators in the province, including those operated by Ontario Lottery and Gaming. Ontario residents who register with BetGuard will also be provided a dedicated customer care line.
Senate File 4760, which looks to ban prediction markets, was officially advanced by the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives on May 14, now awaiting decision from Governor Tim Walz
