Massachusetts Gaming Commission's Chair, Jordan Maynard, has testified before Congress regarding the regulator's efforts to protect young people from the risks associated with sports betting.
The hearing took place in front of the US House's subcommittee on higher education and workforce development, chaired by Rep. Tim Walberg.
In December 2025, Walberg had already begun inquiring into the wake of illegal sports betting schemes, sending letters to various organizations, including the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) and the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA).
In his letters, the Republican Representative asked how the associations were keeping athletes from getting involved in illegal sports gambling. He specifically mentioned NBA player Terry Rozier's case, who was accused of influencing his performance in a game for a $100,000 bribe.
Before the hearing, Maynard expressed his willingness to assist the Committee with his knowledge and experience: "I’m honored to represent the Massachusetts Gaming Commission before the US House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.
“The Commission is making sports wagering safer through the standards we have established and proves that state-based regulation can mitigate negative impacts for young people. I look forward to discussing how we can work together on these critical issues."
The proliferation of sports betting on campuses
Representative Michael Baumgartner began the hearing by highlighting how sports betting increased by 3,000% in the nearly a decade since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA. The Congressman also quoted statistics surrounding sports betting on college campuses.
According to data referenced by Baumgartner, 67% of students on campuses have engaged in sports betting. Moreover, the Representative was especially concerned with the fact that a survey found that more than one in five students have used financial aid to place bets.
Following this opening statement, ranking committee member Representative Alma Adams raised the issue of prediction markets, stating: "Prediction markets have blown a hole straight through state regulations."
The Democratic Representative also mentioned the ongoing investigation into President Donald Trump's family's ties with these platforms. Representative Adams said: "When the regulator steps back the Trump family profits and college students pay the price."
We need to increase gambling literacy on campuses
The Committee firmly emphasized its concern for students' mental health and livelihood. Witness Dr. Lindsey Mortenson from the University of Michigan emphatically said: "We are on pace to create the largest generation of problem gamblers in US history."
Furthermore, the medical professional goes on to compare sports betting to opiates. Mortenson says that the opioid crisis only began when high potency opiates came along. "Once they can be synthesized, packaged and aggressively marketed, we started seeing bigger problems."
However, the doctor says that those who are most able to detect problem gambling early on are sportsbooks. The panelist expressed the importance of investing in research and destigmatization so that students may receive early treatment.
Maynard echoed this. He shared with the Committee the various initiatives the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has established to protect college students and young people, from blocking sports betting advertisements on college campuses to enforcing age verification tools for operators.
Two standards for the same product
Maynard took a stand against prediction markets, backing Massachusetts Attorney General's lawsuit against Kalshi. The Chair of the gaming commission underlined how dangerous prediction markets are, he said: "Prediction markets and online sportsbooks have two sets of standards for what is effectively the same product."
During the questioning phase of the hearing, Maynard was asked how the issue of problem gambling can be tackled. "We need to increase gambling literacy on campuses," the Chair of the commission stated.
The hearing took an awkward turn when Republican Representative Glenn Grothman began his line of questioning. The Congressman began by praising President Trump for his impact on lowering gun violence, despite the administration having eliminated at least 50 rules and gun restrictions.
Representative Grothman got frustrated after panelists failed to provide a clear estimate of how much money is lost in sports betting overall.
Another common issue brought up by the panelists and committee members was the presence of player prop bets on college games. These kinds of bets have been found to lead to student-athlete harassment but also put players at risk of influencing games.
Maynard clarified that the state of Massachusetts prohibits student-player prop bets and emphasized the need to enact this restriction nationwide. "There is a place for federal regulation," the Commission member stated. Specifically, Maynard believes there should be a federal minimum standard when it comes to sports betting advertising.
The hearing concluded with a statement by Representative Alma Adams. The Congresswoman called for operators to implement age verification tools and for the CFTC to "do its job."
According to Maynard, the MGC has collected approximately $500m in sports betting taxes since 2023
