Congressman Paul D. Tonko has despatched letters to varied main sports activities leagues, calling on them to assist his federal playing security act.
As the world of sports betting continues to grapple with the knock-on results of the NBA scandal, Congressman Paul D. Tonko has written letters to varied main skilled sports activities leagues, together with the NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MSL, and NWSL. The letters are addressed to the respective commissioners however have been made available for all to read, calling on the group to assist his Supporting Affordability and Equity with Each Guess (SAFE Guess) Act.
It’s time for @NBA and different skilled leagues to throw their weight behind minimal federal requirements on sports activities playing earlier than this downside will get even additional out of hand.
— Paul Tonko (@RepPaulTonko) October 23, 2025
The proposed act goals to implement federal playing security requirements in a variety of key areas. That features requiring states to use to the US Lawyer Basic for permission to supply sports activities betting, implementing a nationwide ban on wagers like in-play betting and prop bets, and restrictions on promoting.
There are additionally buyer safety measures, corresponding to authorities mandates for affordability checks on bettors, a nationwide self-exclusion listing for downside gamblers, and a ban on permitting bank cards for use in betting accounts.
The backdrop of the NBA scandal
Whereas work on the SAFE Guess Act has been within the works for years, Tonko and supporters of the playing security proposal have highlighted the NBA scandal for example of why it’s sorely wanted.
“Claims of prioritizing integrity ring hole when leagues have offered credibility to playing operators, built-in betting content material into broadcasts, normalized wagering for youngsters, glorified it in promoting, after which failed to forestall legal conduct from taking maintain inside the sport,” the letters learn.
“The stakes go far past the integrity of the game; they embody the very actual human hurt occurring throughout communities nationwide.
“The reliance on voluntary self-policing has failed. If the integrity {of professional} sports activities is dependent upon federal regulation enforcement alone, the present system is already damaged.”
When the brand new broke concerning the NBA scandal on October 23, Tonko took to Fb to spotlight the urgency of the SAFE Guess Act, writing: “Scandals like this are an inevitable consequence of the unchecked explosion of the sports activities betting trade. That’s why we have to move my SAFE Guess Act – to handle public well being, shield aggressive integrity, and provides sports activities again to the American folks.”
Readwrite has contacted Congressman Tonko for additional remark.
Featured picture: Office of Paul D. Tonko
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