U.S. Senators Britt, Blumenthal introduce GAME ACT; what is it?

US Senators Kattie Britt (R-Ala) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at curbing the rise in underage gambling. The Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement (GAME) Act would bar social media sites and similar advertising-related businesses from showing gambling ads to minors. Fortunately, legal casino apps like Fanatics have strong identity verification measures in place to help prevent underage gambling.

The GAME Act calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the law, which would go into effect one year after passage. Noncompliant social media operators and advertising sites would be subject to fines and injunctive relief (e.g., a cease-and-desist order to stop targeting minors with ads).

Repeat offenders would eventually have to deal with the US Department of Justice, which could impose fines of up to $100,000 for every advertisement. If a social media site showed hundreds or thousands of these ads, they'd be facing multi-million dollar financial penalties.

"Sportsbooks and prediction markets are treating young people like a gold rush, flooding the internet with advertisements and promotions to hook them on gambling when they're young," said Senator Blumenthal. 

"High schoolers, even middle schoolers, are now gambling on their phones as never before, losing real money and creating life-altering addiction. The GAME Act would create a nationwide ban on targeted advertising of gambling to kids, backed with the force of punishing fines."

The best online casinos and sportsbooks have strict safeguards in place to block underage gamblers. For example, the Know Your Customer (KYC) process requires users to submit their personal information, date of birth, and SSN. This info is cross-referenced with third-party databases to ensure that it's correct.

KYC at safe online casinos like Hard Rock Bet goes a long way towards preventing minors from gambling. However, the GAME Act appears aimed at the limited number of sites that might not monitor their gambling ads effectively enough.

According to Sen. Britt's press release, a 2024 study found that people who start gambling before age 18 are 50% more likely to develop a betting problem. The same research revealed that 1 in 6 parents wouldn't know if their kid was gambling.

An additional study showed that 45% of minors who gamble do so because they see related ads. Another 59% of respondents reported seeing gambling ads through their social media accounts despite not actively looking for them. 

"Years ago, parents could lock the door at night and assume that their children were safe," said Britt. 

"In today's digital age, that is sadly no longer the case. Dangers can enter our homes every single day through the palms of our children's hands. Youth gambling addictions could be developing under parents' roofs without them even knowing it, which is why we must help parents combat this."

Again, the best mobile casinos, such as BetMGM, have strong measures in place to keep underage players off their apps. But legislation and potential fines to help enforce the matter of preventing minors from gambling can't hurt.

Bettors must be 21 years or older and otherwise eligible to register and place wagers at online casinos. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek assistance from trained professionals such as the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-MY-RESET. 

Jeremy Olson