The first congressional hearing on US sports betting took an unexpected turn when Senators John Kennedy and Josh Hawley derailed the discussion to push their own transgender agendas. The hearing, held at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, was meant to focus on the SAFE Bet Act, which calls for restrictions on gambling ads and the introduction of deposit limits to address public health concerns in the betting industry.
Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, used the opportunity to attack NCAA head Charlie Baker on the issue of transgender women athletes. He questioned why the NCAA allows transgender women to compete with biological women and criticized Baker for not taking a leadership position on the issue. Hawley, a Missouri Republican, also joined in the criticism, asking why Baker doesn’t stand up against federal laws that allow biological males to play in women’s games.
The hijacking of the sports betting agenda by Kennedy and Hawley was met with criticism from West Virginia State Delegate Shawn Fluharty, who described their actions as “political tantrums” and “embarrassing.” Fluharty, who is also President of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, took to Twitter to express his disgust over the focus on non-betting agendas at the hearing.
Despite the distractions, five witnesses testified at the hearing, with only two, ex-New Jersey regulator Dave Rebuck and former gambling addict Harry Levant, taking clear positions on the issue. Rebuck, who is against the SAFE Bet Act, believes that states, rather than the federal government, are best equipped to regulate wagering. Levant, on the other hand, advocates for federal intervention, citing the dangers of AI-generated online gambling.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) also voiced its concerns over the hearing, noting that they were not invited to participate. AGA SVP of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney criticized the exclusion, stating that it leaves the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the overall proceeding lacking testimony on how legal gaming protects consumers from the illegal market.
Despite the disruptions and criticisms, Committee Chair Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin concluded the hearing by stating that it was just the beginning of the congressional sports betting debate. The focus on non-betting agendas and the exclusion of key stakeholders like the AGA highlight the challenges and complexities of addressing public health concerns in the sports betting industry.