February 25, 2023
Dear Friends,
In the course of my work in Washington, I always strive to deliver legislation that directly addresses the issues facing Capital Region families every day. Whether it’s securing hard-earned benefits for our veterans, advancing treatments for rare diseases, or providing support for those struggling with addiction, I’m always looking out for ways to better the lives of hardworking people in my district. So when I heard from advocates about how a new onslaught of sportsbook advertisements is driving a troubling rise in problem gambling, I decided to take action.
Stopping predatory sports betting ads
Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed for the widespread legalization of sports betting, gambling companies have launched a barrage of advertisements aimed at drawing in new customers. Operating in a mostly unregulated, “Wild West” environment, these sportsbooks are flooding our television broadcasts and social media feeds with wall-to-wall ads featuring celebrity spokespeople and offers of “risk-free” and “no-sweat” bets. And these predatory promotions are already creating a public health crisis.
In a December 2021 poll, one in five Americans said they bet on sports at least once a month that year, an 80% increase over the number who reported betting with the same frequency a year prior. The National Problem Gambling Helpline Network reported a 45% increase in calls to their hotline in 2021. And children and young people are the fastest-growing demographic of gamblers, with between 60-80% of high school students reporting that they have gambled for money.
The consequences of this unending advertising blitz will only grow unless swift action is taken to protect our communities. With this growing problem in mind, I introduced the Betting on our Future Act, which would make it unlawful to advertise sports betting on television, radio, or the internet. Research has found a causal relationship between exposure to ads for gambling products and increased gambling activity. And evidence shows that children, young people, and those already vulnerable due to pre-existing gambling problems are especially likely to be influenced by these advertisements.
On Tuesday, I held a roundtable discussion with individuals impacted by problem gambling to highlight how this advertising campaign is exacerbating the growing issue of gambling addiction. I heard from experts, advocates, people in recovery, and impacted family members about how these ads make it easy to start gambling and difficult to stop. And I was encouraged to hear about the positive impact my legislation could have on young people and those recovering from a gambling problem. If gambling companies won’t rein in their reckless campaign, the federal government must step in.
Delivering benefits for our veterans
Just as our government has a responsibility to protect consumers from predatory companies, we also have an obligation to properly care for our nation’s veterans and their families when they return home. That’s why I was proud to support the historic Honoring our PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in August. This landmark legislation is the largest effort in history to treat exposure to toxic substances as a cost of war, with the potential to help several million veterans exposed during their service. By creating presumptions for more than 20 respiratory illnesses and cancers, this bill ensures that veterans can receive critical care immediately, without the requirement to painstakingly prove that their service caused their condition.
On Wednesday, I joined VA representatives at the Stratton Albany VA Medical Center to host a town hall event helping veterans and their families learn more about the resources made available by the PACT Act. At the event, attendees had the opportunity to speak with my staff, VA officials, and other veterans’ service organizations about how they could take advantage of these new benefits. This legislation is a significant victory for veterans and their families in our Capital Region and beyond, and I’ll always keep working to expand and strengthen the benefits, support, and educational assistance our heroes have earned.
My top priority as the Capital Region’s representative in Congress is to do right by the working families of our district. By advancing efforts to protect consumers, bolstering public health, and expanding benefits for our veterans, I’m working every day to do just that. As I return to Washington in the coming weeks, I’ll continue my efforts to find common ground, solve problems, and deliver meaningful results for our region and our nation.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a landing page to help veterans and their families answer questions about the PACT Act and sign up for benefits.
- On this page, veterans and their loved ones can file a claim for benefits, learn whether their illness is a presumptive condition covered under the PACT Act, find information about toxic exposure screenings, and much more.
- You can visit the landing page HERE. You can also call the VA at 1-800-698-2411 to learn more.
- If you have additional questions about veterans’ benefits or your eligibility for PACT Act-related disability compensation, please don’t hesitate to call my office at 518-465-0700.
