Gambling Crisis: Experts Push for Regulations

0:00Gambling addiction in the U.S. is spinning out of control with the explosion of online betting, sports wagers and prediction markets. Policy expert Harry Levant from the Public Health Advocacy Institute says it's a full blown crisis that needs the same tough regulations as alcohol, or tobacco, focusing on limiting access, speed, and types of bets because the product itself is the danger. Experts from around the world are gathering in Boston today for a conference organized by the Institute to push for real reforms. This comes after the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban in 2018, legalizing it in 39 states plus Washington. DC, while prediction markets have surged, with over $1 billion traded on one platform during Super Bowl Sunday alone. The fallout is hitting hard young men, families, people of all ages are suffering massive harm, and Levant points out we're seeing evidence everywhere. From the unregulated online designs that hook users fast, he draws from his own life

1:00marking 12 years since his last bet this week. These prediction markets dodged state rules by falling under federal commodities, oversight, letting 18-year-olds bet nationwide on everything. From awards to world events, unlike most sports books, requiring 21 and up. Critics call it gambling by another name, speeding up the normalization and broadening what people wager on in tiny, constant ways. Levant stresses this conference brings top minds from Australia, the UK, and U.S. lawmakers like Senator Richard Blumenthal to lay out pro-public health, fixes showing leaders the problems root and clear paths forward before it worsens. That's the story for today, Adelaide News Today, driven by AI. I'm Cory with the story.