Betting on Our Future Act: A Threat to US Sportsbook Advertising?

A new federal bill aims to ban sportsbook advertising in the US. We spoke to expert Jeremy Kleiman about its likelihood and potential impact.

A new federal bill, called the Betting on Our Future Act, has recently been introduced in the US House of Representatives, with the aim of imposing a federal-level ban on all sports betting advertising. To assess the potential impact of this bill, Gambling.Re interviewed Mr. Jeremy Kleiman, Chair of Saiber LLC's Gaming Law Practice and one of the most prominent gaming lawyers in the US. Kleiman discussed the bill's likelihood of being passed, potential industry reactions, and the possible actions that operators could take if the bill became law.

Kleiman expressed doubt that the Betting on Our Future Act would gain traction in the US House of Representatives or become law, citing the Republican-controlled House of Representatives' pro-business stance and reluctance to impose additional regulations on businesses. If it were to progress, Kleiman predicted that the industry would counter by advocating for regulating all forms of gaming at the state level rather than the federal level. Additionally, Kleiman suggested that the industry should consider self-regulating by agreeing on a code of conduct for advertising to prevent state-imposed bans.

In the unlikely event that the act becomes law, Kleiman recommended that operators could find innovative ways to advertise, such as utilizing print media, signs, billboards, jerseys, etc., that would receive considerable indirect exposure through the broadcasting of sporting events on televisions and streaming services. However, Kleiman warned that the Betting on Our Future Act could set a precedent for similar bans on other forms of gambling advertising in the US, including online and land-based casinos, lotteries, horse racing, and other lawful gambling activities. This could have severe implications for the US gambling industry if the bill were to become law.