Bill to Curb Sports Betting Addiction Reintroduced to Congress

US lawmakers are preparing to take another shot at curbing the growth of gambling addiction.

Rep. Andrea Salinas and Sen. Richard Blumenthal have reintroduced the Gambling Addition Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act (the GRIT Act). The bill would require more sports betting revenue from the federal government to go toward helping people who struggle with gambling addiction. The Act would fund efforts to study the issue and develop plans to prevent the problem from spreading.

The bill was introduced in 2024 but was tabled until this year.

Bill Sponsors Cite Public Health Crisis

The two bill sponsors emphasized the importance of the bill when re-introducing it. They asserted that the rise in problem gambling and addiction qualifies as a public health crisis. 

“The growing legalization of sports betting coupled with the ability to place bets from your phone whenever you want has created the perfect storm for gambling addiction — resulting in a severe public health crisis,” Rep. Blumenthal said in a press release. “The GRIT Act will allocate dedicated federal funding to tackle problem gambling head-on, allowing individuals suffering from gambling addiction to access support, resources, and treatment. With this legislation, we work to stop addiction and save lives.”

Societal Harm Racking Taking Financial Toll

Supporters of the bill are focused on the welfare of those struggling with gambling addiction, but there is also a financial toll on the country. They have claimed that around nine million US residents are struggling with gambling addiction, and it is leading to a cost of $14 billion in societal harm.

One of the most prominent arguments against increasing regulations on sports betting is the toll it would take on tax revenue. However, if supporters of the GRIT Act can support their claim of the massive cost, it could sway many lawmakers to support it.

Act Would Set a 10-Year Plan

The GRIT Act would funnel funds towards addressing problem gambling for ten years. The hope is that the effort would help slow the growth of problem gambling and lead to a healthier market.

In addition to the money spent, the Act would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to monitor the success of the GRIT Act over the first three years. The office will study the effort's impact and determine its actual impact on the US sports betting market.