Recently, the NBA gambling scandal has become a catalyst, prompting a comprehensive review of micro-betting regulation by professional sports leagues, state and federal legislators in the United States. MLB is actively pushing for a ban on small bets, New Jersey has proposed legislation to increase penalties, and federal lawmakers are pushing for the "Safe Betting Act" to establish national standards. Multiple actions aim to maintain the fairness of sports competitions and curb potential risks.
Professional Sports Leagues Lead the Ban Wave
Following the exposure of NBA players' involvement in gambling, Major League Baseball (MLB) is becoming a major proponent of banning micro-betting. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine revealed that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has consulted with major sports betting companies to seek a comprehensive ban on real-time betting on game details (such as each pitch or the next scoring player). DeWine emphasized that this type of small, high-frequency betting poses a significant threat to sports integrity, not limited to baseball. Previously, two pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians were suspended due to a gambling investigation, prompting the governor to publicly call for regulatory intervention.
New Jersey Legislative Proposal Specifies Penalties
At the state level, New Jersey Senator Paul Moriarty has recently formally submitted Bill S4794, aimed at explicitly prohibiting "betting on the outcome of the next action during a sports event." This bill echoes Representative Dan Hutchinson's AB5971 proposed in July, and imposes fines of $500 to $1000 per violation on operators. Hutchinson stated that the legislative intent is not to oppose sports betting but to curb "excessive and impulsive gambling behavior." This move shows that state legislatures are trying to find a balance between gambling revenue and public health.
Federal Level Pushes the "Safe Betting Act"
Following the incident, federal lawmaker Paul Tonko has accelerated the promotion of his "Safe Betting Act" and has written to the chairmen of MLB, NBA, NFL, and other major professional leagues, asking them to support the establishment of federal-level gambling safety standards. The bill includes: prohibiting the use of AI to develop personalized gambling products, limiting the number of deposits within 24 hours to no more than five, requiring operators to assess customers' payment capabilities, and completely banning college sports prop betting. Tonko's letter was stern, pointing out that if the leagues only verbally emphasize integrity but allow gambling advertisements to proliferate, they will struggle to avoid responsibility when the next scandal occurs.
Regulatory Trends and Subsequent Impacts
Various dynamics indicate that micro-betting is becoming a new focus of sports regulation in the United States. The Senate has requested the NBA to submit internal gambling investigation information by November 10, while the Ohio Casino Control Commission has previously banned college sports prop betting. The subsequent interactions between the leagues and legislative bodies, and whether the "Safe Betting Act" can pass in Congress, will be key indicators to observe the direction of U.S. sports gambling regulation.
